Bidding for this lot will end on Sunday, December 7th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM GMT (7:00AM PST) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, December 5th or Saturday, December 6th.
A vibrant and rare set of original hand-painted animation cels and a production drawing created for The Beatles Anthology, the landmark documentary series produced by Apple Corps.
Created at Manga Studios under the supervision of Creative Director Shaun Magher, this remarkable collection captures the joyful animation sequence that accompanied restored Super 8 footage of The Beatles on holiday. The segment playfully layered Yellow Submarine-style animation over live-action scenes of the band swimming and joking, creating one of the most charming and nostalgic moments in the series.
This group includes multiple key figures from that sequence - Ringo Starr, Jeremy the Nowhere Man, the Blue Meanies, the Glove, the Snapping Turk, and the Googly-Eyed Fish - each meticulously rendered in the distinctive Yellow Submarine aesthetic. These elements were animated using traditional hand-painted cel techniques on 12-field celluloid, painted on the reverse with cel-vinyl animation paints and shot against chromakey blue for compositing into the live-action film.
Notably, only a single original background was painted for the animated "interview" cutaways featuring Paul and Ringo. The background reproductions accompanying these cels are digital fine art prints created directly from that sole original production painting, ensuring the presentation closely reflects the way the sequence was produced.
The set is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Shaun Magher, confirming its origin and studio use.
Beyond their technical artistry, these cels represent a poignant cultural bridge, uniting the psychedelic visual spirit of Yellow Submarine (1968) with Anthology's sweeping celebration of the Beatles' legacy in the 1990s.
A highly desirable and historically significant group; vivid, characterful, and directly connected to both the Beatles' animation history and their enduring global influence. Dimensions (Ringo cel): 27 cm x 33 cm (10.5" x 13")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000 M
View all lots from BEATLES ANTHOLOGY, THE (TV SERIES, 1995-1996)