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This hand-painted original production cel features Top Cat astride a horse, mallet in hand, in one of the most playful moments from Top Cat and the Beverly Hills Cats (1988).
Top Cat's confident pose and grin recall his origins in the early 1960s television series, inspired by Phil Silvers' Sergeant Bilko. His combination of charm, wit, and street-smart ingenuity made Top Cat one of Hanna-Barbera's most character-driven productions. The 1988 television special revived the gang for a new generation, introducing younger audiences to the quick-talking leader and his mismatched crew.
This cel forms part of the sequence depicting the streetwise feline's debut into the world of high society polo. However, in production, the original background placed Top Cat inside a mansion! This production cel release was paired with an open-field printed background to convey the sporting context and dynamic humour of the scene more effectively.
This cel is signed by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, and bears the official Hanna-Barbera Art Program seal. It was released through the studio's own art programme to celebrate the enduring appeal of their most iconic creations. By the time this cel was produced, hand-painted animation was entering its final decade. The Hanna-Barbera Art Program was established to preserve and share genuine production artwork with collectors, often releasing key scenes signed by the studio's founders. These authenticated cels bridged the gap between production material and fine art collectables, ensuring that future generations could enjoy the legacy of characters like Top Cat.
Nearly forty years after the original series first aired, this cel stands as both a nostalgic tribute and a remarkable piece of animation history, a rare hand-painted production image representing the final era of traditional animation at Hanna-Barbera. The lot is accompanied by a Clampett Studio Collections certificate of authenticity. Dimensions: 28 cm x 35.5 cm (11" x 14")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £500 - 1,000 Ω
View all lots from TOP CAT AND THE BEVERLY HILLS CATS (1988)