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A rendered original production cel of Ringo Starr from Yellow Submarine (1968), presented on a fine art print presentation background. The image captures Ringo mid-motion, rendered in full figure with his iconic striped jacket, striped-side trousers, and tie, a perfect portrayal of the film's psychedelic visual language.
Yellow Submarine remains one of the most artistically important animated features of the 20th century. Conceived at the height of the Beatles' cultural influence, it reimagined the group not as literal versions of themselves but as pop-art avatars of creativity, optimism, and musical freedom. Interestingly, the Beatles did not voice their animated counterparts; instead, a team of British voice actors, including Paul Angelis (as Ringo) and Geoffrey Hughes (as Paul), brought them to life. This creative distance allowed the animators and designers to treat the characters as graphic icons rather than caricatures, amplifying the film's dreamlike and symbolic quality.
The visual style was designed by Czech-German illustrator Heinz Edelmann, whose bold shapes, saturated colours, and surreal compositions became emblematic of late-1960s psychedelia. Under the direction of George Dunning, a team of over 200 artists brought this world to life at TVC London, blending pop-surrealist design with pioneering animation techniques, including optical overlays and multi-plane camera work.
Ringo plays a pivotal role in the film, serving as the grounded, empathetic heart of the group and the first Beatle to set out on a mission to save Pepperland. This cel beautifully reflects his character's warmth and humour, animated with great energy and fluidity. Its expressive linework and large, central composition make it particularly collectable; full-figure Beatles cels are rare, as most sequences were shot on non-standard layouts that cropped or overlapped figures.
Yellow Submarine has since achieved cult status for its innovative, daring visuals and the way it fused pop music with fine art and graphic experimentation. Its influence endures across modern animation, film design, and music video aesthetics. As a result, any surviving production artwork, especially featuring a complete image of one of the Fab Four, is hugely sought after by both Beatles collectors and animation art enthusiasts alike. Dimensions (cel on background): 32 cm x 53.5 cm (12.5" x 21")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Terms and Conditions.
Estimate: £1,500 - 3,000 M
View all lots from YELLOW SUBMARINE (1968)