Christie's Second Anime Auction Features Pokémon, Ghibli Cels
Christie's Anime Starts Here returns with roughly 130 lots, including original cels from Pokémon, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, and Dragon Ball Z, plus Tezuka drawings.
Christie's is bringing anime and manga art back to the auction block. The second installment of its Anime Starts Here sale will be viewable in person at the auction house's New York galleries from Oct. 8 to 12, with online bidding open from Oct. 9 to 22, 2026.
The roughly 130 lots include original animation cels from Pokémon, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, and Dragon Ball Z. Original drawings by Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka will also be offered, alongside works connected to Fujiko Fujio and Rumiko Takahashi.
The entire sale is estimated between US$344,350 and US$523,200. The exhibition overlaps with New York Comic Con, which runs at the Javits Center from Oct. 8 to 10.
The follow-up comes after Christie's inaugural Anime Starts Here auction in March 2026, which brought in over US$1.4 million — more than four times its low estimate. An original Sailor Moon artwork by Ikuko Ito sold for US$88,900 including fees, the highest-selling anime work in that first sale. Ninety percent of lots found buyers, and 35% of buyers were Millennials or Gen Z, according to cbr.com.
Quick answers
When is Christie's second Anime Starts Here auction?
The exhibition runs Oct. 8-12, with online bidding from Oct. 9-22, 2026, at Christie's New York galleries.
What anime works are in the second auction?
Highlights include original cels from Pokémon, Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, and Dragon Ball Z, plus drawings by Osamu Tezuka and works tied to Fujiko Fujio and Rumiko Takahashi.
How much did Christie's first anime auction make?
The March 2026 debut brought in over US$1.4 million, more than four times its low estimate, with 90% of lots sold.