Propstore to auction rare sci-fi anime production cels

Propstore is putting original anime production art from Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop and other genre-defining titles up for auction in London and online July 8-9, 2026. The sale spotlights the hand-drawn work behind some of anime’s most influential sci-fi films and TV series, with estimates reaching nearly $4,000 per lot.

Why it matters: - The auction puts original artwork from some of anime’s most influential sci-fi titles in front of collectors, museums and fans. - The cels and drawings trace the visual roots of modern adult animation and cyberpunk storytelling. - The sale also underscores how anime production art has become a serious collectibles market.

What happened: - Propstore will offer sci-fi anime production cels and related artwork in its $1 million Animation Art Live Auction on July 8-9, 2026. - The auction includes material from Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Macross, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mobile Fighter G Gundam and Patlabor: The Movie. - Bidding opens each day at 03:00 PM BST / 07:00 AM PDT / 10:00 AM EDT. - Registration is open, and the full catalog is available here. - Propstore will also stage a free public exhibition at Borough Yards in London from July 2-5, 2026. - More information about the exhibition is available here.

The details: - Akira lots include Tetsuo Shima and crowd production cels with matching douga, plus a second Akira grouping with Tetsuo, Doctor Onishi and tank artwork. - Akira helped define anime sci-fi using more than 160,000 animation cels, according to the release. - Ghost in the Shell is represented by a Batou production cel with matching douga drawing. - Cowboy Bebop is represented by a Spike Spiegel cel from Episode 10, “Ganymede Elegy.” - Macross: Do You Remember Love? features a Lynn Minmay production cel on a fine art giclée background. - Neon Genesis Evangelion includes a Shinji production cel from “Weaving a Story 2: Oral Stage.” - Mobile Fighter G Gundam includes a Dragon Gundam pan production cel from “Sai Saici's New Attack! Blazing Dragon Gundam.” - Patlabor: The Movie is represented by an AV-98 Ingram production cel with matching douga. - Estimated prices range from $396 to $3,961, depending on the lot. - The most expensive listed lot is the Macross: Do You Remember Love? Lynn Minmay cel, estimated at $1,980 to $3,961. - The lowest listed lot is the Patlabor: The Movie AV-98 Ingram cel, estimated at $396 to $792.

Between the lines: - The lineup mixes landmark Japanese titles with broader animation history, signaling Propstore is aiming at both anime specialists and wider animation collectors. - The release positions anime cels as cultural artifacts, not just production leftovers. - The Ghost in the Shell entry leans on the film’s influence on The Matrix franchise and its reputation for visual and literary ambition. - The auction’s cross-category scope suggests strong demand for hand-drawn production materials as digital animation dominates the industry.

What's next: - Collectors can bid online, by absentee bid or by telephone during the two-day sale. - Fans can preview highlights in London before the auction begins. - Propstore says the auction catalog will remain available as the sale approaches.

The bottom line: - Propstore is turning seminal sci-fi anime production art into high-end collectibles, with some of the most recognizable characters in the genre now heading to auction.