Gotta Catch 'Em All: Specialists' Manga Favorites

Gotta Catch 'Em All: Specialists' Manga Favorites

Chapters

You'll have to recognize them all before you can catch 'em all. Which of these manga characters did you grow up with? Sotheby's auction and selling exhibition of Manga collectibles is to date the largest selling assemblage in Hong Kong.

M anga is having a moment, especially as many of us are finding comfort in revisiting some of our favorite animation from childhood – finding once again the enchantment of these fantasy worlds and the enduring charm of beloved characters. Gathered here are highlights of Manga, a selling exhibition with a unique collection of drawings and original Animation Celluloid Pictures. Sotheby’s specialists have chosen their favorite images which include scenes from Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Anpanman, and Doraemon, as well as features from Studio Ghibli and Toei Animation. Scroll ahead to discover all of their choices and compare them with your own favorites.

Florence Ho

“Studio Ghibli’s characters never cease to enchant me. Every single protagonist steps out of their comfort zone, often arriving at a new environment and coming face-to-face not only to differences they confront in others, but also to their own unexplored potential. Every scene is a marvelous revelation!”
Florence Ho, Junior Specialist
  • KIKI & SENIOR WITCH
  • KIKI & SENIOR WITCH
    “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Studio Ghibli is the story of a young witch who leaves her traditional family home to find her own way in the big city. Between modern life in the city, work, and loneliness, Kiki struggled at first. She started off a bit shaky on her broom, but with determination and persistence managed to succeed and started her delivery service. Early in her training, Kiki meets the senior witch, an arrogant teen who is confident and slightly boastful of her own abilities.

    KIKI AND SENIOR WITCH ANIMATION CEL | acrylic on cel | Executed in 1989 | Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000 HKD

Heather Kim

“There will always be that one favorite character from childhood that shapes your world. Whether you admit it or not, it remains vivid and stays with you through adulthood.”
Heather Kim, Specialist
  • DORAEMON AND FRIENDS
  • DORAEMON AND FRIENDS
    For half a century, the blue cat Doraemon has been a beloved fixture of many a childhood. From the studios of Shin-Ei Animation, the series “Doraemon” was created during a time of rapid technological change in 1970s Japan as electronics and modern appliance were being mass marketed. Besides being a robot himself, Doraemon can produce from his pocket all manner of nifty gadgets to bail his unspectacularly average boy companion, Nobita, and friends out from tight spots. Many of these gadgets are highly impractical and prone to backfiring. But one of the more functional and most well-known of these was the take koputa, helicopter blades with suction cups that enable the wearer to fly.

    DORAEMON AND FRIENDS ANIMATION CEL | acrylic on cel | Executed in 1997-2002 | Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD

Debby Yip

“These works evoke feelings of joy and nostalgia, unlocking childhood memories that you thought had been forgotten.”
Debby Yip, Graduate Trainee
  • TOTORO
  • TOTORO
    "My Neighbor Totoro" doesn’t have heroes or villains. Studio Ghibli's film takes place in the countryside near a forest where fluffy woodland spirits dwell, and these totoro collect acorns, take naps under the canopy of giant trees and occasionally place leaves on their heads to protect themselves from rain. Their encounters with the human characters in the film present a charming vision of harmonious coexistence with nature.

    TOTORO ANIMATION CEL | acrylic on cel | Executed in 1988 | Estimate: 70,000 - 90,000 HKD

Michele Chan

"After my first day of elementary school, I went home to ask my mother what 'Sailor Moon' was, because it was all the craze in the classroom. Later on I remember eagerly looking forward to my daily after-school dose of Pokemon on TV. It is a joy to see these iconic characters light up our galleries!"
Michele Chan, Head of Research
  • SAILOR MOON & GUARDIANS
  • SAILOR MOON & GUARDIANS
    "Sailor Moon" by Toei Animation was a series from the 1990s that offered powerful insights on feminism and empowerment of young women. The series featured heroines who were Sailor Senshi (“Sailor Warriors”) that appeared to be average teenage girls but can transform into powerful guardians against villains from space. The concept proved to have widespread appeal and it redefined a whole genre of manga that featured groups of strong female protagonists.

    SAILOR MOON AND GUARDIANS ANIMATION CEL | acrylic on cel | Executed in 1992-1993 | Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD

Shea Lam

“Sailor Moon was my world through ages 6 to 9. The Mickey Mouse sketch is a classic and quite rare to come across. It would look very chic at a waiting room or bathroom!
Shea Lam, Specialist
  • SAILOR MOON
  • SAILOR MOON
    For many girls during the 1990s, the series “Sailor Moon” by Toei Animation offered at the time rare examples of positive female role models. Among them is Usagi, who gives her alter ego name to the series. She isn’t set up as a model of perfection and is in many ways quite ordinary. Despite her cute appearance, the character has relatable flaws, can be klutzy, lazy, and a little too boy-crazy. This was groundbreaking at the time as it asserts the idea that one needn’t be of noble birth, a saint, a demi-god, superhuman or otherwise infallible in order to save the world.

    SAILOR MOON ANIMATION CEL | acrylic on cel | Executed in 1994-1995 | Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000 HKD
Contemporary Art

More from Sotheby's

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events & news.

Receive the best from Sotheby’s delivered to your inbox.

By subscribing you are agreeing to Sotheby’s Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Sotheby’s emails at any time by clicking the “Manage your Subscriptions” link in any of your emails.

(C) 2025 Sotheby's
All alcoholic beverage sales in New York are made solely by Sotheby's Wine (NEW L1046028)
arrow Created with Sketch. Back To Top