Christie’s is set to host a landmark auction in New York titled “Anime Starts Here: Japanese Subculture Imagines Tradition,” marking the first sale of its kind dedicated to the intersection of anime, manga, and traditional Japanese art. The auction features a diverse range of items, from Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic 19th-century woodblock print "The Great Wave" to original production materials and posters from modern masterpieces like Studio Ghibli’s "My Neighbor Totoro" and Osamu Tezuka’s "Astro Boy."
This sale reflects a significant shift in the art market as auction houses increasingly treat pop culture artifacts as serious fine art. By placing contemporary animation alongside classical ukiyo-e prints, the event highlights the historical continuity of Japanese visual storytelling and caters to a new generation of wealthy collectors who grew up with these media. The move follows successful museum exhibitions at institutions like the British Museum and the de Young, signaling the formal canonization of manga and anime within the global art world.