Bodnar’s Auction Presents Disney Legends & Imagination: Rare Animation Art, Imagineer Artifacts, and Fine Collectibles

This September 2nd, Bodnar’s Auction brings together three extraordinary private collections of animation history, fine art, and park-exclusive items through a live broadcast auction.

This single sale bridges the gap between park history and fine art, offering everything from rare, early Disney pins to one-of-a-kind art pieces directly tied to Disney animation masters. The featured consignments originate from an extensive pin collection, the personal archive of a former Disney Imagineer, and the collection of a dedicated animation art patron who gathered original works and signed art directly from the creators.

Whether you are looking for production cels, original artwork by Peter Max and Charles Fazzino, fine porcelain, or Carl Barks sculptures, the Disney Legends & Imagination catalog covers every era of animation history.

Key Collection Highlights & Masters of Disney Art

The upcoming catalog highlights seminal works across several categories:

• Production Cels & Animation Art: Authentic original production cels and hand-painted presentation cels capture moments of animation history. Featured pieces include works signed by original Disney artists, alongside fine art by Elisabete Gomes.
• Modern Fine Art Masters: High-end fine art features prominently, including iconic pop art pieces by Peter Max, dynamic 3D pop art constructions by Charles Fazzino—many featuring custom, hand-drawn sketches on the reverse by the artist himself—and luminous landscape works by Thomas Kinkade.
• Sculpture, Bronzes & Fine Porcelain: Highlights include limited-edition Carl Barks bronze sculptures, fine porcelain figures from the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC), and whimsical oversized figures by Ron Lee featuring his signature onyx base details.
• Disney Pin Collections: Hundreds of collectible Disney pins span several decades, including cast-exclusive releases, limited editions, artist proof pins, and park milestone commemoratives.

Featured Lots to Watch

Here is a closer look at a selection of stand-out lots from the September 2nd catalog:

Lot 78: “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” Hand-Painted Cel

• Category: Animation Art / Cels
• Description: A vibrant hand-painted presentation cel depicting Mickey Mouse from the classic 1983 holiday short Mickey’s Christmas Carol. A fine piece of modern animation history showcasing classic character design work.

Lot 112: Bill Toma “The Case of the Missing Footprints” Bronze Mickey Mouse Statue

• Category: Fine Bronze Sculpture
• Description: Designed by renowned sculptor Bill Toma, this detailed bronze sculpture features Detective Mickey Mouse investigating with a magnifying glass. Cast with precision and mounted on a solid display base, it represents the upper tier of licensed Disney fine bronze sculpture.

Lot 184: Disney Theme Parks “Mickey Mouse as Indiana Jones” Big Fig Statue

• Category: Park-Exclusive Statuary
• Description: Originating from the Disney Theme Parks collection, this substantial “Big Fig” statue depicts Mickey Mouse dressed as Indiana Jones, complete with his iconic fedora and whip. These large-scale display figures were available exclusively at Disney parks and remain highly sought after by park history collectors.

Lot 205: Mickey Mouse 75th Anniversary Stained Glass Lamp

• Category: Lighting & Decorative Art
• Description: Created in celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 75th anniversary, this decorative table lamp features a stained-glass shade depicting classic character motifs set atop a sculptural base.

Lot 259: Thomas Kinkade “A New Day at Cinderella Castle” Limited Edition Canvas (Renaissance Edition #4/25)

• Category: Fine Art Prints
• Description: A rare Renaissance Edition print on canvas by Thomas Kinkade, numbered 4 out of an exclusive edition of only 25. The piece captures Cinderella Castle bathed in light, complete with Tinker Bell soaring across the sky and subtle rainbow accents. Comes complete with Certificate of Authenticity.

Lot 325: The Art of Disney Roger Rabbit & Jessica Rabbit Figurine

• Category: Sculptural Collectibles
• Description: A detailed Art of Disney figure depicting Roger and Jessica Rabbit. This piece features a hidden jewelry box compartments in the base containing a Benny the Cab pin. Includes original packaging and COA.

Featured Artist & Designer Profiles

Peter Max

A defining figure of 1960s Pop Art and Neo-Expressionism, Peter Max revolutionized modern visual culture with his bold, cosmic color palettes and fluid brushwork. In the 1990s, the master pop artist turned his signature neo-expressionist lens toward American animation, producing highly coveted limited-edition serigraphs and suites featuring icons like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Snow White. From serving as official artist for the Grammy Awards and Super Bowls to permanent museum installations, Max’s original mixed-media works and hand-painted acrylic canvases remain bedrock holdings for collectors of 20th-century American art.

Charles Fazzino

Famous for his exuberant, multi-layered construction, Charles Fazzino truly brings art to life. Utilizing a hand-assembled, 3D sculptural technique that he often compares to “layering it like a lasagna,” his works are frequently accented with Swarovski crystals. The New York-trained master turns bustling cityscapes and major global events—like the Super Bowl, the MLB All-Star Game, and the Olympics—into kinetic celebrations. Fazzino released his first official Disney-themed limited edition artworks in 1996 (Mickey’s World Tour and Mickeywood). Since then, his authorized Disney licensing collaborations have become crown jewels for collectors. By applying his high-energy pop aesthetic to icons like Mickey Mouse and classic park scenes, he delivers a vibrant, highly sought-after fusion of contemporary art and timeless animation history that leaps right off the wall.

Carl Barks

Often referred to as “The Duck Man” or “The Good Duck Artist,” Carl Barks was the creative genius behind Duckburg, Scrooge McDuck, and the Beagle Boys. Barks defined generations of comic book history. He was hired by Disney in 1935 as an in-betweener, drawing the intermediate frames between main character action poses to create smooth movement. Thanks to his excellent work creating gag ideas, he transitioned to the story department in 1937. From 1942 to 1966, his masterful storytelling and rich illustration for Disney set the gold standard for adventure and wit. Later in life, Barks transitioned to brilliant oil paintings of his beloved Duckverse, making his work exceptionally rare. Today, original Barks comic art, designed statues, and signed lithographs are premier auction centerpieces, prized by collectors for their unmatched nostalgia, enduring charm, and blue-chip animation pedigree.

Auction Details & How to Participate

• Auction Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
• Start Time: Live broadcast bidding begins promptly at 11:00 AM EDT
• Format: Live Broadcast Online Auction
• In-Person Preview: In-person viewing is available by appointment on Tuesday, September 1st, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at our Monmouth Junction, NJ facility. Private 30-minute viewing slots must be reserved in advance.
• Bidding Logistics: Pre-bidding and registration are open now through the online catalog at bodnarsauction.com. All lots start at $10 with no reserve. In-house shipping is provided for small items, with local pickup options available in Monmouth Junction, NJ.