Notably, Christie’s has launched the Anime Starts Here: Japanese Subculture Reimagines Tradition online sale alongside Asian Art Week in New York City. At the same time, the curated auction positions Japanese subculture as an extension of historical craftsmanship and visual storytelling. Moreover, the sale frames contemporary pop culture as a commercial and cultural continuation of long-standing artistic practice. Consequently, the auction structure highlights visual continuity between heritage works and modern creative output.
Catalogue highlights and cross-generational dialogue
Meanwhile, the catalogue features original manga drawings by Osamu Tezuka. In addition, the offering includes production cels from Studio Ghibli titles such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Doraemon. Furthermore, vintage film posters linked to Godzilla expand the sale’s appeal to global collectors. However, the auction deliberately places these modern artefacts beside classical and contemporary works by Katsushika Hokusai and Yoshitomo Nara. As a result, the exhibition constructs a clear visual and commercial dialogue across generations.
Sale timing and investor relevance
Meanwhile, the online auction opens on March 18 at 10 a.m. EDT and closes on March 31 at 10 a.m. EDT.
Importantly, the tightly curated format targets international buyers seeking culturally influential assets with strong crossover demand. Therefore, the sale strengthens Christie’s broader strategy of expanding digitally driven auctions tied to global art-week calendars.