Sotheby’s Hong Kong's Contemporary Showcase “Manga” auction is currently showing at its S | 2 gallery with an accompanying digital sale (from May 5-11). Browsing among the more than 90 highlights from Studio Ghibli and Toei Animation, we made a revealing discovery comprising a quartet of leading female Japanese manga artists starting with Masako Watanabe, the first woman mangaka to be decorated with Japan’s prestigious Order of the Rising Sun in 2006. The other three are Eiko Hanamura, Riyoko Ikeda and Machiko Satonaka, all of whom have signed beneath their works. 

The exhibition, billed as the largest Manga portfolio ever offered at auction, has the anticipated 'Manga-fication' of legends such as the 'godfather of manga' Osamu Tezuka, often called the "Walt Disney of Japan'. Tezuka, who invented the large, distinctive eyes of manga, created such franchises as Astro Boy, Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, Phoenix and Dororo.

There's also other 'ubiquicons' of anime culture such as the earless robotic 22nd-century cat Doraemon (created in 1969, appointed Japan's first 'anime ambassador' in 2008, and the highest-grossing anime film franchise in Japan); Pokémon, Pikachu (one of the lead characters in Pokémon video games), Dragon Ball (perhaps the most famous manga-turned-anime and published from 1984); One Piece, (published 1997, written by Oda Eiichirō and currently the best-selling manga series in history) which follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy whose body gains the properties of rubber; and Slam Dunk (the most popular sports-themed manga written by Takehiko Inoue). 

There's also a unique selection of drawings and original Animation Celluloid Pictures (cel-ga) by some of the most prestigious anime houses such Studio Ghibli and Toei Animation featuring Sailormoon, Kiki's Delivery Service, Detective Conan, Saint-Seika: Knights of the Zodiac, Neon Genesis Evangelion, The Return Lum, Mobile Suit Gundam, Apanman, Crayon Shin-Chan, Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbour Totoro. 

Go get the ani-manga memories on and snatch a bargain or 60 in the process. 

Exhibition Details 29 Apr – 8 May 2020
MON – FRI 10am - 6pm; SAT 11am - 5pm (Closed on SUN and Public Holidays)
Venue: Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery, 5/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong

Guest Visit - By Appointment Only

Email HKGallery@Sothebys.com to make an appointment prior to your visit.
For other inquiries, contact +852 2886 7887.

Digital Auction: May 5 - May 11

Images: ISBN-Magazine