This season, during Asian Art Week, Christie’s presents Anime Starts Here: Japanese Subculture Reimagines Tradition, a new online auction exploring the visual dialogue between Japan’s classical artistic heritage and the subcultural movements that have shaped contemporary global culture.

The sale brings together original manga drawings by Osamu Tezuka, anime cels from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Doraemon, and vintage film posters of Godzilla, shown alongside traditional and contemporary works by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai and Yoshitomo Nara. Together, these works trace the enduring resonance of motifs, techniques, and narratives rooted in Japan’s past—sources that continue to inspire some of its most influential modern expressions.

Rather than positioning subculture as a departure from tradition, this carefully curated auction presents it as a dynamic evolution—one that bridges craftsmanship, storytelling, and visual innovation across generations.