25 replies to this topic

[WaspPlague]

Hi, guys! 

 

Recently, I purchased a Sonic Satam cel from ebay since I've been on the hunt for one since last summer, and I just wanted to have as much information as possible on the cel. I read on a section of this website that what I have bought is called a 'master cel.' I've read in other places online that there are only either 2 or 3 that exist (maybe there's more?) but the seller had told me it was a limited edition, original cel. (It's not a print, I can see that it's hand painted on the back of the cel, for in case anyone is wondering). I saw on another forum a while ago that someone owns the same cel elsewhere, but theirs is in a gold frame with DIC characters on it, because theirs had hung in the CEO of Sega's office for some time back in the 90s. I think the one I own had hung in the animation studio while the animators worked on Satam (from what I've read), but I'm not sure if that information is accurate.

 

I had also contacted the seller earlier this week asking where they had acquired the piece, but the seller has not emailed me back, so I don't know if they have been busy or avoiding the question due to wanting to keep that information private. 

 

I've attached images of the cel to this post if that is of any help to anyone. The first image is of the front of it with the mat it came with bordering it. The second image is the back of it so you can see the painted areas, the third image is a close up of the painted areas and brushstrokes, and the 4th image is of the copyright- I don't know if that makes a difference. 

 

If anyone is fairly knowledgable about cels or this one in particular, feel free to list anything you may know! Thanks!!

 

-Wasp

Attached Files

•  My Sonic Satam Cel!.JPG   213.89KB   0 downloads
•  Brushstrokes.JPG   148.13KB   0 downloads
•  Brushstrokes Close up.JPG   110.68KB   0 downloads
•  Copyright.JPG   86.25KB   0 downloads

[chief]

Ohh. .. Prime would be great on this as he has a huge collection of cels among other stuff.

Sadly he really doesn't drop by here much...I'll see if I can contact him through email. Pretty sure I have his contact info kicking around.

[RedMenace]

Wow! Nice find, man!

 

And yeah. When was the last time Prime was around?

[WaspPlague]

Thanks for the responses!

 

It sounds like Prime would be a good source regarding cels. That would be awesome if he could offer any sort of knowledge on the cel I have. Also I don't know if this is of any help, but the seller on ebay I bought the cel from was also selling other hard to find Sonic (and Sega) items, such as Sonic the Hedgehog trading cards from the early 90s, Sonic action figures, other Sonic items from the early 90s like a board game, a balloon, Tiger Electronic handhelds, and Sega corporate gifts (like a watch or a silver star given to employees). I am wondering if he had received the cel and various other items he is selling from someone who had worked at Sega.

 

-Wasp

[Nightmus]

Great stuff! Congratilations on the purchase!

[Nightmus]

Some random (and looks like already deleted by now) forum post does indicate that there were only 2 such cels made. Yours used to be on the animation studio wall and the other one - in the office of someone named Tom K:

[furrykef]

Looking at the back of the cel makes me wonder how cel colorists could work like that. What a mess! Yet you'd never know it looking from the front.

I'm guessing they painted in the first layer of paint very carefully, but they were free to get messier as more and more of the image got filled in, since it doesn't matter if (say) the red of Robotnik's uniform spills over into Snively's nose if Snively's nose has already been painted in, since the red paint will be hidden by the pink paint under it. Still, I'd be scared to death of screwing up if I were painting a cel like that.

[RedMenace]

Just for the hell of it, I browsed through some SatAM animation cels and early concept sketches on eBay, as well. Interesting stuff.

 

For example, check out early Antoine:

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 Screen Shot 2015-06-06 at 1.06.58 PM.png   188.19KB   0 downloads

 

Not bad. Beats the hair they went with, I'd say.

 

But then there's the Bunny concepts...

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And Robotnik...

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 Screen Shot 2015-06-06 at 1.08.47 PM.png   617.76KB   0 downloads

 

...Gotta start somewhere.

[Sonic J]

Lol, Steven showed those to me. Yep, that's the creative process.

I bought the concept drawing for Sonic's backpack. I'm probably gonna frame it.

[Nightmus]

Hehe, starting point for Bunnie must've been Tiny Toon Adventures, she's drawn more or less in the same style.

 

Putting a cel in a frame on the wall is a neat idea actually! However there are only "original animation copy model sheets" on ebay. Isn't that just a printed copy?

 

Whoa, early Sally concepts are...Erm, different! Someone sure made a genious U-turn working on character design. =)

 

Spoiler

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[RedMenace]

Ghastly. I could not appreciate their final decisions more.

[MoKat]

Ghastly. I could not appreciate their final decisions more.

*nods* Indeed.

[WaspPlague]

Some random (and looks like already deleted by now) forum post does indicate that there were only 2 such cels made. Yours used to be on the animation studio wall and the other one - in the office of someone named Tom K:

 

Ah yes, that's the framed cel I had mentioned, it's really cool. Tom K was the CEO of Sega in the early to mid 90s- he was a driving force behind Sonic's aggressive marketing at the time. I'm glad I was able to get a hold of the sister cel! 

 

As for the concept art images, I actually think each image has it's own charm (though I'm in agreement with the majority, the final character designs are definitely the best choices!) I don't know if any of you have ever seen the very Don Bluth inspired concept art of Sally that is floating around on Tumblr? (I've attached an image to this post). The red-head Sally reminded me a bit of Kimberly from Space Ace. Even the different types of "Robotnic" concept art you see on ebay look like villains from a Don Bluth production.

Attached Files

•  tumblr_n7fp0xMwD41tug5afo1_500.jpg   83.6KB   0 downloads

[Nightmus]

Well, I'm so attached to the final Sally design, that I can't appreciate any other version. Especially if it's an oversexualized human.

[WaspPlague]

Just heard back from the seller!

 

He told me he had 3 in total (including mine). He bought 2 from a Sega executive, and then 1 was given to him by a former Sega executive. He also added at the end that they are "really really rare." He had also mentioned that they were gifts made for executives at Sega during the time Satam was being produced.

 

I think there are 4 or more of these, considering the seller had 3, and then the one in the golden frame makes 4. It's still a rare find I'd say, considering the Sega execs were the only ones to own them (not sure how many execs were there at the time though- I'd say anywhere from 10-20, but I could be completely off the mark here).

 

-Wasp

[Nightmus]

I'm kind of afraid to ask how much did the seller want for such an item. Even if there are more than 2 of these, it must cost a fortune. This stuff is way past cool. 

[Uncle Ben]

I'm kind of afraid to ask how much did the seller want for such an item. Even if there are more than 2 of these, it must cost a fortune. This stuff is way past cool. 

 

Worth

[WaspPlague]

Sorry for the late response! 

 

The cel was being sold for $150 (not including the shipping and handling and other fees). I believe the cel in the golden frame from previous posts was sold for $222.50. I know Satam cels can vary in price. I've seen pieces for $50 or $450. I know in 2011 the Satam cel of Dr. Robotnik from the intro had a starting bid of $2500- and it sold (either for that price or more I'd imagine). 

 

-Wasp

[Nightmus]

Quite a hefty cost, well worth it though! I'm in between jobs right now, conserving money, so it's hard for me to evaluate prices. But on better days I'd have bought this cel too. Love it! 

[chief]

Sorry for the real late reply...Ive tried to get my hands on Primes contact info and have had no luck sadly.  I even asked the original owner of FUs if she had any recent contact info on him but she does not.

I will keep hunting around though.  Prime really is awesome at anything collectible.