A Dream Realized, and the Beginning of a New Goal

[Sui Kune]

I can hardly believe I'm even making this post.

On Christmas Day, I won a breathtaking piece. A piece I can hardly believe is in my hands. Even long before I gained the confidence to collect animation art and know I can care for them properly, I've dreamed of being the caretaker of a piece of S Sailor Saturn. And far sooner than I dared dream, she is here.



As explained in her gallery entry, she comes from a poignant scene in the S season. Sailor Pluto explains to Chibiusa that Hotaru's fragile body contained both the souls of Mistress 9, and Sailor Senshi of Ruin, Sailor Saturn. And with the help of Sailor Saturn, Hotaru was able to make her final sacrifice of destroying Mistress 9 from within. And then famously, Sailor Saturn went on to make her own sacrifice, giving her life to destroy Pharaoh 90.

But most exciting for me, is that this isn't the end of a dream, but just the beginning. I hope to own all three cels and douga from this scene; Mistress 9, Sailor Saturn, and the underlying Hotaru. I do already know the location of the Mistress 9 cel, and my main priority is reuniting this gorgeous douga with its breathtaking cel, wherever it may be. 2012, I am ready!




Thank you everyone for reading, and a belated thanks for all the help and support you've given a very ambitious cel newbie over these past 2.5 years. I really, really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. You gave me the confidence to become the caretaker for my treasures, and made this dream possible. <3

I do have one question: what would be an ideal way of storing a pan douga? I measured it at 10x24 roughly, and my Itoya is only 11x17. Right now it's in the bag it came in and as it came, folded in half. Would it remaining folded be okay, particularly since it doesn't affect the image? And how often compared to cel bag changing would douga need their bags changed? There's also minor discoloring beginning on all four edges (including folded edge).

[Gonzai]

I say get a bigger cel book and display it proudly.

http://carpediemstore.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=4070

Of course, I don't like having any of my sketches folded. >_<

Besides, if it is just a beginning, then you may be filling up the book with more like it. ~_^

[ReiTheJelly]

The whole image looks so much better than what the seller had shown in the listing. Congratulations!

[cutiebunny]

No better way to celebrate than to buy yourself an 18 x 24 Itoya

I wouldn't continue to store it folded. I know it's been folded before, but you should store it flatly.

Congrats on getting the Saturn sketch. I know you were a bit hesitant about using the seller but it looks like things turned out well. It's a really nice sketch.

I wish you luck on your new wishlist cel/sketch goal.

[AerynAerie]

Wow!! First, congratulations!!! It's such a gorgeous sketch and she is by far one of the rarer and most overlooked characters. She's beautiful. Good luck on aquiring the cel and the cel mates!!!

[toonybabe]

She is really beautiful! I bet it's even more gorgeous in person! Congratulations on getting your dream sketch!

[sensei]

I would agree with others that it shouldn't be stored folded. You should cut a piece of acid-free art paper or card stock (Canson makes a good brand that should be at your local Michael's or other art supplies store) to a size just bigger than the unfolded sketch. That will serve as a backing board to prevent it from getting accidentally creased or crumpled in future.

(BTW, it is a genga rather than a douga, which makes it even more precious: it's the key animator's foundational sketch for this image.)

Then protect it with a bag (or two). You can get PE, PP, and Mylar bags up to 24/25 inches tall, but you can also take two bags that are at least 10" wide (11 1/2 is a common width) and just slip a bag over each end of the backing board. You'll probably need to slit one bag down the edge so it will fit over/inside the other. Then fold it/them over on one side to fit the backing board. Tack down the fold on the backside with a couple dabs of scrapbookers' tape (Scotch makes an acid-free variety).

I'd also suggest slipping a sheet of microchamber paper behind the sketch, to keep it in good health for the long haul. Maybe two given its size. (I'm thinking the 8 1/2 by 11 sheets that Bagsunlimited sell in bulk.) Studios were not careful about using acid-free paper, and most sketches I have from the 1980s are already slightly yellowed from internal deterioration. The microchamber paper will absorb any by-products of this deterioration and prevent it from going any farther. That would eliminate the need to change sketch bags. (Sketches are not nearly as "hot" as cels, which almost at once start to damage the bags they are kept in.)

Then, yes, I'd slip it inside a profolio that is big enough to fit it. I do have an 18x24 profolio that I got for some huge CCS pan backgrounds, and then been surprised at how it has quickly become a storage space for humongo sketches and cels too.

Congratulations on the win! It's always a great feeling when a piece of art goes into the hands of someone who truly wants and intends to cherish it. So much animation art has already been lost to neglect and careless storage that it is heartwarming to know that a piece like this has "come home." Good luck in 2012!

[Sui Kune]

Thank you so much everyone. <3 And especially for all the advice! I will definitely get an 18x24 Itoya, and I just found sleeves nearly perfect in size here along with the Microchamber paper. (Those'll be a doozy to store for future pans. XD) I'll also get that acid-free cardstock backing the next time I'm at a Michael's.

The hard part will be making shelf space for such a huge portfolio, and unfortunately no matter what I do it looks like the poor thing will stick out a couple inches. I would just put it flat (since no cels would be in it yet) in a cabinet with my kimono collection, but I don't 100% trust that paper-eating bugs won't get into it, despite having moth repellant incense packets in there. Would sealing the whole portfolio in a bag, since nothing needs to "breathe", keep any pests out? I'm otherwise strapped when it comes to storage options since I still live with my parents because of illness (thus only one room for everything I own), but hopefully within a few years I can move out and have more options available to me. Thankfully all the other conditions for artwork safekeeping (humidity and temperature) I can control.

[Melle]

Wow! What a gorgeus sketch!!! I really hope that yu'll be able to work something out to protect this beauty!

[sensei]

Would sealing the whole portfolio in a bag, since nothing needs to "breathe", keep any pests out?

That might be overkill, in my opinion. I live in a house with a moist crawlspace that attracts insects, notably ants and camel crickets (one of which I saw on the front steps last night, braving the January weather). We have also seen the occasional silverfish and roach. I keep the storage space for my art dry, however (as generally with our living space), and this keeps them outside or in the bathrooms where there is a nearby water supply.

A bag that big, on the other hand, might be costly. And the giant-sized Ziploc bags that you might fit such a profolio into are not rated as archival. I'd say what you're doing to conserve your kimonos is plenty good enough for the sketch, if it is in its own bag and stored in a window of the book. I'd suggest only keeping the profolio off the floor, or if you do, placing it up and down against a wall rather than flat.

Worth noting that odd-sized items tend to go low on auction, because many collectors don't want to go to the expense of a super-sized storage book or box. And yet they (like your Sailor Saturn) can often be very special items. I bet that your sketch will have company before long...

[kizu]

Good for you! I can really relate to your feelings! I hope you find more of your dreams in the future.

[Sui Kune]

Thanks Sensei! I probably will keep the portfolio with my kimono then, until an oversized cel comes along. I've only noticed spiders getting into that cabinet once in a while anyway, and they're hardly paper eaters. Just really really annoying.

That's interesting to hear as well, that oversized items get less demand. I imagine the Sailor Saturn pan cel would be one exception though, though I can only imagine how gigantic it must be. I actually saw its possible genga in an ended listing shortly before I started collecting cels, which ended for roughly the same price my pan did. Oh how I want it badly now, but who knows, maybe its Japanese owner may part with it one day. (And I'll be ready for it this time!) Interesting how only genga of Sailor Saturn from the S season have surfaced, no cels at all, but I'm getting off track. XD

[star-phoenix]

So beautiful! One of the nicest sketches i have ever seen of her! Congratulations!

[rosesleep]

A superb addition!