1996 Sega Space Jam Pinball Machine Original Playfield Artwork by Jeff Busch. This is a rare and significant opportun...

Description

1996 Sega Space Jam Pinball Machine Original Playfield Artwork by Jeff Busch. This is a rare and significant opportunity to acquire the original playfield artwork from Sega Pinball, Inc.'s 1996 Space Jam pinball machine—a vibrant fusion of pop culture, animation, and precision design that brought one of the most iconic sports films of the 1990s to life on the arcade floor.

A Playfield Designed for Action and Theme
The Space Jam pinball playfield is a kinetic visual journey, capturing the high-energy spirit of basketball and the wild charm of the Looney Tunes universe. Illustrated by Jeff Busch, the artwork is layered with rich color palettes, cartoon dynamism, and precise character placement—strategically guiding the player's eye to interactive zones throughout the game.

Characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig are seamlessly integrated into the playfield's mechanics, acting as both visual anchors and thematic guides. From the central Jump Ball basket to the six red-arrowed targets, each feature is not just decorative—it's functionally tied to gameplay, visually reinforcing the narrative and structure of the machine's objectives.

Artist Contributions & Legacy
While the celebrated backglass art was created by Morgan Weistling, the playfield itself was illustrated by Jeff Busch, with production and cabinet design contributions from Marc Raneses. Together, this team crafted a cohesive visual identity that bridged the world of live-action sports and animated comedy. The result is a bold, expressive design using dynamic linework, character-driven motifs, and energetic courtside visuals to bring the film's hybrid universe into pinball form.

This artwork stands as a defining example of 1990s licensed pinball design, emerging during a time when Sega Pinball was pushing artistic and thematic boundaries. Its detail, balance, and visual clarity elevate it far beyond utility—positioning it as a collectible work of art in its own right.

Context & Provenance
Produced during Sega Pinball's short-lived but impactful run from 1994–1999, the Space Jam pinball machine was released in tandem with the blockbuster film. The game's development integrated custom speech, animated dot matrix displays, and film-themed gameplay mechanics—all of which worked in harmony with the illustrated playfield. With a limited production of just 800 machines, original production artwork like this is exceedingly rare.

Whether you're a pinball historian, animation art collector, or fan of '90s cinema, this original playfield artwork represents a vital piece of pinball and pop culture history—bold, colorful, and perfectly capturing the era's spirit of innovation and fun.

Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.