Nominations for the 72nd Emmy Awards were announced Tuesday, recognizing a host of groundbreaking new programs and up-and-coming talent, along with beloved performers and hit shows that have been integral in helping television viewers navigate a changing world. See the list of animation & VFX category contenders below.
The live ceremony, reimagined as a virtual event due to production restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, was hosted by Supermarket Sweep star and Saturday Night Live alumnus Leslie Jones with presenters Laverne Cox (Inventing Anna), Josh Gad (Central Park), Tatiana Maslany (Perry Mason) and Television Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma.
HBO’s Watchmen took the top spot for program nominations with 26 followed by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (20), Ozark (18), Succession (18), newcomer The Mandalorian (15), Schitt’s Creek (15), Saturday Night Live (15) and The Crown (13).
Netflix led the nominations in totals by platform with 160, setting a record previously held by HBO with 137 nominations in 2019. HBO had the second-most nominations with 107, and rounding out the top five were NBC with 47, ABC with 36 and FX with 33.
“Despite the unprecedented challenges facing the entertainment industry, it has been an extraordinary year for television,” said Television Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma. “Television has inspired, united and comforted a global audience this season. We are honored to be recognizing so many of the talented programs, producers, directors and craftspeople behind the remarkable storytelling that has brought us together while we remain apart.”
And the animation/VFX nominees are…
Outstanding Animated Program
Big Mouth • Disclosure The Movie: The Musical! • Netflix
Bob’s Burgers • Pig Trouble In Little Tina • FOX • 20th Century Fox Television
BoJack Horseman • The View From Halfway Down • Netflix • Tornante Productions, LLC
Rick and Morty • The Vat Of Acid Episode • Adult Swim • Rick and Morty, LLC
The Simpsons • Thanksgiving Of Horror • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
Forky Asks A Question • What Is Love? • Disney+ • Pixar Animation Studios
Robot Chicken • Santa’s Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special • Adult Swim • Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Steven Universe Future • Fragments • Cartoon Network • Cartoon Network Studios
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
Lost In Space • Ninety-Seven • Netflix • Legendary Television
The Mandalorian • Chapter 2: The Child • Disney+ • Lucasfilm Ltd.
Stranger Things • Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt • Netflix • Netflix
Watchmen • See How They Fly • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Westworld • Crisis Theory • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television
Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Supporting Role
Devs • Episode 8 • FX Networks • FX Productions
The Handmaid’s Tale • Household • Hulu • MGM, Daniel Wilson Productions, The Littlefield Company, White Oak Pictures
Tales From The Loop • Loop • Prime Video • Fox21 Television Studios and Amazon Studios
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan • Strongman • Prime Video • Paramount Television and Amazon Studios
Vikings • The Best Laid Plans • HISTORY • An Octagon and Take 5 production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
Big Mouth • How To Have An Orgasm • Netflix Maya Rudolph as Connie the Hormone Monstress
Central Park • Episode One • Apple TV+ • 20th Century Fox Television Leslie Odom Jr. as Owen
Crank Yankers • Bobby Brown, Wanda Sykes & Kathy Griffin • Comedy Central • Kimmelot, ITV, Central Productions, LLC Wanda Sykes as Gladys
The Mandalorian • Chapter 8: Redemption • Disney+ • Lucasfilm Ltd. Taika Waititi as IG-11
The Simpsons • Better Off Ned • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Nelson, Ralph, Todd
The Simpsons • Frinkcoin • FOX • Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television Hank Azaria as Professor Frink, Moe, Chief Wiggum, Carl, Cletus, Kirk, Sea Captain
Outstanding Children’s Program
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance • Netflix • The Jim Henson Company
Star Wars Resistance • Disney Channel • Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.
We Are The Dream: The Kids Of The Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest • HBO • HBO Documentary Films in association with Know Wonder
Main Title Design
Abstract: The Art of Design • Netflix • A Radical Media Production in association with Tremolo Productions & Godfrey Dadich
Carnival Row • Prime Video • Legendary Pictures TV and Amazon Studios
Godfather Of Harlem • Epix • ABC Signature Studios
The Morning Show • Apple TV+ • Media Res
The Politician • Netflix • A Fox21 Television Studios Production
Watchmen • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Westworld • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television
Outstanding Derivative Interactive Program
Big Mouth Guide To Life • Netflix • Social Life | Part of Jellyfish Group
Doctor Who: The Runaway • BBC America • British Broadcasting Corporation / Passion Animation Studios
Outstanding Original Interactive Program
The Messy Truth VR Experience • Oculus • Magic Labs Media, EAB, RYOT
Rebuilding Notre Dame • Oculus • TARGO in association with Facebook Oculus
When We Stayed Home • Oculus • TARGO in association with Facebook Oculus
Outstanding Interactive Extension Of A Linear Program
Mr. Robot • Season_4.0 ARG • USA Network • Ralph Interactive, 5th Column Games
Stranger Things • Scoops Ahoy: Operation Scoop Snoop • Netflix • 22Squared, m ss ng p eces, Baskin Robbins
Westworld • Free Will Is Not Free Interactive Experience • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television
The 72nd Emmy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, who also serves as executive producer for television’s biggest night. Recently announced executive producers for the telecast include Guy Carrington, Reginald Hudlin, David Jammy and Ian Stewart. The show will be broadcast Sunday, September 20 (8-11 p.m. EDT / 5-8 p.m. PDT) on ABC.
The 2020 Creative Arts Awards will air on FXX on Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT.
