It’s almost time for ASIFA-Hollywood’s annual animation gala, which will be held as a live streamed ceremony this Friday, April 16, starting at 7 p.m. PST.
Often a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 36 categories ranging from best feature, best feature independent, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music, editing and voice acting. Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annies have grown in scope and stature for nearly five decades.
This year’s VIP guests and presenters include actors Josh Gad (Central Park), Matthew Rhys (The Owl House), Philippa Soo (Hamilton, Over the Moon), Eva Whittaker (Wolfwalkers) and Patrick Warburton (Family Guy); Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino; award-winning directors Sergio Pablos (Klaus) and Jill Culton (Abominable); Cartoon Saloon producer/director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), producer/director Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) and the cast of the web series, Critical Role.
Read more about what to expect from this year’s virtual ceremony here.
This year’s juried awards will be presented to Willie Ito, Sue Nichols (posthumously) and Bruce Smith, receiving the Winsor McCay Award; Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, June Foray Award; Epic Games Unreal Engine, Ub Iwerks Award; and documentary Howard, Special Achievement Award.
As for the nominees across dozens of production and craft categories, feature films Soul and Wolfwalkers are tied for the most nominations with 10 each, while series Hilda and shorts Shooom’s Odyssey, Lamp Life and To: Gerard tie in the TV/Media competition with three nominations apiece. See the full list of nominees here.
Want to learn more about the year’s animated awards season favorites? Catch up with Animation Magazine‘s coverage of…
Features:
- Calamity Jane (3)
- The Croods: A New Age (6 nominations)
- Earwig and the Witch (2)
- Onward (7)
- Over the Moon (6)
- Ride Your Wave (2)
- A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (3)
- Soul (10)
- Trolls World Tour (4)
- The Willoughbys (6)
- Wolfwalkers (10)
Shorts & Specials:
- Alien Xmas
- Cops and Robbers
- If Anything Happens I Love You
- Kkum
- Lamp Life
- The Snail and the Whale
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea
- To: Gerard
- The World of Tomorrow Episode Three: The Absent Destination of David Prime
TV:
- Amphibia S2
- Close Enough
- Hilda S2
- Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
- Looney Tunes Cartoons
- The Midnight Gospel
- The Owl House
- Stillwater
- Trash Truck
VFX Character Animation:
Tune in to the Annie Awards Friday night (7 p.m. PST) at annieawards.org/watch-it-live
