The International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) announced nominations Monday for its 45th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. Covering 36 categories (such as Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Commercials, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the Juried Awards) the ceremony is set for Saturday, February 3, 2018 at UCLA’s Royce Hall (annieawards.org/event-info).
“The Annies continue to grow in the number of submissions again this year, pointing out animation’s diversity in both style and storytelling, not only from our local community, but from the industry world-wide,” said ASIFA’s Executive Director, Frank Gladstone. “That the Annies are now an established and important part of the ‘Award Season’ is enormously gratifying for all of us who tell our stories frame by frame.”
“No doubt about it, our nominees represent the best work in the field,” said ASIFA-Hollywood President, Jerry Beck. “I am particularly proud of the diversity of voices, techniques and artistic styles displayed in the feature films, television programming, independent shorts, commercials and gaming we screened this year. The animation community embodies the finest qualities of the creative arts – and our Annie nominees this year certainly bear that out.”
Production Categories nominees below, For a complete list of nominations, including personal achievement categories, visit www.annieawards.org/nominees.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Captain Underpants (DreamWorks Animation)
Cars 3 (Pixar Animation Studios)
Coco (Pixar Animation Studios)
Despicable Me 3 (Illumination)
The Boss Baby (DreamWorks Animation).
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – INDEPENDENT
In This Corner of the World (Taro Maki, GENCO, Inc. and Masao Maruyama, Mappa Co., Ltd)
Loving Vincent (BreakThru Films, Production Company Trademark Films, Co-Production Company)
Napping Princess (Nippon TV)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales (Folivari/Panique!/Studiocanal)
The Breadwinner (Cartoon Saloon/Aircraft Pictures/Melusine Productions)
BEST ANIMATED SPECIAL PRODUCTION
Imaginary Friend Society “Feeling Sad” (Hornet)
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Pig: The Dam Keeper Poems (Tonko House, Inc.)
Revolting Rhymes (Magic Light Pictures)
Tangled: Before Ever After (Walt Disney Television Animation)
BEST ANIMATED SHORT SUBJECT
Dear Basketball (Glen Keane Prod., Kobe Studios, Believe Entertainment Group)
Hedgehog’s Home (National Film Board of Canada, Bonobostudio)
Negative Space (IKKI Films, Manuel Cam Studio)
Scavengers (Titmouse, Inc., Adult Swim)
Son of Jaguar (Google Spotlight Stories, Reel FX)
BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION/BROADCAST COMMERCIAL
“Biscotti. Una Storia Buona” (Hornet)
June (Broad Reach Pictures, Chromosphere, Lyft)
League of Legends “Legends Never Die” (Passion Animation Studios)
“Please the Cheese” (Psyop)
Sainsbury’s “The Greatest Gift” (Passion Animation Studios)
BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION/BROADCAST PRODUCTION FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Mickey and the Roadster Racers “Goofy Gas!” (Walt Disney Television Animation)
Octonauts “Operation Deep Freeze” (Vampire Squid Prod. Ltd., a Silvergate Media company, in assoc. with Brown Bag Films)
Peg + Cat “The Mariachi Problem” (The Fred Rogers Company, 100 Chickens Prod.)
The Stinky & Dirty Show “HaHaHigher / The Waiting Game” (Amazon Studios)
Through the Woods “A Snowy Morning” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, The Fred Rogers Company, PIP Animation Services)
BEST ANIMATED TELEVISION/BROADCAST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN
Buddy Thunderstruck “To Protect and Swerve / Robo Truck of the Future” (Stoopid Buddy and American Greetings for Netflix)
Lost in Oz “The Pearl of Pingaree” (Amazon Studios)
Niko and the Sword of Light “From the Cliffs of Catastrophe to the Pools of Destiny” (Amazon Studios)
Tangled: The Series “Queen for a Day” (Walt Disney Television Animation)
We Bare Bears “Panda’s Art” (Cartoon Network Animation Studios)
BEST GENERAL AUDIENCE ANIMATED TELEVISION/BROADCAST PRODUCTION
Big Mouth “Am I Gay?” (Netflix)
BoJack Horseman “Stupid Piece of Sh*t” (Tornante Prod. for Netflix)
Rick and Morty “Pickle Rick” (Williams Street Prod.)
Robot Chicken “Freshly Baked: The Robot Chicken Santa Claus Pot Cookie Freakout Special: Special Edition” (Stoopid Buddy Stoodios)
Samurai Jack “Episode XCIII” (Adult Swim)
BEST STUDENT FILM
Cradle – Devon Manney
Elsewhere – Junyi Xiao
Good Night, Everybuds! – Director: Benedikt Hummel, Sound Design & Mix: Lena Beck, Music: Andreas Pfeiffer, Producer: Stefan Michel (Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg)
Once a Hero – Xia Li
Poles Apart – Director: Paloma Baeza, Producer: Ser En Low, All Student Crew
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