As the animation community gears up for this Sunday’s 32nd Annual Annie Awards, ASIFA-Hollywood (International Animated Film Society) has announced the legendary comic-book creator Stan Lee is among the list of celebrity presenters for the "Oscars" of the animation industry. The black-tie ceremony honoring the year’s best animation across film, television, commercials and short subjects will take place Jan. 30 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, Calif.
This year’s event will be hosted by Annie-nominated comic actor and prolific voice artist Tom Kenny, best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. He will be joined on stage by industry VIPs including Stan Lee, who created some of Marvel Comics’ most successful superheroes and keeps grabbing animation news headlines with the many toon projects he has in the works with IDT Ent.
Also lined up to present awards are John H. Williams, producer of Shrek and the upcoming Disney CG feature, Valiant; Bill Kroyer, acclaimed animator/director; Bill Fagerbakke, co-star of SpongeBob SquarePants; Mary Jo Rupp, an actress with many animated roles to her credit but best known as Kitty Forman on That 70’s Show; Sean Marquette, series lead in Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends; actor Stephen Root, whose credits range from Office Space to Finding Nemo and Sci-Fi Channel’s primetime animated series, Tripping the Rift; Candi Milo, a prolific voice artist who can be heard on more than a dozen animated shows; Bob Bergen, who received a daytime Emmy nomination as Porky Pig on Cartoon Network’s Duck Dodgers; and Jess Harnell, voice of countless film and television characters. In addition, the legendary June Foray will again present her namesake award.
The Annie Awards begin at 3 pm with a pre-reception sponsored by IDT Ent. in the courtyard and lobby areas of the Alex Theatre. The awards ceremony follows at 5 pm. Immediately after the awards ceremony concludes, guests will enjoy a post-show celebration dinner at Milano’s Cucina Italiana (525 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale), two blocks north of the Alex Theatre.
More than 1,000 entertainment industry insiders attend the annual Annie Awards. Tickets are available to the general public, space permitting. General admission is $60 and VIP tickets with preferential seating are $100. Tickets are available through the Alex Theatre box office by calling (818) 243-ALEX (2539).
The 32nd Annual Annie Awards are supported by sponsors Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disneytoon Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Pixar, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Television Animation, IDT Ent., Sony Pictures Imageworks and Cartoon Network.
For tickets and information on the Annie Awards, contact ASIFA-Hollywood at (818) 842-8330 or visit www.asifa-hollywood.org.
