"Early Man,"ย "Incredibles 2," "Isle of Dogs," "Ralph Breaks The Internet," "Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse" in running for Best Animated Feature
The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, has unveiled nominations for its 46th Annual Annie Awards™ recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation.
Nominated for Best Animated Feature are: Early Man (Aardman Animations), Incredibles 2 (Pixar Animation Studios), Isle of Dogs (Fox Searchlight Pictures/Indian Paintbrush/American Empirical Pictures), Ralph Breaks The Internet (Walt Disney Animation Studios) and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures Animation).
In the running for Best Independent Animated Feature–spotlighting films with a much smaller distribution footprint than major studio releases–are: Ce Magnifique Gรขteau! (Beast Animation, Vivement Lundi!, Pedri Animation), MFKZ (Ankama/Studio 4ºC), Mirai (Studio Chizu), Ruben Brandt, Collector (Hungarian National Film Fund) and Tito and the Birds (Bits Productions, Split Studio).
“From over 1,600 submissions, our committees have made a great selection of nominees this year. A wide choice of animation techniques, a broad selection of subjects, increasingly creative designs and an encompassing representation of films from other countries and various points of view is going to make this year’s Annie Awards an ever more diversified event,” said Frank Gladstone, ASIFA-Hollywood executive director. “Membership voting begins January 1. Looking at the slate of nominees, I think this year’s decisions will be extraordinary.”
The Annie Awards cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Commercials, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards. The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Juried Awards will be presented honoring unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. Three Winsor McCay Award recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors for their exemplary industry careers: Academy Award-winning director, animator and art director, Ralph Eggleston; Frank Braxton (posthumously), the first African-American animator, animation director and guild president; and casting director, voice director and voice actress Andrea Romano.
The June Foray Award will be presented to veteran animator, Adam Burke (posthumously) for his significant and benevolent impact on the animation community. Ton Roosendaal, Dutch software developer and film producer, will accept the Ub Iwerks Award for Blender Open Source Animation Software; and a Certificate of Merit will be presented to dedicated ASIFA volunteer, Jason Jones.
ASIFA-Hollywood is the professional organization dedicated to promoting the art of animation and celebrating the people who create it. ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, animated film preservation, special events, classes and screenings.
Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past four decades.
Here’s a rundown of Annie nominees:
Annie Award for Best Animated Feature
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Isle Of Dogs
Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Annie Award for Best Animated Independent Feature
Ce Magnifique Gรขteau !
Beast Animation, Vivement Lundi !, Pedri Animation
MFKZ
Ankama / Studio 4ºC
Mirai
Studio Chizu
Ruben Brandt, Collector
Hungarian National Film Fund
Tito and the Birds
Bits Productions, Split Studio
Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Back to the Moon
Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Studios
The Emperor’s Newest Clothes
HBO / Starburns Industries
The Highway Rat
Magic Light Pictures
Annie Award for Best Animated Short Subject
Grandpa Walrus
Caรฏmans Productions
Lost & Found
Wabi Sabi Studios
SOLAR WALK
Nรธrlum
Untravel
Production: Film House Baลก ฤelik, Serbia
Co-production: BFilm, Bratislava / Your Dreams Factory, Bratislava
Weekends
past lives productions
Annie Award for Best Virtual Reality Production
Age of Sail
Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures
Battlescar
AtlasV
Crow: The Legend
Baobab Studios
Mind Palace
Filmakademie Baden-Wรผrttemberg GmbH
Moss
Polyarc
Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
Goldfish at the Fair
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Greenpeace ‘There’s a Rang-Tan In My Bedroom’
Passion Animation Studios
Grinch / 40 / Olympics Spot
Illumination
JD.com, ‘Joy and Heron’
Passion Pictures
The Fearless Are Here
Nexus Studios
Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
Ask the StoryBots
JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix
Dinotrux: Supercharged
DreamWorks Animation Television
Hey Duggee
Studio AKA
PJ Masks
Frog Box
Entertainment One
Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment
Annie Award for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Children
Hilda
Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks
Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny
DreamWorks Animation Television
Little Big Awesome
Amazon Studios
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters
DreamWorks Animation Television
Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Big Mouth
Netflix
Bob’s Burgers
20th Century FOX Television/Bento Box Entertainment
BoJack Horseman
Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix
Human Kind Of
Cartuna, Facebook Watch
The Venture Bros.
Adult Swim / Titmouse, Inc.
Annie Award for Best Student Film
A Blink of An Eye
Anke Kletsch
Best Friend
Luce Grosjean
FACING IT
Sam Gainsborough
Hors Piste
Luce Grosjean
Sister
Siqi Song
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
DreamWorks Theatre Presents Kung Fu Panda
DreamWorks Animation
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
SuperMansion
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Tales of Arcadia: Trollhunters
DreamWorks Animation Television
Watership Down
42 / Biscuit Entertainment with Netflix
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an an Animated Feature Production
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Sony Pictures Animation
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Next Gen
Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Age of Sail
Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures
Back to the Moon
Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios
Hilda
Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks
Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure
Walt Disney Television Animation
Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studio
Isle of Dogs
Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Avengers: Infinity War
Marvel
Christopher Robin
Walt Disney Pictures
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Pictures
Paddington 2
StudioCanal, Heyday Films, Marmalade Films Ltd
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Walt Disney Studios
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game
God of War
Santa Monica Studio
GRIS
Nomada Studio
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Insomniac Games
Moss
Polyarc
Shadow of The Tomb Raider
Square Enix
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Age of Sail
Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures
Niko and the Sword of Light
Amazon Studios
Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure
Walt Disney Television Animation
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
DreamWorks Animation Television
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
DreamWorks Animation Television
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Studios
Next Gen
Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Ask the StoryBots
JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix
Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Niko and the Sword of Light
Amazon Studios
SuperMansion
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Tales of Arcadia: 3Below
DreamWorks Animation Television
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Sony Pictures Animation
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Back to the Moon
Google Spotlight Stories, Google Doodles, Nexus Studios
Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Elena of Avalor
Disney Television Animation
Tangled: The Series
Walt Disney Television Animation
The Tom and Jerry Show
Warner Bros. Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
Illumination
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Smallfoot
Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Animation Group
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Age of Sail
Google Spotlight Stories, Broad Reach Pictures
Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Little Big Awesome
Amazon Studios
Niko and the Sword of Light
Amazon Studios
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
DreamWorks Animation Television
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Sony Pictures Animation
Isle of Dogs
FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
INDIAN PAINTBRUSH
AMERICAN EMPIRICAL PICTURES
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Ben 10
Cartoon Network Studios
Big Hero 6: The Series
Walt Disney Television Animation
Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Star vs. The Forces of Evil
Walt Disney Television Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
Illumination
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Mary Poppins Returns
Walt Disney Studios
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
BoJack Horseman
Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix
F is for Family
Wild West Television in association with Gaumont Television for Netflix
Pete the Cat
Amazon Studios, Alcon Television Group, LLC
Skylanders Academy
Activision Blizzard Studios
Unikitty
Warner Bros. Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Early Man
Aardman Animations
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Isle of Dogs
Fox Searchlight Pictures / Indian Paintbrush / American Empirical Pictures
Next Gen
Baozou with Alibaba Pictures Inc. in association with Tangent Animation for Netflix
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Big Mouth
Netflix
Craig of the Creek
Cartoon Network Studios
Hilda
Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks
Star vs. The Forces of Evil
Walt Disney Television Animation
We Bare Bears
Cartoon Network Animation Studios
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Mirai
Studio Chizu
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
Teen Titans Go! to the Movies
Warner Bros. Animation
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
Big Hero 6: The Series
Walt Disney Television Animation
Puppy Dog Pals
Wild Canary Animation / Disney Junior
SpongeBob SquarePants
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Tales of Arcadia: 3Below
DreamWorks Animation Television
The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants
DreamWorks Animation Television
Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
Illumination
Incredibles 2
Pixar Animation Studios
Ralph Breaks The Internet
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Ruben Brandt, Collector
Hungarian National Film Fund
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sony Pictures Animation
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this yearโs Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa โT-Rexโ Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shieldsโ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More