The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 41st Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. The Annie Awards cover 30 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short and Outstanding Individual Achievements.
The slate of nominations for Best Animated Features this year are: A Letter to Momo (GKIDS), Despicable Me 2 (Universal Pictures), Ernest & Celestine (GKIDS), Frozen (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Monsters University (Pixar Animation Studios), The Croods (DreamWorks Animations), and The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli and The Walt Disney Studios).
“We had more submissions to choose from this year running the gamut from big studio features to indie films, television series to internet shows, games, shorts and student films, as well as a wonderful group of juried award recipients, all showcasing the huge variety of venues, creativity, technical innovation and story-telling that our art form has to offer,” said Frank Gladstone, president of ASIFA-Hollywood.
Frozen and Monsters University topped the film category with 10 nominations apiece followed by Despicable Me 2 and The Croods with nine each.
CAA Marketing had a hand in two nominations: Coca-Cola’s The Polar Bears movie in the Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial category; and Chipotle’s Scarecrow out of Moonbot Studios for Best Animated Special Production.
Juried awards, honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation, will also be presented. Three Winsor McCay recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors – Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg and Phil Tippett for their career contributions to the art of animation; June Foray Award – Alice Davis for her significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation; and Certificate of Merit – “I Know That Voice” (Documentary).
Winners will be announced at the 41st Annual Annie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, CA. Here’s a rull rundown of nominees:
PRODUCTION CATEGORIES
#1 – Best Animated Feature
A Letter to Momo –
GKIDS
Despicable Me 2 –
Universal Pictures
Ernest & Celestine
– GKIDS
Frozen –
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Monsters University –
Pixar Animation Studios
The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
The Wind Rises
– The Walt Disney Studios
#2 – Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production
Chipotle Scarecrow
– Moonbot Studios
Listening Is an Act of Love
– StoryCorps
Room on the Broom –
Magic Light Pictures
Toy Story OF TERROR!
- Pixar Animation Studios
# 3 – Best Animated Short Subject
Despicable Me 2 – Puppy
– Universal Pictures
Get A Horse!
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
Gloria Victoria
– National Film Board of Canada
My Mom is an Airplane
– Acme Filmworks
The Numberlys –
Moonbot Studios
# 4 – Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
Despicable Me 2 – Cinemark
– Universal Pictures
Sound of the Woods – Acme Filmworks
The Polar Bears Movie
– CAA Marketing
#5 – Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
Bubble Guppies
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Disney Sofia the First
– Disney Television Animation
Doc McStuffins
– Disney Television Animation
Justin Time
– Guru Studio
Peter Rabbit – Nickelodeon Animation Studio
#6 – Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
Adventure Time –
Cartoon Network Studios
Beware the Batman
– Warner Bros. Animation
Disney Gravity Falls
– Disney Television Animation
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness –
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Regular Show –
Cartoon Network Studios
Scaredy Squirrel –
Nelvana Ltd.
Teen Titans Go!
– Warner Bros. Animation
The Legend of Korra
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
#7 – Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Archer
– FX Networks
Bob’s Burgers –
Bento Box Entertainment
Disney Tron Uprising
– Disney Television Animation
Futurama
– 20th Century Fox Television
Motorcity
– Titmouse Inc.
#8 – Best Animated Video Game
Diggs Nightcrawler
– Moonbot Studios
Tiny Thief
– 5 ANTS
The Last of Us –
Naughty Dog
#9 – Best Student Film
Chicken or the Egg
– Ringling College of Art and Design
Kellerkind – Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
Miss Todd
– Kristina Yee
Move Mountain
– Kirsten Lepore
SEMÕFORO –
University of Southern California
The Final Straw
– Ringling College of Art and Design
Trusts & Estates
– CalArts
Wedding Cake –
Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES
#10 – Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Alen Lai, David Quirus, Diego Garzon Sanchez, Ilan Gabai – Epic
– Blue Sky Studios
David Jones – Dragons: Defenders of Berk
– DreamWorks Animation
Joshua Jenny, Jason Johnston, Matthew Wong, Eric Froemling, Enrique Vila – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Jeff Budsberg, Andre Le Blanc, Louis Flores, Jason Mayer – The Croods –
DreamWorks Animation
Greg Gladstone, Nikita Pavlov, Allen Ruilova, Matt Titus, Can Yuksel – Turbo
– DreamWorks Animation
#11 – Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Jonathan Paquin, Brian Goodwin, Gray Horsfield, Mathieu Chardonnet, Adrien Toupet – Man Of Steel –
Weta Digital
Ben O’Brien, Karin Cooper, Lee Uren, Chris Root – Star Trek: Into Darkness – Industrial Light & Magic
Dan Pearson, Jay Cooper, Jeff Grebe, Amelia Chenoweth – Star Trek: Into Darkness –
Industrial Light & Magic
Michael Balog, Ryan Hopkins, Patrick Conran, Florian Witzel – Pacific Rim
– Industrial Light & Magic
#12 – Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Brad Schaffer – Friendship All-Stars of Friendship: Wrong Number
– Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Eric Urban – Ubermansion
– Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
JC Tran Quang Thieu – Toy Story OF TERROR! – Pixar Animation Studios
David DeVan – Toy Story OF TERROR! – Pixar Animation Studios Character
Kureha Yokoo – Toy Story OF TERROR! – Pixar Animation Studios Character
Keith Kellogg – Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lucasfilm Animation
#13 – Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
Thom Roberts – Epic
– Blue Sky Studios
Jonathan Del Val – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Jakob Jensen – The Croods –
DreamWorks Animation
John Chun Chiu Lee – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Kitaro Kosaka – The Wind Rises –
The Walt Disney Studios
Tony Smeed – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
Patrick Imbert – Ernest & Celestine
– GKIDS
#14 – Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Jeff Capogreco, Jedrzej Wojtowicz, Kevin Estey, Alessandro Bonora, Gino Acevedo – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Gollum
– Weta Digital
Dave Clayton, Simeon Duncombe, Jung Min Chan, Matthew Cioffi, Guillame Francois – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Goblin King
– Weta Digital
Hal Hickel, Chris Lentz, Derrick Carlin, Steve Rawlins, Kyle Winkelman – Pacific Rim
– Industrial Light & Magic
#15 – Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Craig McCracken – Disney Wander Over Yonder
– Disney Television Animation
Paul Rudish – Disney Mickey Mouse
– Disney Television Animation
Andy Bialk – The Awesomes
– Bento Box Entertainment
Ben Adams – Regular Show – Cartoon Network Studios
Danny Hynes, Howard Colin – Steven Universe
– Cartoon Network Studios
#16 – Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Carter Goodrich, Takao Noguchi, Shane Prigmore – The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
Sylvain Deboissy, Shannon Tindle – Turbo – DreamWorks Animation
Craig Kellman – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 –
Sony Pictures Animation
Chris Sasaki – Monsters University –
Pixar Animation Studios
Christophe Lourdelet – A Monster in Paris
– Shout! Factory
Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2 –
Universal Pictures
Bill Schwab – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#17 – Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Colin Heck – The Legend of Korra
– Nickelodeon Animation
Elaine Bogan – Dragons: Defenders of Berk
– DreamWorks Animation
Stephan Franck – The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow
– Sony Pictures Animation
John Aoshima – Disney Gravity Falls
– Disney Television Animation
Aaron Springer – Disney Mickey Mouse –
Disney Television Animation
Angus MacLane – Toy Story OF TERROR!
– Pixar Animation Studios
Harold Harris – Justin Time – Guru Studio
#18 – Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Chris Sanders, Kirk DeMicco – The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
David Soren – Turbo –
DreamWorks Animation
Chris Wedge – Epic
– Blue Sky Studios
Benjamin Renner, Vincent Patar, Stéphane Aubier – Ernest & Celestine
– GKIDS
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#19 – Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Alan Williams – Estefan – Silverscreen Music
Guy Moon – T.U.F.F. Puppy –
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Peter Luyre, Stuart Kollmorgen, Peter Zizzo – Peter Rabbit
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Kevin Kliesch, Craig Gerber, John Kavanaugh – Disney Sofia the First
– Disney Television Animation
Christopher Willis – Disney Mickey Mouse
– Disney Television Animation
Andy Bean – Disney Wander Over Yonder
– Disney Television Animation
#20 – Music in an Animated Feature Production
Alan Silvestri – The Croods –
DreamWorks Animation
Henry Jackman – Turbo
– DreamWorks Animation
Mark Mothersbaugh – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2
– Sony Pictures Animation
Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Danny Elfman – Epic – Blue Sky Studios
Randy Newman – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Christophe Beck – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
Dominic Lewis – Free Birds –
Reel FX
#21 – Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Angela Sung, William Niu, Christine Bian, Emily Tetri, Frederic Stewart – The Legend of Korra
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Liz Artinian, Ray Feldman, Chris Fisher, George Fort – The Venture Bros.
“What Color is Your Cleansuit?” – Titmouse Inc.
Steven Sugar, Emily Walus, Sam Bosma, Elle Michalka, Amanda Winterstein – Steven Universe
”Gem Glow” – Cartoon Network Studios
Lynna Blankenship, Dima Malanitchev, Debbie Peterson, Charles Ragins, Jefferson R. Weekley – The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror XXIV” Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Christophe Vacher – Transformers Prime ‘Beast Hunters’
- Hasbro Studios
Nick Jenings, Sandra Calleros, Teri Shikasho, Ron Russell – Adventure Time – Cartoon Network Studios
#22 – Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Christophe Lautrette, Paul Duncan, Dominique R. Louis – The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
Yarrow Cheney, Eric Guillon – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Michael Knapp, Greg Couch, William Joyce – Epic
– Blue Sky Studios
Zaza, Zyk – Ernest & Celestine – GKIDS
Ricky Nierva, Robert Kondo, Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Michael Giaimo, Lisa Keene, David Womersley – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#23 – Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Piero Piluso – Monsters vs. Aliens
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Douglas Lovelace – Dragons: Riders of Berk
– DreamWorks Animation
Adam Ford, Deke Wightman, Kevin Mellon, Justin Wagner, Benji Williams – Archer
– FX Networks
Alonso Ramos-Ramirez – Disney Mickey Mouse
– Disney Television Animation
Daniel Chong – Toy Story of TERROR! – Pixar Animation Studios
Alonso Ramos-Ramirez – Gravity Falls –
Disney Television Animation
Guillermo Del Toro, Guy Davis, Ralph Sosa – The Simpsons — “Treehouse of Horror XXIV” — Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Paul Watling – Justin Time –
Guru Studio
#24 – Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Steven MacLeod – The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
Eric Favela – Despicable Me 2 –
Universal Pictures
Dean Kelly – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Jason Hand – Planes
- Disneytoon Studios
John Ripa – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#25 – Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Eric Bauza as the voice of Foop – Fairly Odd Parents
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Bill Farmer as the voice of Goofy – Disney Mickey Mouse –
Disney Television Animation
Chris Diamantopoulos as the voice of Mickey Mouse – Disney Mickey Mouse –
Disney Television Animation
Mark Hamill as the voice of Skips and Walks – Regular Show
– Cartoon Network Studios
Tom Kenny as the voice of Ice King – Adventure Time –
Cartoon Network Studios
#26 – Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Paul Giamatti as the voice of Chet – Turbo
– DreamWorks Animation
Terry Crews as the voice of Earl – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2
– Sony Pictures Animation
Kristen Wiig as the voice of Lucy – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Steve Carell as the voice of Gru – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Pierre Coffin as the voice of Minions – Despicable Me 2
– Universal Pictures
Billy Crystal as the voice of Mike – Monsters University – Pixar Animation Studios
Josh Gad as the voice of Olaf – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#27 – Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Katie Matila – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
– Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Ian Maxtone-Graham, Billy Kimball – The Simpsons
- Trocadero Holdings
Lewis Morton – Futurama
– 20th Century Fox Television
Matt Price, John Infantino, Mike Roth, Michele Cavin, Sean Szeles – Regular Show –
Cartoon Network Studios
Michael Price – The Simpsons
- The Simpsons
#28 – Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Daniel Pennac – Ernest & Celestine
– GKIDS
Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird, Dan Scanlon – Monsters University –
Pixar Animation Studios
Miyazaki Hayao – The Wind Rises
- The Walt Disney Studios
Jennifer Lee – Frozen
– Walt Disney Animation Studios
#29 – Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Adam Arnold, Hugo Morales, Davrick Waltjen – Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness –
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Myra Lopez, Ana Adams, Justin Baker – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles –
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Lynn Hobson – Dragons: Defenders of Berk –
DreamWorks Animation
Illya Owens – Disney Mickey Mouse –
Disney Television Animation
Axel Geddes, Kathy Graves, Chloe Kloezeman – Toy Story OF TERROR!
– Pixar Animation Studios
Paul D. Calder – Futurama
– 20th Century Fox Television
Paul Douglas – Adventure Time
– Cartoon Network Studios
Jason W.A. Tucker – Star Wars: The Clone Wars –
Lucasfilm Animation
#30 – Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Darren Holmes – The Croods
– DreamWorks Animation
James Ryan – Turbo
– DreamWorks Animation
Fabienne Alvarez-Giro – Ernest & Celestine –
GKIDS
Greg Snyder, Gregory Amundson, Steve Bloom – Monsters University
– Pixar Animation Studios
Jeff Draheim – Frozen –
Walt Disney Animation Studios
JURIED AWARDS
Winsor McCay Award – Katsuhiro Otomo, Steven Spielberg &
Phil Tippett
June Foray – Alice Davis
Certificate of Merit – “I Know That Voice” (Documentary)
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 year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” 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 Shields’ 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