The 2026 Annie Awards nominations, recognizing the best in animation across film and TV, have been revealed.
Elio and KPop Demon Hunters top this year’s film nominations, with 10 nods each, including in the top category of best feature. For best feature, they’ll compete against seven-time nominees Little Amélie or the Character of Rain and Zootopia 2 and five-time nominee The Bad Guys 2.
Other films with multiple nominations include Arco, with five, and The Twits and Scarlet, with three each.
Top TV nominees include Win or Lose (six nominations), Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight (five nods) and Common Side Effects.
In addition to the competitive awards, juried awards will be presented honoring unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. The Windsor McCay Award, recognizing lifetime career contributions, will be presented to Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, animator-writer-director Michaël Dudok de Wit and writer-director Chris Sanders. The June Foray Award for significant and benevolent impact to the animation community will be given to animation and live action producer Sandy Rabins who led the AnimAID effort to help those in the animation industry affected by the L.A. wildfires. The Ub Iwerks Award for technical achievement affecting the animation industry will be presented to Wacom, which makes the Cintiq graphics tablet and other products that have become a key part of animation production. And the special achievement award will be presented to LightBox Expo, the annual event that brings animation filmmakers together with students and fans.
The 53rd Annie Awards, set to take place on Feb. 21 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, are presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of international organization ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation), dedicated to promoting the art of animation and celebrating the people who create it.
A complete list of the 2026 Annie Awards nominees follows.
Best Feature
Elio, Pixar Animation Studios
KPop Demon Hunters, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDS
The Bad Guys 2, DreamWorks Animation
Zootopia 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Best Feature — Independent
A Magnificent Life, Mediawan, What the Prod and Bidibul productions
Arco, Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma
I’m Frankelda, Cinema Fantasma, Warner Bros. Discovery, Woo Films, Cine Vendaval
Lost In Starlight, Netflix / Climax Studio
Scarlet, Studio CHIZU
Best Special Production
A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice, Nickelodeon Animation Studio & Jam Filled Entertainment
Adult Swim’s The Elephant, Titmouse and Williams Street
Not Just a Goof, Venturia Animation Studios for CNEK Films LLC
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland, Lupus Films, Universal Pictures Content Group
Best Short Subject
Cardboard, Locksmith Animation
Ovary-Acting, Klipp og Lim, Jante Films, Apparat Filmproduktion AB
Pillowzzz, Animoshe
Snow Bear, The Art of Aaron Blaise
The Girl Who Cried Pearls, National Film Board of Canada
Best Sponsored
Animated Short: “Trek” | Honkai: Star Rail, FLiiiP Design
Fortnite x The Simpsons: Apocalypse D’Oh!, A Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television Animation
LouiMax Dreams of Being An Adult, Imagine Create Media Inc. in conjunction with Maileg APS
Olipop Yeti, Screen Novelties & Passion Pictures
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – The Animation, SEGA of America in association with GXS Productions
Best TV/Media – Preschool
Eva The OwletEpisode: Welcome to TreetopingtonBrown Bag Films / Scholastic Entertainment in association with Apple
Kindergarten: The Musical! Episode: Gotta Go!Oddbot Entertainment, Disney Branded Television
The Tiny Chef ShowEpisode: Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump SpectacularImagine Entertainment, Tiny Chef Productions and Nickelodeon Productions
Wow LisaEpisode: Rainy DayPunkrobot
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Episode: I am Jackie Robinson9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films
Best TV/Media – Children
My Melody & KuromiEpisode: All For Our Best FriendSanrio Company for Netflix
Spice Frontier: Escape From Veltegar Episode: 1Steamroller Animation
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Episode: Rise of the Night NinjaNickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey Pictures
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball Episode: The RewriteHanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Wylde PakEpisode: SungandeulNickelodeon Animation Studios / Jam Filled Entertainment
Best TV/Media – Mature
Bob’s BurgersEpisode: Grand Pre-Pre-Pre Opening20th TV
Common Side Effects Episode: PilotGreen Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment and Williams Street Productions
Haha, You ClownsEpisode: 107 – Duncan Holds a BabyWilliams Street
Il BaracchinoEpisode: Claudia entra in un caffèLuckyred, Megadrago
South ParkEpisode: Sermon on the ‘MountComedy Central LLC
Best TV/Media – Limited Series
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Episode: Episode IIINetflix / Banijay Productions France / Légende Films
Eyes of WakandaEpisode: Into The Lion’s DenMarvel Studios
Marvel Zombies Episode: 2Marvel Studios
Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3 Episode: BLACKdavid production
Win Or LoseEpisode: Episode 8: HomePixar Animation Studios
Best Student Film
A Sparrow’s SongStudent director: Tobias EckerlinStudent producer: Tobias EckerlinSchool: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
AcrobatsStudent directors: Eloïse Alluyn, Hugo Danet, Anna Despinoy, Antonin Guerci, Alexandre Marzin, Shali ReddySchool: Gobelins
Jour de ventStudent directors: Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, Elise Golfouse, Chloé Lab, Hugo Taillez, Camille TrudingSchool: École des Nouvelles Images
The Undying Pain of Existence Student director: Oscar JacobsonStudent producers: Franz Rügamer, Nadiia YunatskaSchool: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
TRASHStudent directors: Maxime Crançon, Alexis Le RalStudent producers: Robin Delaporte, Romain Fleischer, Mattéo DurandSchool: ESMA
Best FX – TV/Media
Marvel Zombies Episode: Episode 4Production Company: Marvel AnimationFX Production Company: Stellar Creative Lab, Inc.Emma Badia, Tristan Fairclough, Jimmy Dumont, Sheng Hung, Arth Vasavada
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age Episode: The Big FreezeProduction Company: BBC Studios Natural History UnitFX Production Company: FramestoreEdward Ferrysienanda, Kevin Christensen, Guy Shuleman , Benedikt Roettger, Kevin Tarpinian
Spice Frontier Episode: 1Production Company: Steamroller AnimationFX Production Company: Steamroller AnimationSteamroller Animation Effects Department
Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3 Episode: The Bird of ParadiseProduction Company: Polygon PicturesFX Production Company: Polygon PicturesTakashi Okamoto, Kohei Yamamoto, Genyo Sasaki, Chizuru Nakamura, Erika Matsui
WONDLAEpisode: LostProduction Company: Skydance AnimationFX Production Company: ICON Creative StudioEP 209 ICON Creative Studio FX Team
Best FX – Feature
ElioProduction Company: Pixar Animation StudiosFX Production Company: Pixar Animation StudiosFerdi Scheepers, Shaun Galinak, Alyssa Lee, Nate Skeen, Gary Bruins
In Your DreamsProduction Company: Netflix, Kuku StudiosFX Production Company: Sony Pictures ImageworksDmitriy Kolesnik, Stephen Paschk, David Sellares, Stephanie McNair
KPop Demon HuntersProduction Company: Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixFX Production Company: Sony Pictures ImageworksFilippo Macari, Nicola Finizio, Simon Lewis, Naoki Kato, Daniel La Chapelle
The Bad Guys 2Production Company: DreamWorks AnimationFX Production Company: DreamWorks AnimationLandon Gray, Michael Losure, Zachary Glynn, Chris Wombold, Olivier Malric
Zootopia 2Production Company: Walt Disney Animation StudiosFX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation StudiosLe Joyce Tong, Shamintha Kalamba Arachchi, Dimitre Berberov, Chris Carignan, Cristiana Covone
Best Character Animation – TV/Media
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Episode: Episode IIINetflix / Banijay Productions France / Légende FilmsFloriane Caseiro
Forevergreen Special ProductionNathan Engelhardt and Jeremy SpearsBrendan Gottlieb
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical Special ProductionWildBrain Studios in association with AppleChris Derochie
The Simpsons Various EpisodesA Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television AnimationNik Ranieri
Win Or Lose Various EpisodesPixar Animation StudiosAlli Sadegiani
Best Character Animation – Feature
ElioPixar Animation StudiosJonah Sidhom
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation, NetflixRyusuke Furuya
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSJuliette Laurent
The Bad Guys 2DreamWorks AnimationLudovic Bouancheau
Zootopia 2Walt Disney Animation StudiosTony Smeed
Best Character Animation – Live Action
A Minecraft MovieProduction Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Mojang Studios, Vertigo Entertainment, On the RoamFX Production Company: Weta FXKevin Estey, Anthony McIndoe, Jade Lorier, Caroline Ting, Luisma Lavin Peredo
Captain America: Brave New WorldProduction Company: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion PicturesFX Production Company: Weta FXSidney Kombo-Kintombo, Andrew William Park, Marco Röth, Paul Seyb, Thien Ly
How To Train Your DragonProduction Company: DreamWorks AnimationFX Production Company: FramestoreKayn Garcia, Jean-Denis Haas, Meena Ibrahim, Nathan McConnel, Nick Tripodi
Prehistoric Planet: Ice AgeProduction Company: BBC Studios Natural History UnitFX Production Company: FramestoreAdrien Annesley, Alvise Avati, Riyad Chalakkara, Daniel Mizuguchi, Liam Russell
SupermanProduction Company: DC StudiosFX Production Company: FramestoreLoic Mireault, Michael Elder, Philipp Winterstein, Victor Dinis, Diego De Paula Pereira Batista
Best Character Animation – Video Game
Bye Sweet CaroleLittle Sewing MachineChris Darril
Death Stranding 2: On the BeachKojima ProductionsHideo Kojima, Masaaki Kawata, Kojima Productions, PlayStation Studios XDEV
Ghost of YōteiSucker Punch ProductionsSucker Punch Productions Animation Team
KeeperDouble Fine ProductionsZach Baharov, Alex Turner, Jerry Matsko, Anne-Sophie Savard, Geneviève Desbiens
South of MidnightCompulsion GamesMike Jungbluth, Sebastien Dussault, Vincent Schneider, Remi Edmond
Best Character Design – TV/Media
Asterix & Obelix: The Big FightEpisode: Episode IVNetflix / Banijay Productions France / Légende FilmsBorja Montoro
Bat-FamEpisode: A Knight at the MoviesAmazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, DC EntertainmentBenjamin Tong
Love, Death + Robots Episode: 400 BoysBlur Studio for NetflixRobert Valley
Wednesdays with Gramps Short FilmDreamWorks AnimationSeth St. Pierre
Win Or LoseEpisode: Episode 8, HomePixar Animation StudiosLou Hamou-Lhadj
Best Character Design – Feature
ElioPixar Animation StudiosMatt Nolte, Yingzong Xin, James Woods, Kaleb Rice, Bob Pauley
FixedSony Pictures Animation for NetflixCraig Kellman
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixScott Watanabe, Ami Thompson
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePantsParamount Animation / Nickelodeon MoviesAdam Paloian, Thaddeus Couldron, Alvi Ramirez
The TwitsNetflix Presents / The Roald Dahl Story CompanyKei Acedera, Tristan Poulain, Jules Rigolle, Fernando Peque, Remi Salmon
Best Direction – TV/Media
Common Side Effects Episode: Cliff’s EdgeGreen Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment and Williams Street ProductionsVincent Tsui
DAN DA DANEpisode: Clash! Space Kaiju vs. Giant Robot!Science SARU, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Distributed by GKIDSFuga Yamashiro, Abel Góngora
Not a Box Episode: It’s a BoatSilver Creek Falls Entertainment / Passion Pictures in association with AppleSiri Melchior
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Episode: Rise of the Night NinjaNickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey PicturesJJ Conway, Kevin Molina-Ortiz
The Quinta’s Ghost Short FilmMartirio Films & Illusorium filmsJames A. Castillo
Best Direction – Feature
ArcoRemembers, MountainA France, France 3 CinémaUgo Bienvenu, Adam Sillard, Anaëlle Saba
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze ArcMAPPA StudiosTatsuya Yoshihara
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixMaggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSMaïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
ScarletStudio CHIZUMamoru Hosoda
Best Music – TV/Media
Common Side Effects Episode: Lakeshore LimitedGreen Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street ProductionsNicolas Snyder
Devil May CryEpisode: The First CircleA Netflix Series / Studio Mir / Adi Shankar Animation / CapcomPower Glove, Alex Seaver
ÉiruShort FilmCartoon Saloon○ Leo Pearson, Ceara Conway
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical Special ProductionWildBrain Studios in association with AppleBen Folds, Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner
Win Or LoseEpisode: Episode 6, Mixed SignalsPixar Animation StudiosRamin Djawadi, Shane Eli, Johnny Pakfar
Best Music – Feature
ArcoRemembers, MountainA France, France 3 CinémaArnaud Toulon
ElioPixar Animation StudiosRob Simonsen
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixKPop Demon Hunters Music Team
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSMari Fukuhara
Zootopia 2Walt Disney Animation StudiosShakira, Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin, Michael Giacchino
Best Production Design – TV/Media
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Episode: Episode IINetflix / Banijay Productions France / Légende FilmsAurélien Prédal
Forevergreen Special ProductionNathan Engelhardt and Jeremy SpearsJeremy Spears, Gregory Culp
Love, Death + RobotsEpisode: How Zeke Got ReligionBlur Studio for NetflixGigi Cavenago
ParaNorman: The Thrifting Special ProductionLAIKAThibault Leclercq, Santiago Montiel, Jung Woonyoung, Stephanie Bray-Lee
Wednesdays with Gramps Special ProductionDreamWorks AnimationFrederic Stewart
Best Production Design – Feature
ElioPixar Animation StudiosHarley Jessup, Ernesto Nemesio, Maria Lee, Kristian Norelius, Kyle Jones
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixHelen Chen, Dave Bleich, Wendell Dalit, Scott Watanabe, Celine Kim
The Bad Guys 2DreamWorks AnimationLuc Desmarchelier, Floriane Marchix
The TwitsNetflix Presents / The Roald Dahl Story CompanyEstefania Pantoja, Alexandre Diboine, Clement Dartigues, Fernando Peque, Remi Salmon
Zootopia 2Walt Disney Animation StudiosCory Loftis, Limei Z. Hshieh
Best Storyboarding – TV/Media
Love, Death + RobotsEpisode: How Zeke Got ReligionBlur Studio for NetflixEdgar Martins
ParaNorman: The Thrifting Special ProductionLAIKAColeton Palmer, Katherine Jay Myong, Heewon Jeong
Snow Bear Short FilmThe Art of Aaron Blaise, LLC.Aaron Blaise
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Episode: Rise of the Night NinjaNickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey PicturesRichard Chi, Matthew Kim, Sheldon Vella, Lyndsay Simpson
Win Or LoseEpisode: Episode 8, HomePixar Animation StudiosEsteban Bravo
Best Storyboarding – Feature
ArcoRemembers, MountainA France, France 3 CinémaUgo Bienvenu
ElioPixar Animation StudiosTony Rosenast
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSNicolas Pawlowski
The Bad Guys 2DreamWorks AnimationAnthony Holden, Young Ki Yoon
Zootopia 2Walt Disney Animation StudiosHikari Toriumi
Best Voice Acting – TV/Media
Bob’s BurgersEpisode: Don’t Worry Be Hoopy20th TVDan Mintz (Character: Tina Belcher)
Hazbin HotelEpisode: Behind Closed DoorsAmazon MGM Studios, A24, Bento Box EntertainmentErika Henningsen (Character: Charlie Morningstar)
Long Story Short Episode: Shira Can’t CookTornante Television and ShadowMachine for NetflixAbbi Jacobson (Character: Shira Schwooper)
Smiling Friends Episode: ShmalooglesWilliams StreetZach Hadel (Character: Evil Wizard)
The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball Episode: The AmadainHanna-Barbera Studios EuropeAlkaio Thiele (Character: Gumball Watterson)
Best Voice Acting – Feature
Dog ManDreamWorks AnimationLil Rey Howery (Character: Chief)
ElioPixar Animation StudiosRemy Edgerly (Character: Glordon)
In Your DreamsNetflix Presents a Kuku Studios Production / Sony Pictures ImageworksCraig Robinson (Character: Baloney Tony)
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixArden Cho (Character: Rumi)
The TwitsNetflix Presents / The Roald Dahl Story CompanyMaitreyi Ramakrishnan (Character: Beesha)
Best Writing – TV/Media
#1 Happy Family USAEpisode: Episode 101: NINE TENAmazon MGM Studios, A24, Cairo CowboyRamy Youssef, Pam Brady
Adult Swim’s The Elephant Special ProductionTitmouse and Williams StreetPendleton Ward, Ian Jones-Quartey, Rebecca Sugar, Patrick McHale
Common Side Effects Episode: PilotGreen Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street ProductionsJoe Bennett, Steve Hely
Lulu is a Rhinoceros Special ProductionBento Box and Propagate in association with AppleAllison Flom
Win Or LoseEpisode: Episode 4, PicklePixar Animation StudiosCarrie Hobson, Michael Yates
Best Writing – Feature
ElioPixar Animation StudiosJulia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones
KPop Demon HuntersKPop Demon Hunters Editorial TeamDanya Jimenez , Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSLiane-Cho Han, Aude Py, Maïlys Vallade, Eddine Noël
ScarletStudio CHIZUMamoru Hosoda
Zootopia 2Walt Disney Animation StudiosJared Bush
Best Editorial – TV/Media
Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight Episode: Episode IIINetflix / Banijay Productions France / Légende FilmsDavid Boyadjian
Common Side Effects Episode: RaidGreen Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment and Williams Street ProductionsTony Christopherson, Joie Lim
Haunted HotelEpisode: The Acolytes of AbaddonTitmouse for NetflixBenjamin Morse, Benjamin Martian, Marshall Wetta
Invincible S3Episode: I Thought You’d Never Shut UpAmazon MGM Studios, Skybound AnimationLuke Asa Guidici, Matt Michael, Lea Carosella, Liam Johnson
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Episode: Up From the GraveUbisoft Film & TelevisionThomas Belair, Nicolas Bourgeois, Julien Perez
Best Editorial – Feature
ArcoRemembers, MountainA France, France 3 CinémaNathan Jacquard
ElioPixar Animation StudiosAnna Wolitzky, Steve Bloom, Noah Newman, Greg Snyder, Ben Morris
KPop Demon HuntersSony Pictures Animation for NetflixKPop Demon Hunters Editorial Team
Little Amélie or the Character of RainMaybe Movies, Ikki Films, Distributed by GKIDSLudovic Versace
Olivia & las NubesCine Chani, Historias de Bibi & Guasábara CineTomás Pichardo Espaillat
