In a competitive year in animation, Nimona, based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, leads the 51st Annie Awards feature competition with nine nominations includes best feature, direction and writing.
In the top category for best feature, the International Animated Film Society ASIFA-Hollywood — which hands out the annual animation prizes — also nominated Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, Sony Pictures Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume, which earned seven nominations apiece; and Paramount and Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which collected six nominations. Pixar’s Elemental also earned a total of six nominations, though it was snubbed in the top category.
Nimona, The Boy and the Heron, Across the Spider-Verse, Mutant Mayhem and Robot Dreams (which was also nominated for best independent feature) received directing noms.
Disney’s centennial-celebrating Wish and Dreamworks Animation’s Trolls World Tour both failed to earn a single nomination. Among the additional titles snubbed in the top category for best feature were Illuminations’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie (the year’s highest grossing animated movie that topped $1 billion at the global box office), which grabbed just one Annie nom; Aardman and Netflix’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, which earned two Annie noms; and Illumination’s Migration, which collected one.
Nimona began production at the former Blue Sky Studios and was shut down when the studio was acquired by Disney as part of the Fox purchase. But the team, including Annie nominated helmers Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, believed in the movie, and Nimona was revived by Annapurna and Netflix.
A pair of animated shorts that are Oscar shortlisted, HUMO and War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, received Annie nominations for best short subject. VFX shortlisted Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 earned an Annie nom for character animation is a live action feature.
During the 51st Annie Awards, which will be held Feb. 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, Winsor McCay Awards for career achievement will be bestowed on animator and director Charlotte “Lotte” Reiniger (posthumous), Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi, and National Film Board animator and producer Marcy Page.
“The Artists of Walt Disney Animation” will be honored with a Special Achievement Award. The June Foray Award for charitable impact will be presented to BRIC Foundation co-founders Alison Mann and Nicole Hendrix, and the Ub lwerks Award for technical achievement will go to John Oxberry (posthumous).
The complete list of nominees follows:
BEST FEATURE
Nimona -Annapurna Animation for Netflix
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse -Sony Pictures Animation
Suzume -CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem -Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies
The Boy and the Heron -Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS
BEST FEATURE-INDEPENDENT
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia -Folivari, Mélusine Productions, Studio Canal / Distributed by GKIDS
Four Souls of Coyote -Cinemon Entertainment
Robot Dreams -Arcadia Motion Pictures
The Inventor -Curiosity Studios
White Plastic Sky -SALTO Films & Artichoke
BEST SPECIAL PRODUCTION
Invincible: Atom EveAmazon MGM Studios, Skybound Entertainment
Shape Island: The Winter BluesBix Pix Entertainment in association with Apple
Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind MarcieWildBrain Studios in association with Apple
The Smeds and The SmoosMagic Light Pictures
The Velveteen Rabbit
Magic Light Pictures in association with Apple
BEST SHORT SUBJECT
Carne de DiosOjo Raro & Fedora Productions
Daffy in WackylandWarner Bros. Animation
HUMOOutik Animation, 3rd Street Video, Mindsoup Entertainment, IMCINE
PINAPUNCHLINE CINEMA / NEXT DAYS FILMS
WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & YokoElectroLeague
BEST SPONSORED
“Video Games” by Tenacious DPinreel Inc.
Alzheimer’s Research UK ‘Change The Ending’Passion Pictures
Laugh Track – The National (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)Bernard Derriman
Up in smokeNOMINT
BEST TV/MEDIA – PRESCHOOL
BatwheelsEpisode: To the Batmobile! – Warner Bros. Animatio
Ghee Happy Episode: Navagraha -Ghee Happy Studio
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh Episode: Piglet, Tigger and the Cardboard Box -Oddbot Inc.
StoryBots: Answer Time Episode: Fractions -JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix
The Creature Cases Episode: The Forest Food Bandit -Silvergate Media/Team TO/Choice/Provisions/Netflix
BEST TV/MEDIA – CHILDREN
CURSES! Episode: The Baboon Temple -DreamWorks Animation
Hilda Episode: Chapter 8: The Fairy Isle -Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Episode: The Beyonder -Flying Bark Productions / Disney Television Animation
My Dad the Bounty Hunter Episode: Bizarre Ride -A Netflix Series
Shape Island Episode: 105B Square’s Special Place -Bix Pix Entertainment in association with Apple
BEST TV/MEDIA – MATURE
Big MouthEpisode: The International Show – Netflix
Blue Eye SamuraiEpisode: Pilot: Hammerscale – A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions
Bob’s Burgers Episode: Amelia– 20th Television Animation
Scavengers ReignEpisode: The SignalMax in association with Titmouse Animation and Green Street
Tomato KitchenEpisode: Special Production – Bilibili / Studio Reflection
BEST TV/MEDIA – LIMITED SERIES
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Episode: Enkai -Triggerfish Animation Studio & Blinkink
Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection Episode: Yellowbird -Afterman production in association with Max/Warner Bros. Discovery
Pokémon: Path to the Peak Episode: 1 -The Pokémon Company International
BEST STUDENT FILM
From The Top
Student Director: Rich FarrisStudent Producer: Martina Buendia SilvaSchool: National Film and Television School
Kolaj
Student Director: Besen Dilek
Student Producer: Besen Dilek
School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
La quête de l’humain
Student Team: Mélina IENCO, Lucie JURIC, Caroline LEIBEL, Faustine MERLE, Claire PELLETSchool: Gobelins, l’école de l’image
Quem Salva
Student Team: Laure Devin, Maxime Bourstin, Nathan Medam, Charles
Hechinger, Titouan JaouenSchool: Supinfocom Rubika
The Little Poet
Student Director: Justine KingStudent Producer: Justine KingSchool: California Institute of the Arts
BEST FX – TV/MEDIA
Blue Eye Samurai
Episode: All Evil Dreams and Angry Words– Production Company: A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions– FX Production Company: Blue Spirit
○ Thomas Decaens, Karl Burtin, Laurent Bretonniere
Kizazi Moto: Generation FireEpisode: Moremi– Production Company: Triggerfish for Disney+ – FX Production Company: Lucan
○ Matthew Dunwoody, Dmitry Sarkisov, Podchasha Yuri Anatolyevich, Richard Bothma, Emile Van Straaten
● Star Wars: Visions Episode: Sith
– Production Company: Lucasfilm Ltd.– FX Production Company: El Guiri Studios
○ Jonatan Catalán, Alberto Sánchez, Phoebe Arjona, Virginia Cantaro, Rubén Hinarejos
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad HolidayEpisode: The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday– Production Company: DreamWorks Animation– FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation and 88 Pictures
○ Sateesh Malla, Russell Richardson Jr., Akash Gopal, Basavaraj P, Kevin Rumold
What If…? Episode 206, “What If…Kahhori Reshaped the World?” Episode: 206
– Production Company: Marvel Studios– FX Production Company: SDFX Studios
○ Ryan Barringer, Rajkumar Gurudu, Bipin Kumar Patra, Pranil Ravindra Mahajan
BEST FX – FEATURE
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
– Production Company: Netflix Presents An Aardman Production – FX Production Company: Aardman Production
○ Charles Copping, Jon Biggins, Jim Lewis, Rich Spence, Martin Lipmann
Elemental– Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios– FX Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
○ Chris Chapman, Tim Speltz, Krzysztof Rost, Amit Baadkar, Ravindra Dwivedi
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse– Production Company: Sony Pictures Animation– FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks
○ Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari, Naoki Kato, Nicola Finizio, Edmond Boulet-Gilly
Suzume– Production Company: CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc.– FX Production Company: CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc.
Yoshitaka Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Seshita
The Peasants– Production Company: Breakthru Films– FX Production Company: Breakthru Productions
○ Lukasz Mackiewicz, Kamil Polak
BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – TV/MEDIA
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake
Episode: The Winter King – Cartoon Network Studios
Alex Small-Butera
Blue Eye SamuraiEpisode: Episodes 101, 104 and 106– A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit ProductionsAlex Bard
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
Episode: Moremi, Surf Sangoma, Stardust – Triggerfish Animation for Disney+
○ Andre DeVilliers
Episode: I Am Your Mother – Lucasfilm Ltd.
○ Laurie Sitzia
● THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS: PILOT Episode: 1
– Glitch Productions○ Kevin Temmer
#14 BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – FEATURE ● Elemental
– Pixar Animation Studios ○ Jessica Torres
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix ○ Toby Seale
● Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
– DreamWorks Animation ○ Prashanth Cavale
● Suzume
– CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc. ○ Kenichi Tsuchiya
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Takeshi Honda
#15 BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – LIVE ACTION ● Ahsoka
– Production Company: Lucasfilm– FX Production Company: Industrial Light & Magic
○ Rick O’Connor, Mike Beaulieu, Stewart Alves, Kevin Reuter, Wai Kit Wan
● Cocaine Bear– Production Company: Wētā FX– FX Production Company: Wētā FX
○ Carmelo Leggiero, Steve Braggs, Kevin Kelm, Cedric Enriquez Canlas, Kane Elferink
● Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
– Production Company: Marvel Studios – FX Production Company: Framestore
○ Fernando Herrera, Chris Hurtt, Nathan McConnel, Daniel Cabral, Chris McGaw
● The Little Mermaid– Production Company: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures – FX Production Company: Framestore
○ Pablo Grillo, Kayn Garcia, Ferran Casas, Stuart Ellis, Joseph Lewis
● Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Production Company: Wētā FX– FX Production Company: Wētā FX
○ Kevin Estey, Kai-Hua Lan, Blaine Toderian Toderian, Richard John Moore, Joseph C.K Leong
#16 BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – VIDEO GAME ● Atomic Heart
– Mundfish○ Mundfish Animation Team
● Hogwarts Legacy
– Avalanche Software ○ Tara Edwards
● Let’s! Revolution!
– BUCK○ BUCK Animation Team
● Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
– Insomniac Games○ Insomniac Games Animation Team
● Teslagrad 2
– Rain Games○ Aslak Helgesen
#17 BEST CHARACTER DESIGN – TV/MEDIA ● Clone High
Episode: Let’s Try This Again– Max in association with Lord Miller, Doozer, ShadowMachine, and MTV Entertainment
○ Tara Billinger
● Jessica’s Big Little World Episode: Bedtime Routine– Cartoon Network Studios
○ Nick Winn
● Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Episode: You Give Me Heart– Triggerfish for Disney+
○ Lesego Vorester
● Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurEpisode: 515M-106 (The Beyonder)– Disney Television Animation / Cinema Gypsy Productions
○ Jose Lopez
● Spirit Rangers Episode: Water Protectors – Laughing Wild / Netflix
○ Marie Delmas
#18 BEST CHARACTER DESIGN – FEATURE ● Elemental
– Pixar Animation Studios ○ Maria Yi
● Merry Little Batman
– Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment ○ Nikolas Ilic
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix ○ Aidan Sugano
● Robot Dreams
– Arcadia Motion Pictures○ Daniel Fernandez Casas
● Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
– Sony Pictures Animation○ Jesús Alonso Iglesias
#19 BEST DIRECTION – TV/MEDIA● Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire
Episode: Moremi– Triggerfish Animation Studio & Lucan Studio
○ Shofela Coker, Andrew McNally
● My Dad the Bounty Hunter Episode: Bizarre Ride– A Netflix Series
○ Kenji Ono, Kai Akira, Patrick Harpin
● Pokémon ConciergeEpisode: #2 What’s on Your Mind, Psyduck? – dwarf studios for Netflix
○ Iku Ogawa
● Scavengers ReignEpisode: The Fall– Max in association with Titmouse Animation and Green Street
○ Diego Porral
● Star Wars: Visions Episode: Screecher’s Reach – Lucasfilm Ltd.
○ Paul Young
#20 BEST DIRECTION – FEATURE ● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix ○ Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
● Robot Dreams
– Arcadia Motion Pictures○ Pablo Berger, Benoît Feroumont
● Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
– Sony Pictures Animation○ Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
● Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
– Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies ○ Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Hayao Miyazaki
#21 BEST MUSIC – TV/MEDIA ● Animaniacs
Episode: Talladega Mice– Warner Brothers Animation/Amblin Entertainment/HULU Originals
○ Steven Bernstein, Julie Bernstein
● Babylon 5: The Road Home Special Production– Warner Bros. Animation
○ Michael McCuistion, Kristopher Carter, Lolita Ritmanis
● Pacemaker Short Film
– A Running Commentary○ Christopher Lennertz
● Star Wars: Visions Episode: Aau’s Song – Lucasfilm Ltd.
○ Markus Wormstorm, Nadia Darries, Dineo du Toit
● The Smeds and The Smoos Special Production– Magic Light Pictures
○ René Aubry
#22 BEST MUSIC – FEATURE ● Elemental
– Pixar Animation Studios○ Thomas Newman, Ari “LAUV” Leff
● Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
– Sony Pictures Animation○ Daniel Pemberton, Metro Boomin
● Suzume
– CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc. ○ Kazuma Jinnouchi, RADWIMPS
● Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
– Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies ○ Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Joe Hisaishi
#23 BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – TV/MEDIA ● Blue Eye Samurai
Episode: Hammerscale – Netflix Animation
○ Jason Scheier
● Blue Eye SamuraiEpisode: The Great Fire of 1657– A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions
○ Toby Wilson, James Wilson, Emil Mitev
● Scavengers ReignEpisode: The Storm– Max in association with Titmouse Animation and Green Street
○ Charles Huettner, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Pauline Mauvière, Hugo Moreno, Jon Juarez
● Star Wars: Visions Episode: Sith
– Lucasfilm Ltd.○ Carlos Salgado
● What If…?Episode: What if… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps? – Marvel Studios
○ Paul Lasaine, Kristina Vardazaryan, Cynthia Halley, Ryan Magno, Simon Dunsdon
#24 BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE ● Elemental
– Pixar Animation Studios
○ Don Shank, Maria Yi, Dan Holland, Jennifer Chang, Laura Meyer
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix ○ Aidan Sugano, Jeff Turley
● Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
– Sony Pictures Animation○ Patrick O’Keefe, Dean Gordon
● Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
– Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies ○ Yashar Kassai, Arthur, Tiffany Lam
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Yoji Takeshige
#25 BEST STORYBOARDING – TV/MEDIA ● Craig Before The Creek
Episode: Craig Before The Creek – Cartoon Network Studios
○ Erik Fountain
● Fright KreweEpisode: The Blood Awakening, Part 1 – DreamWorks Animation
○ Leah Artwick
● Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai Episode: Never Give Up– Warner Bros. Animation and Amblin Television
○ Kristine Lee
● Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight Episode: Apok-ta-pokalypse Now, Part II – DreamWorks Animation
○ Grace Liu
● Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurEpisode: 515M-107 “Run the Rink”– Disney Television Animation / Cinema Gypsy Productions
○ Ben Juwono
#26 BEST STORYBOARDING – FEATURE● Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
– Netflix Presents An Aardman Production ○ Richard Phelan
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix ○ Esteban Bravo
● Robot Dreams
– Arcadia Motion Pictures ○ Maca Gil
● Suzume
– CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc. / ○ Makoto Shinkai
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Hayao Miyazaki
#27 BEST VOICE ACTING – TV/MEDIA ● Archer
Episode: Keys Open Doors – FX Productions
○ Aisha Tyler (Character: Lana Kane)
● Craig Before The Creek Episode: Craig Before The Creek – Cartoon Network Studios
○ Vico Ortiz (Character: Serena)
● Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil DinosaurEpisode: Moon Girl Landing– Flying Bark Productions / Disney Television Animation
○ Diamond White (Character: Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl)
● Solar OppositesEpisode: The Re-Visibility Bouillabaisse – 20th Television Animation
○ Dan Stevens (Character: Korvo)
● The Velveteen RabbitEpisode: The Velveteen Rabbit– Magic Light Pictures in association with Apple
○ Alex Lawther (Character: Velveteen Rabbit)
#28 BEST VOICE ACTING – FEATURE ● Merry Little Batman
– Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment ○ David Hornsby (Character: Joker)
● Migration
– Illumination○ Tresi Gazal (Character: Gwen)
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix○ Chloë Grace Moretz (Character: Nimona)
● Suzume
– CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc.○ Hokuto Matsumura (Character: Souta Munakata)
● The Super Mario Bros. Movie
– Illumination○ Jack Black (Character: Bowser)
#29 BEST WRITING – TV/MEDIA ● Blue Eye Samurai
Episode: Episode 105: The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride– A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions
○ Amber Noizumi
● Only You: An Animated Shorts CollectionEpisode: Yellowbird– Afterman production in association with Max/Warner Bros. Discovery
○ Tsvetelina Zdraveva, Jerred North
● Rock Paper Scissors Episode: Birthday Police– Nickelodeon Animation Studios
○ Josh Lehrman, Kyle Stegina, Aram Spencer Porter, Julia Prescott, Mike Trapp
● Rosie’s RulesEpisode: Time Trouble– 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films
○ Leyani Diaz, Maria Escobedo
● Scavengers ReignEpisode: The Reunion– Max in association with Titmouse Animation and Green Street
○ Sean Buckelew
#30 BEST WRITING – FEATURE ● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix○ Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor
● Robot Dreams
– Arcadia Motion Pictures ○ Pablo Berger
● Suzume
– CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc. ○ Makoto Shinkai
● Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
– Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies○ Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit
● The Boy and the Heron
– Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS ○ Hayao Miyazaki
#31 BEST EDITORIAL – TV/MEDIA ● Blue Eye Samurai
Episode: Episode 105: The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride– A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions
○ Yuka Shirasuna
● HildaEpisode: Chapter 6: The Forgotten Lake– Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks
○ John Mckinnon, Mike Stefanelli
● I Am GrootEpisode: Groot’s Snow Day – Marvel Studios
○ Dan Urrutia
● Star Wars: Visions Episode: Screecher’s Reach – Lucasfilm Ltd.
○ Richie Cody, ACE, BFE
● The Legend of Vox MachinaEpisode: The Sunken Tomb– Amazon MGM Studios, Critical Role Productions, Titmouse
○ Todd Raleigh
#32 BEST EDITORIAL – FEATURE
● Elemental
– Pixar Animation Studios○ Stephen Schaffer, Amera Rizk, Gregory Snyder, Jen Jew, Kevin Rose-Williams
● Leo
– Happy Madison for Netflix○ Patrick Voetberg, Joseph Titone, Darrian M. James, Danny Miller, Brian
Robinson
● Nimona
– Annapurna Animation for Netflix○ Randy Trager, Erin Crackel, Stephen Schwartz, Ashley Calle
● Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
– Sony Pictures Animation○ Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Editorial Team
● Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
– Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies○ Greg Levitan, Illya Quinteros, David Croomes, Myra Owyang
