“The Boxtrolls” scored a leading 13 nominations Monday for the 42nd Annie Awards, while “How to Train Your Dragon 2” received 10.
Presented by the International Animated Film Society, the Annie Awards cover 31 categories, with awards for Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements. Winners will be announced Jan. 31 during the awards ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
“We had a steady increase in submissions this year and I am excited to say it’s going to be a great awards ceremony,” said ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director Frank Gladstone in a released statement. “The Annies are a true celebration of the best talent in the animation industry, from big studio features to indie films, television series to internet shows, games, shorts and student films alike, as well as a wonderful group of juried award recipients again this year.”
In the newest category of Best Character Animation in a Video Game were the Ubisoft games “Assassin’s Creed Unity” and Child of Light, and “Don’t Starve: Console Edition” from Klei Entertainment Inc.
Among juried award honorees were Didier Brunner, Don Lusk and Lee Mendelson who will receive the Windsor McCay Award for their contributions to the art of animation.
Charles Solomon will get the June Foray Award for his charitable impact on animation. DreamWorks Animation’s Apollo Software will take the Ub Iwerks Award for technical advancement impacting the art or industry of animation and The Walt Disney Family Museum will be honored with the Special Achievement Award for its unique and significant impact on the art and industry of animation.
Here is a complete list of nominees:
Production Categories
Best Animated Feature
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios - Cheatin’
Plymptoons Studio - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon - The Book of Life
Reel FX - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika - The LEGO Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
GKIDS/Studio Ghibli
Best Animated Special Production
- Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Voyager Pictures LLC - Dawn of the Dragon Racers
DreamWorks Animation - How Murray Saved Christmas
Universal Television - Polariffic
Bent Image Lab - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Best Animated Short Subject
- Coda
62 George Street - Duet
Glen Keane Productions - Feast
Walt Disney Animation Studios - Inside Homer – The Simpsons Couch Gag (Episode #549)
Acme Filmworks - Me and My Moulton
National Film Board of Canada - Silent
Creative Artists Agency - The Dam Keeper
Tonko House LLC - The Raven
Moonbot Studios
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
- Citizen M: “Swan Song”
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios - Flight of the Stories
Aardman Animations - LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Plastic Wax
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
- Doc McStuffins
Disney Channel / Disney XD - Peter Rabbit
Nickelodeon Animation Studio - Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios - Wallykazam!
Nickelodeon Animation Studio - Zack & Quack
Zodiak Kids
Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For a Children’s Audience
- Adventure Time
Cartoon Network - Gravity Falls
Disney Television Animation - Legend of Korra
Nickelodeon Animation Studio - Over The Garden Wall
Cartoon Network - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
- Archer
FX Networks - Back To Backspace
Cartoon Network Studios - Bob’s Burgers
Bento Box Entertainment - Rick and Morty
Starburns Industries, Inc. - Mike Tyson Mysteries
Warner Bros. Animation - Regular Show
Cartoon Network Studios - The Simpsons
The Simpsons
Best Video Game
- Forza Horizon 2
Microsoft – Turn 10 Studios - Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Ubisoft - Child of Light
Ubisoft
Best Student Film
- After School
Junyi Xiao - Dead Over Heels
Jose Matheu - El Coyote
Javier Barboza - Frog’s Legs
Katie Tamboer - My Big Brother
Jason Rayner - Tiny Nomad
Toniko Pantoja
Achievement Categories
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
James Jackson, Lucas Janin, Tobin Jones, Baptiste Van Opstal, Jason Mayer - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
DreamWorks Animation
Fangwei Lee, Krzysztof Rost, Jihyun Yoon, Robert Chen - Penguins of Madagascar
DreamWorks Animation
Mitul Patel, Nicolas Delbecq, Santosh Khedkar, Yash Argawal - The Book of Life
Reel FX
Augusto Schillaci, Erich Turner, Bill Konersman, Chris Rasch, Joseph Burnette - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Rick Sevy, Peter Vickery, Kent Estep, Peter Stuart, Ralph Procida - The LEGO Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jayandera Danappal, Matt Ebb, Christian Epunan Hernandez, Danielle Brooks, Raphael Gadot
Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
- Edge of Tomorrow
Sony Pictures Imageworks
Steve Avoujageli, Atsushi Ikarashi, Pawel Grochola, Paul Waggoner, Viktor Lundqvist - Noah
Industrial Light & Magic
Raul Essig, Karin Cooper, Rick Hankins, Owen Calouro - The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Sony Pictures Imageworks
Charles-Felix Chabert, Daniel La Chapelle, Spencer Lueders, Klaus Seitschek, Chris Messineo - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Weta Digital
Areito Echevarria, Andreas Soderstrom, Ronnie Menahem, Christoph Sprenger, Kevin Romond - Transformers: Age of Extinction
Industrial Light & Magic
Michael Balog, Jim Van Allen, Rick Hankins, John Hansen - X-Men: Days of Future Past
Digital Domain
Jeremy Hampton, Daniel Stern, Edmond Smith III, Hiroshi Tsubokawa, Daniel Jenkins
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Don Crum - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Carlo Vogele - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Ken Kim - Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios
Michael Granberry - Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios
Teresa Drilling - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
Justin Nichols
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Fabio Lignini - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Steven “Shaggy” Hornby - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Thomas Grummt - Penguins of Madagascar
DreamWorks Animation
Ravi Kamble - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Travis Knight - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Malcolm Lamont - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features
Jason Stalman
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Weta Digital
Daniel Barrett, Paul Story, Eteuati Tema, Alessandro Bonora, Dejan Momcilovic - Guardians of the Galaxy
Framestore
Kevin Spruce, Dale Newton, Sidney Kombo, Chris Mullins, Brad Silby - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Weta Digital
Eric Reynolds, David Clayton, Andreja Vuckovic, Guillaume Francois, Gios Johnston
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game
- Assassin’s Creed Unity
Ubisoft
Mike Mennillo - Don’t Starve: Console Edition
Klei Entertainment Inc. - Child Of Light
Ubisoft
Alex Drouin
Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Andy Suriano - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
Benjamin Balistreri - Welcome to the Wayne
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Zac Gorman
Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Shiyoon Kim, Jin Kim - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
DreamWorks Animation
Timothy Lamb, Joe Moshier - Penguins of Madagascar
DreamWorks Animation
Craig Kellman, Joe Moshier, Stevie Lewis, Todd Kurosawa - Rio 2
Blue Sky Studios
Sang Jun Lee, Jason Sadler, José Manuel Fernandez Oli - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Tomm Moore, Marie Thorhauge, Sandra Anderson, Rosa Ballester Cabo - The Book of Life
Reel FX
Paul Sullivan, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Mike Smith
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Adventure Time
Cartoon Network
Yuasa Masaaki, Eunyoung Choi - Archer
FX Networks
Bryan Fordney - Bob’s Burgers
Bento Box Entertainment
Jennifer Coyle & Bernard Derriman - Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Aaron Springer - Gravity Falls
Disney Television Animation
Rob Renzetti - Over The Garden Wall
Cartoon Network
Robert Alvarez, Ken Bruce, Larry Leichliter - The Simpsons
The Simpsons
Matthew Nastuk - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
David Thomas
Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Don Hall & Chris Williams - Cheatin’
Plymptoons Studio
Bill Plympton - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Dean DeBlois - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Tomm Moore - The Book of Life
Reel FX
Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Anthony Stacchi & Graham Annable - The LEGO Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Directors; Chris McKay, Co-Director - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
GKIDS/Studio Ghibli
Isao Takahata
Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Christopher Willis - Dora and Friends: Into the City!
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Peter Lurye, George Gabriel, Chris Gifford - Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
Jam
Jay Vincent, Michael Kramer, Jeppe Riddervold, Erin Chapman - Marvel’s Avengers Assemble
Dynamic Music Partners
Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter & Michael McCuistion - Tumble Leaf
Amazon Studios
Nathan Barr & Lisbeth Scott
Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production
- Cheatin’
Plymptoons Studio
Nicole Renaud, Composer - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
John Powell, Jónsi - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
DreamWorks Animation
Danny Elfman - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Bruno Coulais & Kila - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
GKIDS/Studio Ghibli
Joe Hisaishi
Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Voyager Pictures LLC
Kara Vallow, Brent Woods, Lucas Gray & Andrew Brandou - Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Joseph Holt - Mickey Shorts
Disney
Narina Sokolova - The Powerpuff Girls
Cartoon Network
Kevin Dart, Chris Turnham, Jasmin Lai & Elle Michalka - Turbo FAST
DreamWorks Animation
Antonio Canobbio, Khang Le, Mark Taihei, Howard Chen & Brandon Cuellar - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
Alex Kirwan, Chris Tsirigotis, Alexander Duckworth, Janice Kubo & Francis Giglio - Zack & Quack
Zodiak Kids
Erez Gavish
Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman
DreamWorks Animation
David James, Ruben Perez, Priscilla Wong, Timothy Lamb & Alexandre Puvilland - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Adrien Merigeau - The Book of Life
Reel FX
Simon Varela & Paul Sullivan - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Paul Lasaine, Tom McClure & August Hall - The LEGO Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
Grant Freckelton
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Heiko Drengenberg - Gravity Falls
Disney Television Animation
Luke Weber, Alonso Ramirez Ramos, Neil Graf & Steve Heneveld - Legend of Korra
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Joaquim Dos Santos - Star Wars Rebels
Disney Channel / Disney XD
Nathaniel Villanueva & Douglas Lovelace - The Simpsons
Film Roman
Brad Ableson, Matthew Faughnan & Stephen Reis - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Louise Smythe - Wander Over Yonder
Disney Television Animation
Mark Ackland
Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Marc E. Smith - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Truong “Tron” Son Mai - Planes: Fire & Rescue
Disneytoon Studios
Piero Peluso - Rio 2
Blue Sky Studios
John Hurst - Rio 2
Blue Sky Studios
Rodrigo Castro - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features
Julian Nariño - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Emanuela Cozzi
Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Bill Farmer as the voices of Goofy and Grandma - Fairly Oddparents
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Carlos Alazaraqui as the voice of Crocker - Robot Chicken
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Seth Green as the voice of Robot Chicken Nerd
Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
- Henry & Me
Reveal Animation Studios
Cyndi Lauper as the voice of Nurse Cyndi - Rio 2
Blue Sky Studios
Andy Garcia as the voice of Eduardo - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Sir Ben Kingsley as the voice of Archibald Snatcher - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Dee Bradley Baker as the voice of Fish
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Darrick Bachman - The Powerpuff Girls
Cartoon Network
Dave Tennant, David P. Smith, Chris Mitchell & Will Mata - The Simpsons
20th Century Fox
Rob LaZebnik - The Simpsons
20th Century Fox
Tim Long - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
Steve Purcell
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson & Jordan Roberts - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
Dean DeBlois - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Will Collins - The Boxtrolls
Focus Features/Laika
Irena Brignull & Adam Pava - The Lego Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
Phil Lord & Christopher Miller
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production
- Disney Mickey Mouse
Disney Television Animation
Illya Owens - Dragons: Defenders of Berk
DreamWorks Animation Television
Ernesto Matamoros - Family Guy
Super 78
Mike Elias - Toy Story That Time Forgot
Pixar Animation Studios
David Suther, Bradley Furnish & David Condolora - Turbo FAST
DreamWorks Animation
Todd Raleigh & Doug Vito
Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
- Big Hero 6
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Tim Mertens - How to Train Your Dragon 2
DreamWorks Animation
John K. Carr - Planes: Fire & Rescue
Disneytoon Studios
Dan Molina, Mark Keefer & Karen Hathaway - Song of the Sea
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
Darragh Byrne - The LEGO Movie
Warner Bros. Pictures
David Burrows, Todd Hansen, Doug Nicholas, Jonathan Tappin & Courtney O’Brien-Brown
— Staff and wire reports