43rd Annie Awards: A Night Of Celebration Of The Best In Animation

The Annies are in their 43rd year of celebrating Animation from around the world and commerating the best in animation. This year’s proceedings started in the UCLA’s Anderson Alumni Plaza, a short distance from Royce Hall, with an opening party for celebrities and animators to properly kick off the evening’s award ceremony. A red carpet was set up for the talent to take the opportunity to revel in their moment of glory and it was set close to the Anderson building. As the evening cooled the red carpet heated with hosts of those who are embedded in the animation industry.

Those of note who attended were, actor, producer & director Edward James Olmos with actress Rita Moreno, actor & writer Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) with actress Laraine Newman, actress Phyllis Smith (voice of ‘Sadness’), Alexander Garfin, Hadley Belle Miller, Kristen Schaal, Andreas Deja, John Musker with animation veterans Don Hahn and Phil Roman.

After the opening celebration finished everyone was asked to move to Royce Hall for the beginning of the awards ceremony. There were a number of presenters who occupied the podium that evening announcing the various winners for the various animated offerings that spanned from commercials to major features. Some of the most fun exchanges at the podium happened with Laraine Newman and Tom Kenny, when Tom Kelly influenced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Revenant violent bear scene, that was just presented as a nominated scene from in the movie, imitated Yogi Bear with a quip of “Hey Booboo!”, then Tom followed with his imitation of Booboo’s response to Yogi, “Yogi, I don’t think Mr. Ranger is going to like that”. There was the awkwardly funny banter between Sharlto Copley and Michael Leon Wooley, Of course, Edward James Olmos and Rita Moreno were a great combo, who brought a lot of life the proceedings. Rita felt compelled to share how moved and impressed she was by the work of these animators when she closed her part by saying, “This is not planned, but I really have to say something personal about being here, by participating here tonight. I have been so moved and touched by being in the company of such f*cking brilliant talent. I have always, always loved animation. I have alway loved the art of animation. I’ve always loved the voices, the brilliance of the actors and to have been asked to participate in this evening that all of you astonishingly talented people, makes me so happy and I wanted to share that with you.” Obviously, in animation there’s a lot of levity and these hosts brought their best game!

Photo gallery and more after the jump

The Winsor McCay Award and June Foray award are part of the Juried Awards. The Winsor McCay lifetime achievement award was awarded to Joe Ranft (posthumously), Phil Roman and Isao Takahata. Phil Roman who’s been part of the animation community made an important point about his work when he said, “I once asked Joe Barabra what is it about this business that people in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s still work. Joe said, “We laugh!” And it’s true! I’ve been in the business for over 60 years and I go to work every day. I enjoy every minute of it. It’s the joy and the laughter that keeps you going.” Another salient moment when Don Hahn was receiving his June Foray Award, as he mentioned the importance of this occasion in his acceptance speech for his lifetime achievement award, when he said, “I smoked cigars with Roy Disney, I ate chimichangas with James Earl Jones, I’ve played Dixieland Jazz with Richard Williams, I’ve had dinner with Elton John, I’ve spent the evening in a French Country Inn with Glen Keane, I’ve seen Angelina Jolie in horns and leather pants (hot!) and seen Jeffrey Katzenberg mauled by an adult male lion (Whoa!). But still none of that compares to that day in the animation studio and working with people I admire, and still admire so much, for their ability to create life with paper and pencils, paint and pixels, with each project comes hope and heartbreak, studios come and go, projects come and go. But working in animation has brought a tremendous gift. The gift of friends, fascinating friends, funny life long friends. Many of whom are here tonight. You’re my family, this s my home and I thank you for this honor, which will be a constant reminder of the true benefit I’ve received by working with you all!” Both Phil’s and Don’s sentiments were well received by the audience that evening and it speaks volumes of the humanity and the creativity of that exists in animation community as a whole.

The closing speech of the Annie Awards offered what support and services ASIFA provided to the animation community. This was followed by a joyful celebration of food and drink at the after party, where all attending mingled to celebrate, to share their stories and receive congratulations for the award winner, as well as, those honored earier in the evening. Below you’ll find a list of those winner and honorees. Here’s to another great year celebrating the power and influence of amazing animation!

43^rd Annie Awards Winner‘s List

Best Animated Feature:

Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Special Production:

He Named Me Malala – Parkes-MacDonald / Little Door

Best Animated Short Subject:

Don Hertzfeldt – World of Tomorrow

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial:

Man and Dog – Psyop

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children:

Tumble Leaf – Episode: Mirror – Amazon Studios and Bix Pix Entertainment

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children:

Wander Over Yonder – Episode: The Breakfast – Disney Television Animation

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for a General Audience:

The Simpsons – Episode: Halloween of Horror – Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox Television

Best Animated Feature-Independent:

Boy and the World – Filme de Papel

Best Student Film

ed – Taha Neyestani, Sheridan College

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production:

Jon Reisch and Stephen Marshall – The Good Dinosaur – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in a Live Action Production:

Michael Balog, Jim Van Allen, Florent Andorra and Georg Kaltenbrunner – Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – Sokovia Destruction – Marvel Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Television/Broadcast

Production:

Chi-Ho Chan – Dragons: Race to the Edge – Episode: “Have Dragon Will Travel, Part 1” – DreamWorks Animation Television

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production:

Allison Rutland – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production:

Matthew Shumway, Adrian Millington, Blaine Toderian, Alexander Poei and Kevin Lan – The Revenant – The Bear (Judy) – Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Anonymous Content, M Productions, Appian Way, RatPac-Dune Entertainment

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game:

David Gibson – Evolve – 2K Games

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in a TV/Broadcast Production:

Craig Kellman – Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas – Screen Novelties and Warner Bros. Animation

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production:

Albert Lozano and Chris Sasaki – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:

Matt Braly – Gravity Falls – Episode: Northwest Mansion Mystery – Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production:

Pete Docter – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Music in a TV/Broadcast Production:

Christopher Willis – Disney Mickey Mouse – Episode: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! – Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production:

Michael Giacchino – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:

Kevin Dart, Sylvia Liu, Chris Turnham and Eastwood Wong – The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show – Episode: “Peabody’s Parents/Galileo” – DreamWorks Animation Television

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production:

Ralph Eggleston – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a TV/Broadcast Production:

Alonso Ramirez Ramos – Disney Mickey Mouse – Episode: ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! – Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production:

Tony Rosenast – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:

Kristen Schaal – Bob’s Burgers – Episode: Hawk & Chick – Twentieth Century Fox Television and Bento Box Entertainment

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production:

Phyllis Smith – Inside Out – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production:

Steven Davis and Kelvin Yu – Bob’s Burgers – Episode: The Hauntening – Twentieth Century Fox Television Bento Box Entertainment