Annie Nominations

by Nathaniel R

The 49th annual Annie Award nominations are basically the Disney show this year. The Mouse House squashed its competition at the annual event with Raya and the Last Dragon leading the nominations, Encanto in second place, and Disney/Pixar's Luca in third place (albeit tied with Netflix's Mitchells vs the Machines there). The most popular international titles were Denmark's Flee and Japan's Belle, both of which showed up in Best Direction, which adds confidence to our bet that they're likeliest to spoil Disney's all American party on the Oscar shortlist. Still we might have to rethink that bet that Raya and the Last Dragon is the vulnerable film. We thought it would have been forgotten by now as it wasn't greeted as enthusiastically as a few of its competitors at the time of its release.

As is our usual reaction, we don't really understand what's going on in the selections for voice acting, which aside from two great choices from Encanto (John Leguizamo and Stephanie Beatriz), usually defaults to lead work in productions where the supporting characters feature the best vocal acting. For example Kelly Marie Tran over Awkwafina in Raya ... really? Abbi Jacobson over Olivia Colman in Mitchells vs the Machines? Does not compute.

Full list of nominations is after the jump...

Best Feature

• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Luca, Pixar Animation Studios
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios
• Sing 2, Illumination
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix

Best Indie Feature

• Belle, Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS
• Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant
• Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, STUDIO 4oC / Distributed by GKIDS
• Pompo the Cinephile, CLAP Animation Studio / Distributed by GKIDS
• The Summit of the Gods, Julianne Films, Folivari and Mélusine Productions Present In co-production with France 3 Cinéma and Auvergne-Rhône- Alpes Cinéma in association with Wild Bunch in association with Palatine Etoile 17, Cinémage 14, Indéfilms 8 for Netflix

Best Special Production

• For Auld Lang Syne, WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
• La Vie de Château, Films Grand Huit in association with Miyu Productions
• Mum Is Pouring Rain, Laïdak Films & Dandelooo
• Namoo, Baobab Studios
• The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, STUDIO MIR for Netflix

Best Short Subject

• Bestia, Trebol 3 Producciones, MALEZA Estudio
• Easter Eggs, Animal Tank / Brecht Van Elslande
• MAALBEEK, Films Grand Huit Films à Vif
• Night Bus, Joe Hsieh Independent Production
• Steakhouse, Finta Film, Fabian & Fred, RTV Slovenija, Miyu Productions

Best Sponsored

• A Future Begins, Nexus Studios
• Fleet Foxes – Featherweight, Sing-Sing
• The Good Guest Guide to Japan, Airbnb / Chromosphere
• Tiptoe & The Flying Machine, Nexus Studios
• Wandavision – “Don’t Touch that Dial” Title Sequence, Titmouse Inc.

Best TV/Media – Preschool

• Ada Twist, Scientist Episode: Twelve Angry Birds, Laughing Wild, Higher Ground Productions, Wonder Worldwide, Netflix
• MUPPET BABIES Episode: GONZO-RELLA, ODDBOT INC
• ODO Episode: Doddle Song Sixteen South and Letko
• Stillwater Episode: Crossing Over / Kind of Blue Scholastic Entertainment / Gaumont / Polygon Pictures in association with Apple
• Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Episode: I am Ella Fitzgerald, 9 Story Media Group / Brown Bag Films

Best TV/Media – Children

• Amphibia Episode: True Colors, Walt Disney Television Animation
• Carmen Sandiego Episode: The Himalayan Rescue Caper, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing and DHX Media for Netflix
• Dug Days Episode: Science, Pixar Animation Studios
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix Series
• We the People Episode: Active Citizenship, Laughing Wild, Higher Ground Productions, Netflix

Best TV/Media – General Audience

• Arcane Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
• Bob’s Burgers Episode: Fingers-loose, 20th TV/ Bento Box Animation
• Love, Death + Robots Episode: Ice, Blur Studio for Netflix
• Star Wars: Visions Episode: The Duel, Kamikaze Douga
• Tuca & Bertie Episode: The Dance, The Tornante Company

Best Student Film

• A Film About A Pudding Student director: Roel Van Beek Student producer: Jack Pollington School: National Film and Television School, UK
• HOPE Student director: Ryoma Leneuf & Gabriel Martinez Student producer: Nicolas Daguin, Guillaume Uchoa, Arthur Bollia, Benjamin Autour School: New3dge
• I Am A Pebble Student director: Yasmine Bresson and Maxime Le Chapelain Student producer: Coline Moire School: ESMA
• Night of the Living Dread Student director: Ida Melum Student producer: Danielle Goff School: National Film and Television School, UK
• Slouch Student director: Michael Bohnenstingl Student producer: Michael Bohnenstingl School: Filmakademie Baden- Württemberg GmbH

Best FX – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: Oil and Water Guillaume Degroote, Frederic Macé, Jérôme Dupré, Aurélien Ressencourt, Martin Touzé A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix FX Production Company: Fortiche Productions
• Castlevania Episode: The Endings Tam Lu, Adam Deats, Sam Deats Frederator Studios for Netflix FX Production Company: Powerhouse Animation Studios
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon A Netflix Series Alexander Feigin, Graham Wiebe, Pradeep Mynam, Michael Sun, Sergen Eren FX Production Company: Tangent Animation Studios
• Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas Episode: Broadcast SpecialJim Lewis Aardman for NetflixFX Production Company: Aardman
• Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Episode: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Greg Lev, Brandon Tyra, Prakash Dcunha, Vincent Chou, Chen Ling DreamWorks AnimationFX Production Company:DreamWorks Animation, CGCG Inc. and Original Force Ltd.

Best FX – Feature

• Belle Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDSRyo Horibe, Yohei Shimozawa,FX Production Company: Studio Chizu / Digital Frontier
• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation StudiosAlex Moaveni, Dimitri Berberov, Bruce Wright, Scott Townsend, Dale Mayeda
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Peter De Mund, Cong Wang, Robert Bennett, Joel Einhorn, Debbie Carlson
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix  FX Production Company: Sony Pictures ImageworksChristopher Logan, Man-Louk Chin,Devdatta Nerurkar, Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari
• Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix FX Production Company: Sony Pictures ImageworksMartin Furness, Stephanie Molk, Lucy Maxian, Nachiket Pujari, Theodor Vandernoot,

Best Character Animation – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: The Monster You Created, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixLea Chervet
• Love, Death + Robots Episode: All Through the House, Blur Studio for NetflixDan Gill
• Namoo Episode: Namoo Animated Short Baobab Studios, Jon Paul Brower
• Ultra City Smiths Episode: The Little Baby Hand Pinky Grip, Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, Elephant Pictures, AMC StudiosGhazal Tahernia
• We the People Episode: Active Citizenship A Netflix Original Series / Higher Ground Productions, Stephen Loveluck

Best Character Animation – Feature

• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Dave Hardin
• Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Tarun Lak
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Jennifer Hager
• The Boss Baby: Family Business, Dreamworks Animation Ravi Kamble Govind
• Wish Dragon,  Netflix Presents A Columbia Pictures, Beijing Sparkle Roll Media Corporation, Tencent Pictures, Base Media Presentation / A Sony Pictures Animation Production, Ketan Adikhari

Best Character Animation – Live Action

• Flora & Ulysses Production Company: Disney FX Production Company: FramestoreThomas Becker, Thiago Martins, Daniel Cavalcante, Philipp Winterstein, Victor Dinis
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsProduction Company: Marvel EntertainmentFX Production Company:Weta DigitalKarl Rapley, Sebastian Trujillo, Richard John Moore, Merlin Bela, Wassilij Maertz, Pascal Raimbault
• The Suicide Squad Production Company: Warner Bros., PicturesFX Production Company: FramestoreMeena Ibrahim, Alvise Avati, Nicholas Cabana, Adam Goldstein, Lea Vera Toro
• The Tomorrow War Production Company: Paramount PicturesFX Production Company: Weta DigitalCarmelo Leggiero, Florent Limouzin, Cajun Hylton, Dave Clayton, Michel Alencar Magalhaes,
• Y: The Last Man Production Company:FX ProductionsFX Production Company:Industrial Light & Magic

Best Character Animation – Video Game

• Disney Wonderful Worlds, Ludia
• It Takes Two, Hazelight StudiosHazelight Animation Team
• Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Ember LabEmber Lab Animation Team
• Madrid Noir, Atlas V No GhostAziz Kocanaogullari
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Insomniac Games

Best Character Design – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: Some Mysteries Better Left UnsolvedA Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixEvan Monteiro
• Batman: The Long Halloween Part One Episode: Broadcast Special, Warner Bros. AnimationOtto Schmidt
• Kid Cosmic Episode: The Rings of Power, A Netflix Original SeriesCraig McCracken
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix SeriesJorge R. Gutierrez
• Yuki 7 Episode: They Called Her Number SevenChromosphereKeiko Murayama

Best Character Design – Feature

• Luca, Pixar Animation StudiosDeanna Marsigliese
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosAmi Thompson
• Ron’s Gone Wrong, Locksmith Animation Ltd/ 20th Century StudiosJulien Bizet
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixLindsey Olivares
• Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixJoe Moshier

Best Direction – TV/ Media

• Amphibia Episode: True Colors, Walt Disney Television AnimationJenn Strickland, Kyler Spears
• Arcane Episode: The Monster You Created, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixPascal Charue, Arnaud Delord, Barthelemy Maunoury
• Crossing Swords Episode: Tent PitchingStoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Sony Pictures Television,John Harvatine, Brad Schaffer, Ethan Marak
• Hilda and the Mountain King Episode: Broadcast Special,Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury FilmworksAndy Coyle
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix SeriesJorge R. Gutierrez

Best Direction – Feature

• Belle, Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDSMamoru Hosoda
• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation StudiosJared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith
• Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, ParticipantJonas Poher Rasmussen, Kenneth Ladekjær
• Luca, Pixar Animation StudiosEnrico Casarosa
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixMike Rianda,Jeff Rowe

Best Music – TV/ Media

• Blush Episode: Broadcast Short FilmApple Original Films and Skydance AnimationJoy Ngiaw
• Hilda and the Mountain King Episode: Broadcast Special, Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury FilmworksRyan Carlson
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon,A Netflix SeriesTim Davies, Gustavo Santaolalla
• Mila Episode: Broadcast Short Film,PepperMax Films, Pixel Cartoon, IbiscusMedia, Cinesite, AniventureFlavio Gargano
• Mira, Royal Detective Episode: The Eid Mystery, Wild Canary AnimationAmritha Vaz, Matthew Tishler, Jeannie Lurie

Best Music – Feature

• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation StudiosLin-Manuel Miranda, Germaine Franco
• Luca Pixar Animation StudiosDan Romer
• Poupelle of Chimney Town, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd.Youki Kojima, Yuta Bandoh
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosJames Newton Howard, Jhené Aiko
• Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix, Alex Lacamoire, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Best Production Design – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: Happy Progress Day!A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixJulien Gorgel, Aymeric Kevin, Arnaud Baudry
• Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special, Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego FilmIsrael Sanchez, Tania Franco, Margaret Wuller, Michelle Haejung Park, Kayla Jones,
• Love, Death + Robots Episode: Ice, Blur Studio for NetflixRobert Valley
• Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix SeriesJorge R. Gutierrez, Paul Sullivan, Gerald de Jesus, Richard Chen
• Yuki 7 Episode: They Called Her Number SevenChromosphere Team

Best Production Design – Feature

• Belle, Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDSTomm Moore, Pareja Ross Stewart, Alice Dieudonné, Almu Redondo, Maria Pareja
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosPaul Felix, Mingjue Helen Chen, Cory Loftis
• Ron’s Gone Wrong, Locksmith Animation/ 20th Century StudiosAurélien Predal Till Nowak, Nathan Crowley
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixLindsey Olivares, Toby Wilson, Dave Bleich
• Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix,Carlos Zaragoza, Wendell Dalit, Andy Harkness

Best Storyboarding – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling DownA Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixSimon Andriveau
• Invincible Episode: Where I Really Come FromAmazon StudiosJay Baker
• Kid Cosmic Episode: The Big WinA Netflix Original SeriesJustin Nichols
• Love, Death + Robots Episode: Pop Squad, Blur Studio for NetflixJennifer Yuh Nelson
• The Ghost and Molly McGee Episode: All Systems NoWalt Disney Television AnimationJohnny Castuciano

Best Storyboarding – Feature

• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation StudiosJason Hand
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosLuis Logam
• Spirit Untamed, DreamWorks AnimationGary Graham
• The Addams Family 2, Jackal Group / GlickmaniaSteven Garcia
• Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixCarlos Romero

Best Voice Acting – TV/Media

• Arcane Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down - Ella Purnell
• Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special - Michael J. Woodard
• Centaurworld Episode: Johnny Teatimes Be Best - Parvesh Cheena
• DC Super Hero Girls Episode: #EnterNightSting -Kimberly Brooks
• Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans -Charlie Saxton

Best Voice Acting – Feature

• Encanto -John Leguizamo
• Encanto - Stephanie Beatriz
• Luca -Jack Dylan Grazer
• Raya and the Last Dragon -Kelly Marie Tran
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines - Abbi Jacobson

Best Writing – TV/ Media

• ArcaneEpisode: The Monster You Created, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for NetflixChristian Linke, Alex Yee
• Maya and the Three Episode: Chapter 4: The Skull, NetflixSilvia Olivas, Jorge R. Guitterez
• Muppet Babies Episode: Gonzo-Rella, OddBot Inc.Ghia Godfree
• The Mighty Ones Episode: Berry’s Pet Threat, DreamWorks AnimationJillian Goldfluss, Erica Jones, Nicolette Wood
• Tuca & Bertie Episode: PlanteauThe Tornante CompanyLisa Hanawalt

Best Writing – Feature

• Belle, Studio ChizuMamoru Hosoda
• Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, ParticipantJonas Poher Rasmussen, Amin Nawabi
• Luca, Pixar Animation StudiosJesse Andrews, Mike Jones
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosQui Nguyen, Adele Lim
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixMike Rianda, Jeff Rowe

Best Editorial – TV/ Media

• AmphibiaEpisode: True ColorsWalt Disney Television AnimationJennifer Calbi , David Vasquez, Julie Anne Lau, Yoonah Yim, Andrew Sorcini
• Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special, Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego FilmSteve Downs
• Love, Death + Robots Episode: Pop Squad, Blur Studio for NetflixJulian Clarke, Matt Mariska, Valerian Zamel, Brian Swanson, Ky Kenyon
• Tom and Jerry in New York Episode: Billboard Jumble, Warner Bros. AnimationMichael D’Ambrosio, Jeff Small
• What If…?Episode: What If…Ultron Won?Marvel StudiosJoel Fisher, Graham Fisher, Sharia Davis, Basuki Juwono, Adam Spieckerman

Best Editorial – Feature

• Encanto, Walt Disney Animation StudiosJeremy Milton, John Wheeler, Pace Paulsen, Brian Estrada
• Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, ParticipanJanus Billeskov Jansen
• Luca, Pixar Animation StudiosCatherine Apple, Jason Hudak, Jennifer Jew, Tim Fox, David Suther
• Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation StudiosFabienne Rawley, Shannon Stein, Todd Fulkerson, Rick Hammel, Brian Millman
• The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for NetflixGreg Levitan, Collin Wightman, T.J. Young, Tony Ferdinand, Bret Allen

Non Competitive Prizes

Charitable Impact: Renzo and Sayoko Kinoshita, Hiroshima International Animation Festival.
Technical Advancement Award: Python Foundation
Special Achievement Award: Glen Vilppu
Certificate of Merit: Evan Vernon.