“Big Hero 6,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “The Lego Movie,” “Cheatin’,” “Song of the Sea,” “The Book of Life,” “The Boxtrolls” and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” have been nominated for the top feature award at the 41st annual Annie Awards, the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced on Monday.
The nominations covered 31 separate categories of feature film, short-form and television work, as well as individual achievements in character animation, design, effects, music, storyboarding, writing, voice acting and more.
In the top category, Best Animated Feature, all of the major Oscar contenders were included, including two foreign-made films, the Irish-made “Song of the Sea” and the Japanese “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.” “Cheatin’,” from veteran animator Bill Plympton, was a surprise inclusion in the category.
All of the top nominees received substantial support in other categories as well, with “Big Hero 6,” “Dragon 2,” “Song of the Sea,” “The Boxtrolls” and “The Lego Movie” all nominated in the directing and writing categories.
Overall, “The Boxtrolls” received 13 nominations, followed by “Dragon 2” with 10 and “Big Hero 6” and “Song of the Sea” with seven.
This is the fourth year since ASIFA-Hollywood made significant changes in its voting rules in response to concerns that had caused Disney and Pixar to withdraw its support of the organization.
Last year’s Annie winner, “Frozen,” went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
The Annie Awards will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Los Angeles.
The nominations:
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 Achivement 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