The Annie Awards

Animation celebrating itself

ASIFA-Hollywood is the Los Angeles branch of ASIFA, the international animated film association. In 1972 it began the Annie Awards to celebrate animation and the people who make it. The idea came largely from voice actress June Foray, who wanted the art form to have its own honors.

From lifetime awards to competition

At first the Annies mainly honored lifetime achievement. Over time the event grew into a full competition with many categories, including best feature, independent feature, short subject, television production and video game, plus individual awards for animation, character design, storyboarding, music, editing, production design and voice acting.

Honorary awards

Each year the Annies present honorary awards. The Winsor McCay Award recognises lifetime contribution to animation and is named after the creator of Gertie the Dinosaur. The June Foray Award honors people who have had a positive impact on the animation community, and the Ub Iwerks Award honors technical advances.

Why the Annies matter

Because the voters are animation professionals, the Annies are respected inside the industry, and they are watched as a guide to the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. They are also one of the few places where storyboard artists, character animators and effects artists can win major awards for their individual crafts.

The ceremony

The ceremony usually takes place in Los Angeles in February and has been held at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus in recent years. Guests often include famous directors alongside young artists nominated for the first time. See our animation festivals and awards guide for the other big honors.

How to follow the Annies

Nominations are usually announced in January, and the ceremony is often streamed online. Because the categories include individual crafts, the nominees list is a great way to discover the names behind your favourite films, from storyboard artists to effects animators. Student films also have their own award, giving young artists a chance at recognition early in their careers.

Inside the industry, an Annie nomination can matter as much as a festival prize, because it comes from fellow professionals who understand how hard each craft is. Winners often say that being recognised by other animators is one of the proudest moments of their careers, and many go on to lead teams on larger productions.

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