Cerermony - 51st Annual Annie Awards Nominations Unveiled with Nimona Leading the Pack

By Mulder, 11 january 2024

The excitement for the 51st Annual Annie Awards is building as the prestigious event, celebrating excellence in the field of animation, is set to take place on February 17, 2024, at the University of California, Los Angeles's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California. With 37 categories up for recognition, the nominations were officially revealed on January 11, 2024.

In the film category, Nimona emerged as the frontrunner with an impressive nine nominations, dominating the competition. Following closely behind are The Boy and The Heron, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Suzume with seven nominations each. Surprisingly, for the first time in 32 years, Disney and Pixar found themselves absent from the Best Animated Feature category.

Productions Categories

Best Animated Feature  
The Boy and the Heron – Studio Ghibli / Distributed by GKIDS
Nimona – Annapurna Animation for Netflix
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Sony Pictures Animation
Suzume – CoMix Wave Films Inc. and STORY inc.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies

Best Animated Feature — Independent
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia – Folivari, Mélusine Productions, Studio Canal / Distributed by GKIDS
Four Souls of Coyote – Cinemon Entertainment
The Inventor – Curiosity Studios
Robot Dreams – Arcadia Motion Pictures
White Plastic Sky – SALTO Films & Artichoke

Best Animated Special Production            
Invincible: Atom Eve – Amazon MGM Studios and Skybound Entertainment
Shape Island: The Winter Blues – Bix Pix Entertainment in association with Apple
The Smeds and The Smoos – Magic Light Pictures
Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie – WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
The Velveteen Rabbit – Magic Light Pictures in association with Apple

Best Animated Short Subject
Carne de Dios – Ojo Raro and Fedora Productions
Daffy in Wackyland – Warner Bros. Animation
HUMO – Outik Animation, 3rd Street Video, Mindsoup Entertainment, and IMCINE
PINA – PUNCHLINE CINEMA / NEXT DAYS FILMS
WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko – ElectroLeague

Best Sponsored Production
Video Games by Tenacious D – Pinreel Inc.
Alzheimer’s Research UK ‘Change The Ending’ – Passion Pictures
Laugh Track by The National (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) – Bernard Derriman
Up in smoke – NOMINT

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children
Batwheels: To the Batmobile! – Warner Bros. Animation
The Creature Cases: The Forest Food Bandit – Silvergate Media/Team TO/Choice/Provisions/Netflix
Ghee Happy: Navagraha – Ghee Happy Studio
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh: Piglet, Tigger and the Cardboard Box – Oddbot Inc.
StoryBots: Answer Time: Fractions – JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children        
CURSES!: The Baboon Temple – DreamWorks Animation
Hilda: Chapter 8: The Fairy Isle – Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc., and Mercury Filmworks
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: The Beyonder – Flying Bark Productions / Disney Television Animation
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Bizarre Ride – A Netflix Series
Shape Island: Square's Special Place – Bix Pix Entertainment in association with Apple

Best Mature Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Big Mouth: The International Show – Netflix
Blue Eye Samurai: Pilot: Hammerscale – A Netflix Series / 3 Arts Entertainment and Blue Spirit Productions
Bob's Burgers: Amelia – 20th Television Animation
Scavengers Reign: The Signal – Max in association with Titmouse Animation and Green Street
Tomato Kitchen – Bilibili / Studio Reflection

Best Animated Limited Series     
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire: Enkai – Triggerfish Animation Studio and Blinkink
Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection: Yellowbird – Afterman production in association with Max/Warner Bros. Discovery
Pokémon: Path to the Peak: 1 – The Pokémon Company International

Best Student Film
From The Top – Rich Farris, director; Martina Buendia Silva, producer (National Film and Television School)
Kolaj – Besen Dilek, director and producer (Filamakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)
The Little Poet – Justine King, director and producer (California Institute of the Arts)
La quête de l'humain – Mélina Lenco, Lucie Juric, Caroline Leibel, Faustine Merle, and Claire Pellet, student team (Gobelins, l'école de l'image)
Quem Salva – Laure Devin, Maxime Bourstin, Nathan Medam, Charles Hechinger, and Titouan Jaouen, student team (Supinfocom Rubika)

Individual achievement categories

Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production 
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday: The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday – Sateesh Malla, Russell Richardson Jr., Akash Gopal, Basavaraj P, and Kevin Rumold
Blue Eye Samurai: All Evil Dreams and Angry Words – Thomas Decaens, Karl Burtin, and Laurent Bretonniere
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire: Moremi – Matthew Dunwoody, Dmitry Sarkisov, Podchasha Yuri Anatolyevich, Richard Bothma, and Emile Van Straaten
Star Wars: Visions: Sith – Jonatan Catalán, Alberto Sánchez, Phoebe Arjona, Virginia Cantaro, and Rubén Hinarejos
What If...?: What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World? – Ryan Barringer, Rajkumar Gurudu, Bipin Kumar Patra, and Pranil Ravindra Mahajan

Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget – Charles Copping, Jon Biggins, Jim Lewis, Rich Spence, and Martin Lipmann
Elemental – Chris Chapman, Tim Speltz, Krzysztof Rost, Amit Baadkar, Ravindra Dwivedi
The Peasants – Lukasz Mackiewicz and Kamil Polak
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari, Naoki Kato, Nicola Finizio, and Edmond Boulet-Gilly
Suzume – Yoshitaka Takeuchi and Hiroyuki Seshita

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production       
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake: The Winter King – Alex Small-Butera
The Amazing Digital Circus: Pilot: 1 – Kevin Temmer
Blue Eye Samurai: Episodes 101, 104 and 106 – Alex Bard
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire: Moremi, Surf Sangoma, Stardust – Andre DeVilliers
Star Wars: Visions: I Am Your Mother – Laurie Sitzia

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
The Boy and the Heron – Takeshi Honda
Elemental – Jessica Torres
Nimona – Toby Seale
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken – Prashanth Cavale
Suzume – Kenichi Tsuchiya

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production    
Ahsoka – Rick O'Connor, Mike Beaulieu, Stewart Alves, Kevin Reuter, and Wai Kit Wan
Cocaine Bear – Carmelo Leggiero, Steve Braggs, Kevin Kelm, Cedric Enriquez Canlas, and Kane Elferink
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 – Fernando Herrera, Chris Hurtt, Nathan McConnel, Daniel Cabral, and Chris McGaw
The Little Mermaid – Pablo Grillo, Kayn Garcia, Ferran Casas, Stuart Ellis, and Joseph Lewis
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Kevin Estey, Kai-Hua Lan, Blaine Toderian Toderian, Richard John Moore, and 
Joseph C.K Leong

Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game
Atomic Heart – Mundfish Animation Team (Mundfish)
Hogwarts Legacy – Tara Edwards (Avalanche Software)
Let's! Revolution – BUCK Animation Team (BUCK)
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 – Insomniac Games Animation Team (Insomaniac Games)
Teslagrad 2 – Aslak Helgesen (Rain Games)

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production              
Clone High: Let's Try This Again – Tara Billinger
Jessica's Big Little World: Bedtime Routine – Nick Winn
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire: You Give Me Heart – Lesego Vorester
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: The Beyonder – Jose Lopez
Spirit Rangers: Water Protectors – Marie Delmas

Outstanding Achievement for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Elemental – Maria Yi
Merry Little Batman – Nikolas Ilic
Nimona – Aidan Sugano
Robot Dreams – Daniel Fernandez Casas
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Jesús Alonso Iglesias

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production              
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire: Moremi – Shofela Coker and Andrew McNally
My Dad the Bounty Hunter: Bizarre Ride – Kenji Ono, Kai Akira, and Patrick Harpin
Pokémon Concierge: #2 What's on Your Mind, Psyduck? – Iku Ogawa
Scavengers Reign: The Fall – Diego Porral
Star Wars: Visions: Screecher's Reach – Paul Young

Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production
The Boy and the Heron – Hayao Miyazaki
Nimona – Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Robot Dreams – Pablo Berger and Benoît Feroumont
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears

Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production                
Blue Eye Samurai: Episode 105: The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride – Yuka Shirasuna
Hilda: Chapter 6: The Forgotten Lake – John Mckinnon and Mike Stefanelli
I Am Groot: Groot's Snow Day – Dan Urrutia
Star Wars: Visions: Screecher's Reach – Richie Cody, ACE, BFE
The Legend of Vox Machina: The Sunken Tomb – Todd Raleigh

Outstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
Elemental – Stephen Schaffer, Amera Rizk, Gregory Snyder, Jen Jew, and Kevin Rose-Williams
Leo – Patrick Voetberg, Joseph Titone, Darrian M. James, Danny Miller, and Brian Robinson
Nimona – Randy Trager, Erin Crackel, Stephen Schwartz, and Ashley Calle
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Editorial Team
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Greg Levitan, Illya Quinteros, David and Croomes, and Myra Owyang

Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production    
Animaniacs: Talladega Mice – Steven Bernstein and Julie Bernstein
Babylon 5: The Road Home – Michael McCuistion, Kristopher Carter, and Lolita Ritmanis
Pacemaker – Christopher Lennertz
Star Wars: Visions: Aau’s Song – Markus Wormstorm, Nadia Darries, and Dineo du Toit
The Smeds and The Smoos – René Aubry

Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production
Elemental – Thomas Newman and Ari LAUV Leff
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Daniel Pemberton and Metro Boomin
Suzume – Kazuma Jinnouchi and RADWIMPS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
The Boy and the Heron – Joe Hisaishi

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production            
Blue Eye Samurai: Hammerscale – Jason Scheier
Blue Eye Samurai: The Great Fire of 1657 – Toby Wilson, James Wilson, and Emil Mitev
Scavengers Reign: The Storm – Charles Huettner, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Pauline Mauvière, Hugo Moreno, and Jon Juarez
Star Wars: Visions: Sith – Carlos Salgado
What If...?: What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps? – Paul Lasaine, Kristina Vardazaryan, Cynthia Halley, Ryan Magno, and Simon Dunsdon

Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
Elemental – Don Shank, Maria Yi, Dan Holland, Jennifer Chang, and Laura Meyer
Nimona – Aidan Sugano and Jeff Turley
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – Patrick O'Keefe and Dean Gordon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Yashar Kassai, Arthur, and Tiffany Lam
The Boy and the Heron – Yoji Takeshige

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production    
Craig Before The Creek: Craig Before The Creek – Erik Fountain
Fright Krewe: The Blood Awakening, Part 1 – Leah Artwick
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai: Never Give Up – Kristine Lee
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight: Apok-ta-pokalypse Now, Part II – Grace Liu
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Run the Rink – Ben Juwono

Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget – Richard Phelan
Nimona – Esteban Bravo
Robot Dreams – Maca Gil
Suzume – Makoto Shinkai
The Boy and the Heron – Hayao Miyazaki

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production        
Aisha Tyler as Lana Kane in Archer: Keys Open Doors
Alex Lawther as Velveteen Rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit: The Velveteen Rabbit
Dan Stevens as Korvo in Solar Opposites: The Re-Visibility Bouillabaisse
Diamond White as Lunella Lafayette / Moon Girl in Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Moon Girl Landing
Vico Ortiz as Serena in Craig Before The Creek: Craig Before The Creek

Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona in Nimona
David Hornsby as Joker in Merry Little Batman
Hokuto Matsumura as Souta Munakata in Suzume
Jack Black as Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Tresi Gazal as Gwen in Migration

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production 
Blue Eye Samurai: Episode 105: The Tale of the Ronin and the Bride – Amber Noizumi
Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection: Yellowbird – Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North
Rock Paper Scissors: Birthday Police – Josh Lehrman, Kyle Stegina, Aram Spencer Porter, Julia Prescott and Mike Trapp
Rosie's Rules: Time Trouble – Leyani Diaz and Maria Escobedo
Scavengers Reign: The Reunion – Sean Buckelew

Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Nimona – Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor
Robot Dreams – Pablo Berger
Suzume – Makoto Shinkai
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit
The Boy and the Heron – Hayao Miyazaki

The Annie Awards continue to be a significant platform for recognizing the talent and creativity within the animation industry. As the anticipation builds for the awards ceremony on February 17, animation enthusiasts around the world eagerly await to see which productions and individuals will take home the coveted Annie trophies. Stay tuned for live coverage and updates on this exciting event.