The 49th annual Annie Awards have announced their nominations and Disney scores a bunch of nominations. The Annie Awards honor the best in animated entertainment and it’s no surprise to see Disney continuing to lead the pack. Disney’s two films in 2021, Raya and the Last Dragon and Encanto, both lead the other Annie Awards nominees with 10 total nominations for Raya and nine nominations for Encanto.
Just behind these two are Pixar’s Luca (owned by Disney) and Sony Pictures Animation/Netflix’s The Mitchell’s Vs. The Machines with both earning 8 nominations. All four of these movies and Illumination’s Sing 2 are nominated for best animated feature. In four of the last five years, the winner of the best-animated feature would go on to win the Academy Award as well. While Raya scored the most nominations, it did not receive a nomination for best direction for a feature. Those nominations went to Belle, Encanto, Flee, Luca, and The Mitchell’s Vs. The Machines.
On the television side of things, Netflix’s Arcane received a lot of love from the Annie’s. Based on League of Legends, Arcane has become a smash hit on Netflix with both critics and audiences praising the show’s writing and unique characters. One of the nominations for Arcane includes Best TV/Media for general audiences along with Bob’s Burgers, Love, Death+Robots, Star Wars: Visions, and Tuca & Bertie.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is having a busy year, is a double nominee in the best music in a feature category for both Encanto and Sony/Netflix’s Vivo. Nominations for voice-acting include Abbi Jacobson for The Mitchell’s Vs. The Machines, Stephanie Beatriz and John Leguizamo for Encanto, Jack Dylan Grazer for Luca, and Kelly Marie Tran for Raya.
The Annie Awards are expected to be handed out on February 26 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, with Disney expected to take home some strong awards. Career achievement Annie awards (Winsor McCay Awards) will be handed out to veteran Disney animator Ruben Aquino, computer animation pioneer Lillian Schwartz, and Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki.
Here is the full list of nominations, shared by The Hollywood Reporter:
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 Special Jim Lewis Aardman for Netflix FX 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 Animation FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, CGCG Inc. and Original Force Ltd.
Best FX – Feature
Belle Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS Ryo Horibe, Yohei Shimozawa, FX Production Company: Studio Chizu / Digital Frontier
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Alex 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 Imageworks
Christopher Logan, Man-Louk Chin, Devdatta Nerurkar, Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari
Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks Martin 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 Netflix Lea Chervet
Love, Death + Robots Episode: All Through the House, Blur Studio for Netflix Dan 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 Studios Ghazal 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: Framestore Thomas Becker, Thiago Martins, Daniel Cavalcante, Philipp Winterstein, Victor Dinis
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Production Company: Marvel Entertainment FX Production Company: Weta Digital Karl Rapley, Sebastian Trujillo, Richard John Moore, Merlin Bela, Wassilij Maertz, Pascal Raimbault
The Suicide Squad Production Company: Warner Bros., Pictures FX Production Company: Framestore Meena Ibrahim, Alvise Avati, Nicholas Cabana, Adam Goldstein, Lea Vera Toro
The Tomorrow War Production Company: Paramount Pictures FX Production Company: Weta Digital Carmelo Leggiero, Florent Limouzin, Cajun Hylton, Dave Clayton, Michel Alencar Magalhaes,
Y: The Last Man Production Company: FX Productions FX Production Company: Industrial Light & Magic
Best Character Animation – Video Game
Disney Wonderful Worlds, Ludia
It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios Hazelight Animation Team
Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Ember Lab Ember Lab Animation Team
Madrid Noir, Atlas V No Ghost Aziz Kocanaogullari
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Insomniac Games
Best Character Design – TV/Media
Arcane Episode: Some Mysteries Better Left Unsolved A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix Evan Monteiro
Batman: The Long Halloween Part One Episode: Broadcast Special, Warner Bros. Animation Otto Schmidt
Kid Cosmic Episode: The Rings of Power, A Netflix Original Series Craig McCracken
Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix Series Jorge R. Gutierrez
Yuki 7 Episode: They Called Her Number Seven Chromosphere Keiko Murayama
Best Character Design – Feature
Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Deanna Marsigliese
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Ami Thompson
Ron’s Gone Wrong, Locksmith Animation Ltd/ 20th Century Studios Julien Bizet
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Lindsey Olivares
Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Joe Moshier
Best Direction – TV/ Media
Amphibia Episode: True Colors, Walt Disney Television Animation Jenn Strickland, Kyler Spears
Arcane Episode: The Monster You Created, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix Pascal Charue, Arnaud Delord, Barthelemy Maunoury
Crossing Swords Episode: Tent Pitching Stoopid 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 Filmworks Andy Coyle
19 Best Direction – Feature
Belle, Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS Mamoru Hosoda
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith
Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Kenneth Ladekjær
Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Enrico Casarosa
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Best Music – TV/ Media
Blush Episode: Broadcast Short Film Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation Joy Ngiaw
Hilda and the Mountain King Episode: Broadcast Special, Hilda Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media Company, Netflix Inc. and Mercury Filmworks Ryan Carlson
Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix Series Tim Davies, Gustavo Santaolalla
Mila Episode: Broadcast Short Film, PepperMax Films, Pixel Cartoon, IbiscusMedia, Cinesite, Aniventure Flavio Gargano
Mira, Royal Detective Episode: The Eid Mystery, Wild Canary Animation Amritha Vaz, Matthew Tishler, Jeannie Lurie
Best Music – Feature
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Lin-Manuel Miranda, Germaine Franco
Luca Pixar Animation Studios Dan Romer
Poupelle of Chimney Town, Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. Youki Kojima, Yuta Bandoh
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios James 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 Netflix Julien Gorgel, Aymeric Kevin, Arnaud Baudry
Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special, Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film Israel Sanchez, Tania Franco, Margaret Wuller, Michelle Haejung Park, Kayla Jones,
Love, Death + Robots Episode: Ice, Blur Studio for Netflix Robert Valley
Maya and the Three Episode: The Sun and the Moon, A Netflix Series Jorge R. Gutierrez, Paul Sullivan, Gerald de Jesus, Richard Chen
Yuki 7 Episode: They Called Her Number Seven Chromosphere Team
Best Production Design – Feature
Belle, Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS Tomm Moore, Pareja Ross Stewart, Alice Dieudonné, Almu Redondo, Maria Pareja
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Paul Felix, Mingjue Helen Chen, Cory Loftis
Ron’s Gone Wrong, Locksmith Animation/ 20th Century Studios Aurélien Predal Till Nowak, Nathan Crowley
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Lindsey 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 Down A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix Simon Andriveau
Kid Cosmic Episode: The Big Win A Netflix Original Series Justin Nichols
Love, Death + Robots Episode: Pop Squad, Blur Studio for Netflix Jennifer Yuh Nelson
The Ghost and Molly McGee Episode: All Systems No Walt Disney Television Animation Johnny Castuciano
Best Storyboarding – Feature
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Jason Hand
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Luis Logam
Spirit Untamed, DreamWorks Animation Gary Graham
The Addams Family 2, Jackal Group / Glickmania Steven Garcia
Vivo, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Carlos Romero
Best Voice Acting – TV/Media
Arcane Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix Ella Purnell
Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special, Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film Michael J. Woodard
Centaurworld Episode: Johnny Teatimes Be Best Competition: A Quest for the Sash, A Netflix Original Series / Sketchshark Productions Parvesh Cheena
DC Super Hero Girls Episode: #EnterNightSting, Warner Bros. Animation Kimberly Brooks
Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans Episode: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans, DreamWorks Animation Charlie Saxton
Annie Awards – Best Voice Acting – Feature: Disney Strikes Hard
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios John Leguizamo
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Stephanie Beatriz
Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Jack Dylan Grazer
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Kelly Marie Tran
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Abbi Jacobson
Best Writing – TV/ Media
Arcane Episode: The Monster You Created, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Maya and the Three Episode: Chapter 4: The Skull, Netflix Silvia Olivas, Jorge R. Guitterez
Muppet Babies Episode: Gonzo-Rella, OddBot Inc. Ghia Godfree
The Mighty Ones Episode: Berry’s Pet Threat, DreamWorks Animation Jillian Goldfluss, Erica Jones, Nicolette Wood
Tuca & Bertie Episode: Planteau The Tornante Company Lisa Hanawalt
Best Writing – Feature
Belle, Studio Chizu Mamoru Hosoda
Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Amin Nawabi
Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Jesse Andrews, Mike Jones
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Qui Nguyen, Adele Lim
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Mike Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Best Editorial – TV/ Media
Amphibia Episode: True Colors Walt Disney Television Animation Jennifer Calbi , David Vasquez, Julie Anne Lau, Yoonah Yim, Andrew Sorcini
Arlo the Alligator Boy Episode: Broadcast Special, Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film Steve Downs
Love, Death + Robots Episode: Pop Squad, Blur Studio for Netflix Julian Clarke, Matt Mariska, Valerian Zamel, Brian Swanson, Ky Kenyon
Tom and Jerry in New York Episode: Billboard Jumble, Warner Bros. Animation Michael D’Ambrosio, Jeff Small
What If…? Episode: What If…Ultron Won? Marvel Studios Joel Fisher, Graham Fisher, Sharia Davis, Basuki Juwono, Adam Spieckerman
Annie Award – Best Editorial – Feature: Disney Leads the Pack
Encanto, Walt Disney Animation Studios Jeremy Milton, John Wheeler, Pace Paulsen, Brian Estrada
Flee, Final Cut For Real, Sun Creature, Vivement Lundi !, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant Janus Billeskov Jansen
Luca, Pixar Animation Studios Catherine Apple, Jason Hudak, Jennifer Jew, Tim Fox, David Suther
Raya and the Last Dragon, Walt Disney Animation Studios Fabienne Rawley, Shannon Stein, Todd Fulkerson, Rick Hammel, Brian Millman
The Mitchells vs. The Machines, Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix Greg Levitan, Collin Wightman, T.J. Young, Tony Ferdinand, Bret Allen
What do you think of the Annie Awards nominees, and do you think Disney should be the winner in some categories? Let us know!
