ASIFA-Hollywood unveiled the nominations for its 49th Annual Annie Awards recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. 

This year’s Best Animated Feature nominees are: Encanto (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Luca (Pixar Animation Studios), Raya and the Last Dragon (Walt Disney Animation Studios), Sing 2 (Illumination) and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix).

Best Animated Feature-Independent, spotlighting features with a much smaller distribution footprint than major studio releases, are: Belle (Studio Chizu/Distributed by GKIDS), Flee (Final Cut For Real, Sun Creatures, Vivement Lundi!, MostFilm, Mer Film, VICE, Left HandFilms, Participant), Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (STUDIO 4°C / Distributed by GKIDS), Pompo the Cinephile (CLAP Animation Studio/Distributed by GKIDS) and The Summit of the Gods (Julianne Films, Folivari and Mélusine Productions Present in co-production with France 3 Cinema and Auvergne-Rhone- Alpes Cinema in association with Wild Bunch in association with Palatine Etoile 17, Cinemage 14, Indefilms 8 for Netflix).

Raya and the Last Dragon topped the field with 10 Annie nominations, followed by Encanto and the series Arcane with nine apiece, and The Mitchells vs. The Machines with eight.

“In spite of everything or maybe because of what we and the world around us have been through for nearly two years, we all want to return to some sort of normal,” remarked Frank Gladstone, Annies executive producer. “2021 brought another increase in Annie Awards submissions, ASIFA memberships and ongoing sponsorships, so we are planning to return to UCLA’s Royce Hall for an in-person event with all the trimmings. It is our job to celebrate our community and our accomplishments…and we will continue to fulfill that mission!”

The Annie Awards™ cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature-Independent, Special Productions, Sponsored Films, Short Subjects, Student Films and Outstanding Individual Achievements, as well as the honorary Juried Awards. 

Juried Awards will be presented during the ceremony, honoring unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation. The Winsor McCay Award in recognition of lifetime or career contributions are being presented to three recipients – Ruben Aquino, legendary Disney animator; Lillian Schwartz, computer animation pioneer; and Toshio Suzuki, prolific Studio Ghibli producer. 

The June Foray Award for significant and benevolent or charitable impact will be awarded to Renzo & Sayoko Kinoshita, influential animation filmmakers and founders of the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. 

The Ub Iwerks Award for technical advancement will be presented to Python Foundation, promoting, protecting and advancing the open-source Python programming language, and facilitating the growth of the diverse Python community.

And The Special Achievement Award recognizing unique and outstanding achievement not recognized within the existing award category structure will be presented to Glen Vilppu, artist and author internationally known for teaching and training animation professionals. The Certificate of Merit for service to the art and industry will be presented to Evan Vernon.

This year’s ceremony is scheduled to return Live on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Pre-reception and Red Carpet at 4:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m., and after party immediately following the ceremony. 

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Best FX - TV/Media
Arcane
Episode: Oil and Water
Production Company: A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
FX Production Company: Fortiche Productions
Guillaume Degroote, Aurélien Ressencourt, Martin Touzé, Frédéric Macé, Jérôme Dupré

Castlevania
Episode: The Endings
Production Company: Frederator Studios for Netflix
FX Production Company: Powerhouse Animation Studios
Tam Lu, Adam Deats, Sam Deats

Maya and the Three
Episode: The Sun and the Moon
Production Company: A Netflix Series
FX Production Company: Tangent Animation Studios
Alexander Feigin, Graham Wiebe, Pradeep Mynam, Michael Sun, Sergen Eren

Shaun The Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas
Episode: Broadcast Special
Production Company: Aardman for Netflix
FX Production Company: Aardman
Jim Lewis

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Episode: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, CGCG Inc. and Original Force Ltd.
Greg Lev, Brandon Tyra, Prakash Dcunha, Vincent Chou, Chen Ling

11. Best FX - Feature
Belle
Production Company: Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS
FX Production Company: Studio Chizu / Digital Frontier
Ryo Horibe, Yohei Shimozawa

Encanto
Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
FX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Alex Moaveni, Dimitre Berberov, Bruce Wright, Scott Townsend, Dale Mayeda

Raya and the Last Dragon
Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
FX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
Peter De Mund, Cong Wang, Robert Bennett, Joel Einhorn, Debbie Carlson

The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Production Company: Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks
Christopher Logan, Man-Louk Chin, Devdatta Nerurkar, Pav Grochola, Filippo Maccari
Star
Vivo
Production Company: Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks
Martin Furness, Lucy Maxian, Nachiket Pujari, Theodor Vandernoot, Stephanie Molk

12. Best Character Animation - TV/Media
Arcane
Episode: The Monster You Created
A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Léa 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

13. 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

14. Best Character Animation - Live Action
Flora & Ulysses
Production Company: Disney
FX Production Company: Framestore
Thomas Becker, Daniel Cavalcante, Philipp Winterstein, Victor Dinis, Thiago Martins

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, Cajun Hylton, Michel Alencar Magalhaes, Florent Limouzin, Dave Clayton

Y: The Last Man
Production Company: FX Productions
FX Production Company: Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic Animation Team

15. 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
Insomniac Games

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

Maya and the Three
Episode: The Sun and the Moon
A Netflix Series
Jorge R. Gutierrez

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Best Production Design - TV/Media
Arcane
Episode: Happy Progress Day!
A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Julien Georgel, Aymeric Kevin, Arnaud Baudry

Arlo the Alligator Boy
Episode: Broadcast Special
Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film
Israel Sanchez, Margaret Wuller, Michelle Haejung Park, Kayla Jones, Tania Franco

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
Chromosphere (Team Name)

23. Best Production Design - Feature
Belle
Studio Chizu / Distributed by GKIDS
Tomm Moore, 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

24. Best Storyboarding - TV/Media
Arcane
Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down
A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Simon Andriveau

Invincible
Episode: Where I Really Come From
Amazon Studios
Jay Baker

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

25. 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

26. Best Voice Acting - TV/Media
Arcane
Episode: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down
A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix
Ella Purnell (Jinx)

Arlo the Alligator Boy
Episode: Broadcast Special
Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film
Michael J. Woodard (Arlo)

Centaurworld
Episode: Johnny Teatimes Be Best Competition: A Quest for the Sash
A Netflix Original Series / Sketchshark Productions
Parvesh Cheena (Zulius)

DC Super Hero Girls
Episode: #EnterNightSting
Warner Bros. Animation
Kimberly Brooks (Bumblebee, NightSting)

Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
Episode: Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans
DreamWorks Animation
Charlie Saxton (Toby Domzalski)

27. Best Voice Acting - Feature
Encanto
Walt Disney Animation Studios
John Leguizamo (Bruno)

Encanto
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Stephanie Beatriz (Mirabel)

Luca
Pixar Animation Studios
Jack Dylan Grazer (Alberto Scorfano)

Raya and the Last Dragon
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Kelly Marie Tran (Raya)

The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
Abbi Jacobson (Katie Mitchell)

28. 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

29. 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

30. Best Editorial - TV/Media
Amphibia
Episode: True Colors
Walt Disney Television Animation
Jennifer Calbi , Julie Anne Lau , Yoonah Yim , Andrew Sorcini , David Vasquez

Arlo the Alligator Boy
Episode: Broadcast Special
Netflix Presents A Ryan Crego Film
Steve Downs
Star
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

31. Best Editorial - Feature
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