ASIFA Hollywood hosted an elegant, amusing evening for the animation community, February 4, at the Alex Theater in Glendale. High-energy host Tom Kenny (a.k.a. the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) kept a lively pace during the 33rd Annual Annie Awards. His quick wit was appreciated as it kept the full house laughing and the show on time. The evening was especially good for Nick Park and his Aardman Animations, who took home 10 awards, including Best Animated Feature. Highlights of the evening also included recognition of Winsor McCay Award recipients: veteran animators Cornelius Cole III and Fred Crippen and legendary Bambi background artist Tyrus Wong, as well as a tribute to Pixar’s Joe Ranft, who passed away in August, 2005. Watching Ranft in the video tribute pitching storyboards, performing goofy voices, and showing us how much he loved his work both celebrated storyboard artists and underscored how deeply he is missed.THE WINNERSBest Animated Video Game: Ultimate Spiderman, Activision/TreyarchBest Animated Home Entertainment Production: Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, DisneyToon StudiosCharacter Design in an Animated Television Production: Ernie Gilbert – The Fairly OddParents “The Good Old Days”, NickelodeonCharacter Design in an Animated Feature Production: Nick Park Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./Dreamworks AnimationProduction Design in an Animated Television Production: Mike Moon, Craig McCracken, Dave Dunnet, Martin Ansolabehere Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends “A Lost Claus”, Cartoon Network StudiosProduction Design in an Animated Feature Production: Phil Lewis Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./Dreamworks AnimationMusic in an Animated Television Production: James L. Venable, Jennifer Kes Remington Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends “Duchess of Wails”, Cartoon Network StudiosMusic in an Animated Feature Production: Julian Nott Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./Dreamworks AnimationWriting in an Animated Television Production: C.H. Greenblatt, Paul Tibbitt, Mike Bell, Tim Hill SpongeBob SquarePants “Fear of a Krabby Patty”, NickelodeonWriting in an Animated Feature Production: Nick Park, Steve Box, Mark Burton, Bob Baker Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./Dreamworks AnimationVoice Acting in an Animated Television Production: Seth MacFarlane, voice of Stewie, Family Guy “Brian the Bachelor”, Fox TV AnimationVoice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: Peter Sallis, voice of Wallace, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationStoryboarding in an Animated Television Production: Lauren MacMullan AVATAR: The Last Airbender “The Deserter”, NickelodeonStoryboarding in an Animated Feature Production: Bob Persichetti Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationDirecting in an Animated Television Production: Peter Shin Family Guy “North by North Quahog”, Fox TV AnimationDirecting in an Animated Feature Production: Nick Park, Steve Box Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationAnimated Effects: Jason Wen Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationCharacter Animation: Claire Billett Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationBest Animated Short Subject: The Fan and The Flower, Atomic Television Plymptoons ProductionsBest Animated TV Commercial: United Airlines: “Mr. Pants”, Acme FilmworksBest Animated Television Production: Star Wars: Clone Wars II Chapters 21-25, Cartoon Network StudiosBest Animated Feature: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks AnimationSPECIAL AWARDSJune Foray Award: Mark KauslerUb Iwerks Award: Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Tim Burton, director; Ian McKinnon and Pete Saunders, designersCertificates of Merit: Larry Loc, Dan Lund and Tony WestWinsor McCay Award: Recognition of lifetime or career contributions to the art of animation: Cornelius Cole III, Fred Crippen, Tyrus Wong
Written by Maria M. Lopez
