39th Annie Award Nominations Announced

BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations today for its 39th Annual Annie Awards™ recognizing the year's best in the field of animation. The Annie Awards cover 28 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects and Outstanding Individual Achievements.

The slate of nominations for Best Animated Features tops 10 this year and include: A Cat in Paris (Folimage), Arthur Christmas (Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman Animations), Arrugas (Perro Verde Films, S.L.), Cars 2 (Pixar Animation Studios), Chico & Rita (Chico & Rita Distribution), Kung Fu Panda 2 (DreamWorks Animation), Puss In Boots (DreamWorks Animation), Rango (Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies), Rio (Blue Sky Studios) and The Adventures of Tintin (Amblin Entertainment, Wingnut Films and Kennedy/Marshall).

"We are really excited about the expanded list of nominations this year…in all 28 categories," said Frank Gladstone, president, ASIFA-Hollywood.  "All of the major animation studios are represented, as are some of the independent productions from Europe and South America. This certainly is a testament to the wide reach and appeal of animation and the people who create it."

The 2011 Annie Award winners will be announced at the 39th Annual Annie Awards ceremony on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at UCLA's Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, CA.  For a complete list of Annie Award nominations, ticket and event information, please visit www.annieawards.org.

Special juried awards honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation will also be awarded: Winsor McCay Award – Walt Peregoy, Borge Ring and Ronald Searle for career contributions to the art of animation; June Foray Award – Art Leonardi for significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation; and Special Achievement Award is given to an individual, individuals or a company for unique and outstanding achievement falling within the Annie Award eligibility period and not recognized within the existing award category structure. This year's Special Achievement goes to Depth Analysis.  

The Annie Awards black-tie ceremony will feature a lively mix of animation luminaries, celebrity presenters and comedic talent to celebrate the animation industry's best of the best.  A pre-reception begins at 5:00 pm with the awards ceremony following at 7:00 pm.  A post-show celebration immediately follows the ceremony.  All events will be held at Royce Hall.

ASIFA-Hollywood is the world's first and foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the art of animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the animation archive, animation film preservation, special events, classes and screenings.

Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for nearly four decades.

For up-to-the minute information on the Annie Awards, please visit www.annieawards.org.  And, for information on ASIFA-Hollywood, please visit www.asifa-hollywood.org.

SOURCE ASIFA-Hollywood