Tom Kenny, Voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, to Host 38th Annual Annie Awards

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Kenny, the voice of the wildly successful film and television character 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' is set to host this year's 38th Annual Annie Awards on Saturday, February 5, 2011, at UCLA's Royce Hall. The black-tie evening begins with a pre-reception at 5 p.m. followed by the Annie Awards ceremony at 7 p.m. and post-award party immediately following the ceremony. All events will be held at Royce Hall.

"ASIFA-Hollywood is thrilled to have Tom Kenny serve as the host of this year's Annie Awards," says ASIFA-Hollywood President Antran Manoogian. "Tom's comedic humor and antics should make for a fun and entertaining award ceremony."

In honor of the year's best in animation, Kenny will be joined on stage by a lively mix of animation luminaries, celebrity presenters and comedic talent including animation legend June Foray, James Hong, Danica McKellar, Kevin Michael Richardson, Mike Henry, Nika Futterman, Brian Regan, Corey Burton, Jim Cummings and John DeMaggio. This year's Winsor McCay recipients are Brad Bird, Eric Goldberg and Matt Groening. The Winsor McCay Award stands as one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation.

A limited number of VIP tickets are still available. Tickets are $200 for ASIFA-Hollywood members and $250 for non-members. General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased only through the UCLA box office. For additional ticket information and up-to-the minute details on the 38th Annual Annie Awards, please visit www.annieawards.org. Media inquiries and credentials, please contact Gretchen Houser, Houser PR at 562.235.0991 or [email protected].

Often a predictor of the annual Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Annie Awards honor overall excellence as well as individual achievement in a total of 25 categories ranging from best feature, production design, character animation, and effects animation to storyboarding, writing, music and voice acting. Entries submitted for consideration were from productions that originally aired, were exhibited in an animation festival or commercially released between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.

Founded in 1972 by ASIFA member and veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past three decades. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood is the largest of an international network of chapters and supports a range of animation initiatives through its membership. Current projects include an animation archive, library and museum, classes and screenings, and animated film preservation efforts.

SOURCE ASIFA-Hollywood