Disney Wins Big at 44th Annie Awards

The Annie Awards are held annually to recognize animation’s biggest and brightest stars, honoring overall excellence as well as individual achievements in animation in a total of 36 categories. This year, Disney releases and television series were recognized in 11 categories, receiving 12 Annies in all. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) blockbuster Zootopia was honored in six categories, including Best Animated Feature; while Annies also went to WDAS’ Moana, Pixar’s short Piper, Disney Television Animation’s Mickey Mouse shorts, and the live-action features The Jungle Book, from Walt Disney Pictures, and Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange.

Congratulations to all of Disney’s Annie Award Winners:

Best Animated Feature
Zootopia—Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
Piper—Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Moana—Walt Disney Animation Studios
Head of Effects Animation: Marlon West; Effects Lead: Erin V. Ramos; Effects Lead: Blair Pierpont; Foundation Effects Lead: Ian J. Coony; Effects Lead: John M. Kosnik

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live-Action Production
Doctor Strange—Marvel Studios, Mirror Dimension
FX Supervisor: Georg Kaltenbrunner; Digital Artist: Michael Marcuzzi; Digital Artist: Thomas Bevan; Digital Artist: Andrew Graham; Digital Artist: Jihyun Yoon

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live-Action Production
The Jungle Book—Walt Disney Pictures
Animation Supervisor: Andrew R. Jones; Animation Supervisor: Peta Bayley; Animation Supervisor: Gabriele Zucchelli; Character Supervisor: Benjamin Jones

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
Zootopia—Walt Disney Animation Studios
Character Design: Cory Loftis; Character: Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps, Flash, Chief Bogo, Clawhauser, Mr. Big, Fru Fru, Koslov, Bellwether, Yax, Finnick, Doug, Mr. and Mrs. Otterton, Duke Weaselton, Misc. Characters

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Zootopia—Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Byron Howard and Rich Moore

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
Zootopia—Walt Disney Animation Studios
Storyboard Artist: Dean Wellins

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production (Tie)
Moana—Auli’i Cravalho, Character: Moana
Zootopia—Jason Batemen, Character: Nick Wilde

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Zootopia—Walt Disney Animation Studios
Writers: Jared Bush, Phil Johnston

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
Disney Mickey Mouse, Episode: “Sock Burglar”—Disney Television Animation
Editor: Illya Owens