Dec 2, 2019

Analysis: Netflix Overtakes Disney in 2019 Annie Award Nominations

The nominations for the 47th annual ASIFA-Hollywood Annie Awards were announced today, and Disney's stranglehold over the organization has loosened ever so slightly, thanks in large part to the streaming service Netflix, which has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into series and feature production at dozens of studios around the globe.

By our count, Netflix leads all companies with 37 nominations to Disney's 28 nominations. For Disney, it's a steep decline from the 2018 awards, where it scored 42 nominations. (Dreamworks Animation rounds out the top three with 19 nominations.)

Some things, of course, don't change. For the fifth straight year in a row, a Walt Disney Company film received the most feature film nominations. This year, it's Frozen 2 with eight nods, though it should be noted that it tied for that amount with Laika's Missing Link. There's lots of diversity at the top of the feature film pack. In addition to those two films, Netflix's first original feature Klaus drew seven nominations, while Toy Story 4, How to Train You Dragon: The Hidden World, and I Lost My Body earned six nominations apiece.

Unlike 2018, which turned out to be the year of Spider-Verse, there is no clear feature frontrunner among the top nomination earners. Even Makoto Shinkai's Weathering with You is in play with four nominations. Shinkai picked up nominations in key categories like writing and directing, in addition to best indie feature and fx animation.

Let's rephrase that actually: there is a frontrunner if we're talking strictly in terms of filmmaking quality, but it's not a frontrunner in terms of who is going to win. For effectively using the medium of animation to tell a bold and original story, there's really no contest between Jérémy Clapin's I Lost My Body and everyone else. It's not only the best animated film of the year, but one of the best of the decade. But we think it's asking too much of ASIFA-Hollywood members, a highly industry-centric group, to reward a micro-budget French film over much glitzier Hollywood entries. So we're back to where we started: there's no clear front-runner.

Also, a couple of key omissions from the feature animation race: the cg animation remake of The Lion King and the Chinese feature Ne Zha. The Lion King is not only 100% animated, it's the highest-grossing animated feature of all-time, yet Disney has taken a corporate stance that it's not animated. Ne Zha, meanwhile, is the fourth-highest grossing animated feature globally this year. It may be that neither film entered the competition, but the Annie Awards have nominated films in the past that weren't entered. It's certainly bizarre to have two of the top four grossing animated films of the year missing from the competition entirely.

As strong a showing as Netflix made in the feature categories, it actually scored the majority of its nominations on the series side, with Love, Death & Robots leading all series with five nominations. Netflix did well with animation for younger kids - DHX Media's Carmen Sandiego earned four nods and its Jibjab-produced series Ask the Storybots came in with three - but it really excelled in animation for teens and adults, with 13 noms for its mature series offerings. They could have had even more series nominations if Green Eggs and Ham had been properly recognized for its animation and production design. Curiously, the project received just one nomination - for editorial. Maybe it'll be part of next year's cycle-

With an overwhelming amount of content being produced for streaming nowadays, there are obviously going to be some worthwhile projects left out of the mix. Annie Award organizers reported a 20% increase in submissions this year, totalling over 1,900 entries. Still, there are a lot of headscratchers. For example, the exceptional adult animated series Undone, created by Tornante Company for Amazon Studios, received just a single nomination, and missed out on an obvious recognition in the directing category. Yet Disney's long-running series of Mickey Mouse shorts yet again picked up a directing nod, one of three nominations it received.

Over the last five years, Disney's Mickey Mouse series has received a total of 21 nominations. The shorts are perfectly fine for what they are, but they're not 21 nominations-good, especially at the expense of a rapidly-maturing industry where studios are innovating and shattering boundaries. It may be time to re-establish criteria for how certain Annie categories are judged so that default series don't wind up receiving nominations over more worthwhile newcomers.

One category that has improved in recent years is the shorts category, which nominated a 100% independent European slate. There's usually at least one American film in the line-up, and there were some quality American shorts left off of the list, but the choices made are solid. They even threw in Thomas Renoldner's zany experimental short Don't Know What, which won the grand prize at Ottawa a few months ago, and Tomek Popakul's Acid Rain, the top vote-getter in Cartoon Brew's survey of industry experts. I don't know who was on the selection committee for that category, but they should give themselves a pat on the back.

In addition to the competitive categories, juried awards will be presented to honor “unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation.” The Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement will be presented to Satoshi Kon (posthumously), Henry Selick, and the directorial team of Ron Clements and John Musker. The June Foray Award will be presented to Jeanette Bonds, the co-founder and director of the GLAS Animation Festival, while the Ub Iwerks Award for technical achievement will be given to cg pioneer Jim Blinn, who first became widely known for his work as a computer graphics expert at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Voting for this year's Annie Awards will begin on January 1, 2020. The Annie Awards will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.

The complete list of nominees is below:

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine

Missing Link Laika, LLC

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles Sygnatia, Glow, Submarine, Hampa Animation Studio

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix

Okko's Inn Madhouse

Promare Trigger, Xflag

Weathering With You Toho Co., LTD. / Story Inc. / Comix Wave Films

Guava Island, “Titles and Prologue” Six Point Harness / Amazon

How to Train Your Dragon Homecoming Dreamworks Animation

Infinity Train, “The Perennial Child” Cartoon Network Studios

Spongebob Squarepants, “SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout” Nickelodeon and Jonas & Co.

Zog Magic Light Pictures

Acid Rain Tomek Popakul (Animoon)

Dont Know What Thomas Renoldner

Je sors acheter des cigarettes Osman Cerfon (Miyu Productions)

Purpleboy Alexandre Siqueira (Bando à Parte, Rainbox Productions, Ambiances… asbl, Luna Blue Film)

Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days Regina Pessoa (Ciclope Filmes, National Film Board of Canada, Les Armateurs)

Bonfire Baobab Studios

Gloomy Eyes Atlas V

Kaiju Confidential Shadowmachine

Dove Self-Esteem Project x Steven Universe: “Social Media” Cartoon Network/Dove/Chromosphere

Fortnite Season 7 Launch Spot Epic Games/Screen Novelties/Iam8bit

The Mystical Journey of Jimmy Page's '59 Telecaster Nexus Studios

Ask the Storybots Jibjab Bros. Studios for Netflix

Elena of Avalor Disney Television Animation

Let's Go Luna! Brown Bag Films/9 Story Media Group

Norman Picklestripes Factory

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Brown Bag Films/9 Story Media Group

Disney Mickey Mouse Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel

Niko and the Sword of Light Titmouse, Amazon Studios

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Tales of Arcadia: 3Below Dreamworks Animation

The Tom and Jerry Show Warner Bros. Animation

Big Mouth Netflix

Bojack Horseman Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix

Harley Quinn Warner Bros. Animation

Tuca & Bertie Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix

Undone Tornante Company and Amazon Studios

Con Fuerza Savannah College of Art and Design

Gravedad Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH Animationsinstitut

The Fox & The Pigeon Sheridan College

Un diable dans la poche Gobelins l'école de l'image

How to Train Your Dragon Homecoming Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Manuel Reyes Halaby, Cristiana Covone, Koya Masubuchi, Jean Claude Nouchy, Dustin Henning

Love, Death & Robots Blur for Netflix Nominees: Viktor Németh, Szabolcs Illés, Ádám Sipos , Vladimir Zhovna

My Moon Eusong Lee, Co-produced with Chromosphere Nominees: Stéphane Coëdel, Natan Moura

Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures Lucasfilm, Titmouse, Inc. Nominees: Araiza Tokumasu Naoki

Tales of Arcadia: 3Below Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Greg Lev, Igor Lodeiro, Chen Ling, Brandon Tyra

Abominable Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Amaury Aubel, James Jackson, Domin Lee, Michael Losure, Alex Timchenko

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Benjamin Fiske, Alex Moaveni, Jesse Erickson, Dimitre Berberov, Kee Nam Suong

Missing Link Laura E Gross Nominees: Eric Wachtman, David Horsley, Peter Stuart, Timu Khodzhaev, Joe Strasser

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Alexis Angelidis, Amit Ganapati Baadkar, Greg Gladstone, Kylie Wijsmuller, Matthew Kiyoshi Wong

Weathering With You GKIDS Nominees: Hidetsugu Ito, Yuko Nakajima, Jumi Lee, Ryosuke Tsuda

Ask the Storybots Jibjab Bros. Studios for Netflix Nominees: Chris O'Hara

Disney Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Juliane Martin

His Dark Materials BBC Studios Nominees: Aulo Licinio

How to Train Your Dragon Homecoming Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Andrew Muir

Robot Chicken Stoopid Buddy Stoodios Nominees: Scott DaRos

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Andrew Ford

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Dane Stogner

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Rani Naamani

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Sergio Martins

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Rachelle Lambden

Alita: Battle Angel Weta Digital Nominees: Michael Cozens

Avengers: Endgame Weta Digital Nominees: Sidney Kombo-Kintombo

Game of Thrones – Season 8 Episode 3 “The Long Night” – Dance of the Dragons Image Engine Nominees: Jason Snyman, Sheik Ghafoor, Maia Neubig, Michael Siegel, Cheri Fojtik

Pokémon Detective Pikachu Framestore Nominees: Dale Newton, Waiyin Mendoza, Rochelle Flynn, Leila Gaed, Paul Jones

Spider-Man: Far From Home Steven Argula Nominees: Joakim Riedinger

Gears 5 Cinematic AnimationThe Coalition/ Microsoft Nominees: Brian Whitmire

Kingdom Hearts III Square Enix Nominees: Munenori Shinagawa, Kayoko Yajima, Koji Hamada, Koji Inoue

Sinclair Snake: Museum Mischief Chromosphere / Within Nominees: Tommy Rodricks, Natan Moura, Nelson Boles

Unruly Heroes Magic Design Studios Nominees: Sebastien Parodi, Nicolas Leger

Carmen Sandiego Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing and DHX Media for Netflix Nominees: Keiko Murayama

DC Super Hero Girls Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Lauren Faust

T.O.T.S. Titmouse/Disney Junior Nominees: John Jagusak

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Chris Mitchell

Victor and Valentino Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: Fabien Mense

Abominable Dreamworks Animation/Pearl Studio Nominees: Nico Marlet

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Bill Schwab

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Torsten Schrank

Spies in Disguise Blue Sky Studios Nominees: José Manuel Fernández Oli

The Addams Family MGM and Bron Creative Nominees: Craig Kellman

Ask the Storybots Jibjab Bros. Studios for Netflix Nominees: Jeff Gill

DC Super Hero Girls Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Natalie Wetzig

Disney Mickey Mouse Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Alonso Ramirez Ramos

Rilakkuma & Kaoru Dwarf for Netflix Nominees: Masahito Kobayashi

Ultraman Production IG, SOLA Digital Arts for Netflix Nominees: Kenji Kamiyama, Shinji Aramaki

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix Nominees: Jérémy Clapin

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Sergio Pablos

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Chris Butler

Weathering With You Toho Co., Ltd./ Story Inc. /Comix Wave Films Nominees: Makoto Shinkai

Carmen Sandiego Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing and DHX Media for Netflix Nominees: Jared Lee Gosselin, Steve D'Angelo, Lorenzo Castelli

Love, Death & Robots Blur for Netflix Nominees: Rob Cairns

Seis Manos Viz Media/Powerhouse Animation Studios Nominees: Carl Thiel

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Sunna Wehrmeijer

The Tom and Jerry Show Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Vivek Maddala

Away Dream Well Studios Nominees: Gints Zilbalodis

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Christophe Beck, Frode Fjellheim, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix Nominees: Dan Levy

Spies in Disguise Blue Sky Studios Nominees: Mark Ronson, Theodore Shapiro

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Randy Newman

Carmen Sandiego Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing and DHX Media for Netflix Nominees: Eastwood Wong, Sylvia Liu, Elaine Lee, Linda Fong, Emily Paik

Disney Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Alan Bodner, Brian Woods, Steven Nicodemus, Laura Price, Leonard Robledo

Love, Death & Robots Blur for Netflix Nominees: Alberto Mielgo

Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart Cartoon Network, Titmouse, Inc. Nominees: Khang Le, Chris Fisher, Gael Bertrand, Deodato Pangandoyon, Howard Chen

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Chris Mitchell, Chris Turnham, Tor Aunet, DanBob Thompson, Aaron Spurgeon

Abominable Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Max Boas, Paul Duncan, Christopher Brock, Cecline Da Hyeu Kim, Jane Li

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Pierre-Olivier Vincent, Kirsten Kawamura, Woonyoung Jung, Iuri Lioi

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Szymon Biernaki, Marcin Jakubowski

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Nelson Lowry, Santiago Montiel, Trevor Dalmer

The Addams Family MGM and Bron Creative Nominees: Patricia Atchison, Maisha Moore, Chris Souza, Jack Yu

Carmen Sandiego Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing and DHX Media for Netflix Nominees: Kenny Park

Carole & Tuesday Bones for Netflix Nominees: Shinichiro Watanabe

Love, Death & Robots Blur for Netflix Nominees: Owen Sullivan

Snoopy in Space Apple Nominees: Riccardo Durante

Zog Magic Light Pictures Nominees: Max Lang

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix Nominees: Julien Bisaro

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix Nominees: Jérémy Clapin

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Sergio Pablos

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Julián Nariño

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Oliver Thomas

Big City Greens Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Marieve Herington

Bob's Burgers 20th Century Fox/Bento Box Entertainment Nominees: H. Jon Benjamin

Steven Universe Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: Sarah Stiles

Tigtone Titmouse, Inc., Babyhemyth Productions, Williams Street Nominees: Debi Derryberry

Tuca & Bertie Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix Nominees: Ali Wong

Abominable Dreamworks Animation/Pearl Studio Nominees: Tenzing Norgay Trainor

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Josh Gad

Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus CJ Entertainment and Nickelodeon Animation Studios for Netflix Nominees: Richard Horvitz

The Secret Life of Pets 2 Illumination Nominees: Jenny Slate

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Tony Hale

Apple & Onion Cartoon Network Studios Nominees: George Gendi, Michael Gendi, Deepak Sethi, Eric Acosta, Sean Szeles

Bojack Horseman Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix Nominees: Alison Tafel

Pinky Malinky Nickelodeon Animation Studios for Netflix Nominees: Sheela Shrinivas, Aminder Dhaliwal, Rikke Asbjoern

Tuca & Bertie Tornante Productions, LLC for Netflix Nominees: Shauna McGarry

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum Brown Bag Film/9 Story Media Group Nominees: Meghan Read

Frozen 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios Nominees: Jennifer Lee

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation Nominees: Dean DeBlois

I Lost My Body Xilam for Netflix Nominees: Jérémy Clapin, Guillaume Laurant

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Andrew Stanton, Stephany Folsom

Weathering With You Toho Co., Ltd./ Story Inc./Comix Wave Films Nominees: Makoto Shinkai

Big Hero 6: The Series Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Dao Le, Joe Molinari, Charles T. Jones, David Vasquez

DC Super Hero Girls Warner Bros. Animation Nominees: Torien Blackwolf

Disney Mickey Mouse Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel Nominees: Tony Molina

Green Eggs and Ham Warner Bros. Animation for Netflix Nominees: Margaret Hou

Love, Death & Robots Blur for Netflix Nominees: Bo Juhl, Stacy Auckland, Valerian Zamel

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dreamworks Animation Nominees: John K. Carr, Mark Hester, Mary Blee

Klaus Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine Nominees: Pablo García Revert

Missing Link Laika, LLC Nominees: Stephen Perkins

The Secret Life of Pets 2 Illumination Nominees: Tiffany Hillkurtz

Toy Story 4 Pixar Animation Studios Nominees: Axel Geddes, Torbin Xan Bullock, Greg Snyder