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Announcing the 53rd Annie Awards Nominations

Today, ASIFA-Hollywood has unveiled the nominations for the highly anticipated 53rd Annie Awards™, which recognize outstanding achievements in the vibrant animation field. Scheduled to take place on February 21, 2026, at UCLA's Royce Hall, this year's ceremony promises to be an exciting event for animation enthusiasts.

The evening will kick off with a pre-reception and red carpet event at 4:30 p.m., leading into the main award ceremony at 7:00 p.m., and will conclude with a lively after-party. Attendees can expect to see notable figures from the animation industry celebrating the year's best works in various categories.

Best Animated Feature Nominations

This year’s nominees for Best Animated Feature demonstrate the incredible artistry and storytelling prowess of different studios:

• - Elio by Pixar Animation Studios
• - KPop Demon Hunters from Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
• - Little Amélie or the Character of Rain produced by Maybe Movies and Ikki Films, distributed by GKIDS
• - The Bad Guys 2 from DreamWorks Animation
• - Zootopia 2 by Walt Disney Animation Studios

In addition, the Best Animated Feature-Independent category highlights films with limited distribution, showcasing unique stories:

• - A Magnificent Life by Mediawan and What the Prod
• - Arco - Remembers from MountainA France and France 3 Cinéma
• - I'm Frankela produced by Cinema Fantasma, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Woo Films
• - Lost In Starlight from Netflix and Climax Studio
• - Scarlet by Studio CHIZU

Recognizing Exceptional Contributions

The Annie Awards cover an impressive 37 categories, with accolades for Best Animated Feature, Special Productions, Short Subjects, and Outstanding Individual Achievements among others. Noteworthy also are the honorary Juried Awards that will be presented during the ceremony.

These Juried Awards celebrate exceptional contributions to the animation space. The prestigious Winsor McCay Award, honoring lifetime achievements, will be awarded to prominent figures including:

• - Michaël Dudok de Wit, acclaimed for his work as an animator and director
• - Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, known for their influential filmmaking
• - Chris Sanders, celebrated for his writing and directing prowess

Additionally, the June Foray Award, which acknowledges significant positive impacts within the animation community, will be awarded to Sandy Rabins, a renowned producer and the founding champion of AnimAID that supports animators affected by natural disasters.

The Ub Iwerks Award will be presented to Wacom for its technological innovations that have streamlined animation production worldwide. Lastly, the Special Achievement Award recognizing unique accomplishments not confined to existing categories will be given to LightBox Expo, a significant event uniting filmmakers, students, and fans.

Thanks to Sponsors and Supporters

The Annie Awards would not be possible without generous support from various sponsors including:

• - Platinum Sponsors: DreamWorks Animation, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Animation
• - Gold Sponsor: Disney TV Animation
• - Silver Sponsors: Sony Pictures Animation and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation
• - Bronze Sponsors: GKIDS, Paper Animation/Infold Games Co., Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Skydance Animation

Industry support from Animation is Film (AIF), Animation Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and others further emphasize the community's commitment to celebrating animation excellence.

Founded in 1972 by voice acting legend June Foray, the Annie Awards continue to be a beacon of recognition for artists and storytellers in the animation sector. ASIFA-Hollywood operates as the largest chapter of the international organization dedicated to preserving animation history and fostering innovation.

For the latest updates and more information regarding the 53rd Annie Awards, visit www.annieawards.org. To learn more about ASIFA-Hollywood, check out www.asifa-hollywood.org.

This year’s ceremony promises to be a memorable celebration of artistry and creativity in animation, and all eyes will be on UCLA's Royce Hall for a night filled with inspiration and nostalgia.