International Animated Film Society

The International Animated Film Society presented the 16th annual Annie awards for creative excellence and technological advances in the medium Friday night at the Midtown Hilton. Among honorees: Disney studio designers Mel Shaw and A. Kendall O'Connor, and Warner Brothers cartoon designer Maurice Noble. Norm Ferguson, best known for his animation of the Wicked Witch in "Snow White," was posthumously given the Winsor McCay award for lifetime achievement by an animator.

"Wreck-It Ralph's" five-trophy haul at this weekend's Annie Awards makes it a favorite of sorts in the race for the animated feature Oscar, but the category still lacks the kind of clear front-runner that we've seen the last five years. Since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began giving the animated feature prize in 2002, the Annie winner, presented by the Hollywood chapter of the International Animated Film Society, has gone on to win the Oscar eight out of 11 times.

The International Animated Film Society's nominations for best animated theatrical feature are "Brother Bear," "Finding Nemo," "Looney Tunes: Back in Action," "Millennium Actress" and "Triplets of Belleville." Although the Academy Award for animated feature film has existed only two years, the winner of the Annie Awards has taken that honor both times ("Spirited Away" and "Shrek"). The awards will be held Feb. 7 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Patrick Day

"Brave," "Frankenweenie," "Hotel Transylvania," "ParaNorman," "Rise of the Guardians," "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," "The Rabbi's Cat" and "Wreck-It Ralph" have earned nominations for  animated film of the year for the Annie Awards. Notably missing from the best picture list were "Ice Age: Continental Drift" and "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. " The announcements Monday for the 40th annual Annie Awards, presented by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, encompass 30 categories including film, TV production, commercials, short subjects, video games, student films and honorary and achievement awards.

The International Animated Film Society is giving its Annie awards to Kihachiro Kawamoto, Tissa David, Virgil Ross, Ralph Bakshi and the late Bob Clampett this year. The awards were scheduled to be presented at a banquet ceremony scheduled for Friday night at the Universal Studios Hitchcock Theater. The bronze trophy is given annually to recognize career achievements in animation. Kawamoto made the first Japanese puppet animation films in 1953.

Walt Disney Animation Studios dominated the 37th annual Annie Award nominations announced Tuesday with 17 nods, including eight for "The Princess and the Frog" and nine for its upcoming ABC-TV special, "Prep and Landing." The Annie Awards are presented by the International Animated Film Society and honor the best in animated features, television productions, commercials, short subjects and individual achievements in the field of animation. The traditional 2-D animated "The Princess and the Frog" was nominated for best animated feature, as well as earning individual nominations for animated effects, character animation, production design and voice acting.

"Ratatouille" swept the 35th annual Annie Awards Friday, winning 10 awards including best animated feature, plus directing and writing honors for Brad Bird. The Pixar/Disney release about a French rat who dreams of becoming a master chef in Paris has already won the Golden Globe for best animated feature and is considered the front-runner for the Oscar in the animated feature category. The animation awards were announced by the International Animated Film Society and were scheduled to be handed out Friday night in a ceremony at UCLA's Royce Hall, hosted by Tom Kenny, best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Lilo & Stitch," Disney's tale of a Hawaiian girl and her irascible pet alien, was nominated Monday for 10 Annie awards, leading the field for the animation industry's top prizes. The hand-drawn Disney film, which bucked the trend toward computer animation, was one of five features nominated for outstanding achievement by ASIFA-Hollywood, the Southern California branch of the International Animated Film Society. Best feature and Annie winners in 21 other categories will be announced Feb.

Two Academy Award best picture nominees each took home top prizes at the 37th annual Annie Awards and the 22nd annual Scripter Award on Saturday. Disney/Pixar's blockbuster "Up" won Annies, which honor animated films, for best picture and director (Pete Docter), and the dramedy "Up in the Air" earned the Scripter, which is awarded for film adaptation. "Up," the story about the friendship between a lonely old man and an equally lonely young boy and the floating house that takes them on an adventure, received multiple Oscar nominations last week including best film and best animated feature.

Charles Wyly Texas billionaire and philanthropist Charles Wyly, 77, a Texas billionaire and philanthropist whose family donated millions of dollars to Republican causes and Dallas arts projects, died Sunday after a car accident in western Colorado, authorities said. Wyly, who maintained a home near Aspen, Colo., was turning onto a highway near the local airport when his Porsche was hit by a sport utility vehicle, the Colorado State Patrol said in a statement. Wyly died at Aspen Valley Hospital.

Charles Wyly Texas billionaire and philanthropist Charles Wyly, 77, a Texas billionaire and philanthropist whose family donated millions of dollars to Republican causes and Dallas arts projects, died Sunday after a car accident in western Colorado, authorities said. Wyly, who maintained a home near Aspen, Colo., was turning onto a highway near the local airport when his Porsche was hit by a sport utility vehicle, the Colorado State Patrol said in a statement. Wyly died at Aspen Valley Hospital.

Two Academy Award best picture nominees each took home top prizes at the 37th annual Annie Awards and the 22nd annual Scripter Award on Saturday. Disney/Pixar's blockbuster "Up" won Annies, which honor animated films, for best picture and director (Pete Docter), and the dramedy "Up in the Air" earned the Scripter, which is awarded for film adaptation. "Up," the story about the friendship between a lonely old man and an equally lonely young boy and the floating house that takes them on an adventure, received multiple Oscar nominations last week including best film and best animated feature.

Walt Disney Animation Studios dominated the 37th annual Annie Award nominations announced Tuesday with 17 nods, including eight for "The Princess and the Frog" and nine for its upcoming ABC-TV special, "Prep and Landing." The Annie Awards are presented by the International Animated Film Society and honor the best in animated features, television productions, commercials, short subjects and individual achievements in the field of animation. The traditional 2-D animated "The Princess and the Frog" was nominated for best animated feature, as well as earning individual nominations for animated effects, character animation, production design and voice acting.

"Ratatouille" swept the 35th annual Annie Awards Friday, winning 10 awards including best animated feature, plus directing and writing honors for Brad Bird. The Pixar/Disney release about a French rat who dreams of becoming a master chef in Paris has already won the Golden Globe for best animated feature and is considered the front-runner for the Oscar in the animated feature category. The animation awards were announced by the International Animated Film Society and were scheduled to be handed out Friday night in a ceremony at UCLA's Royce Hall, hosted by Tom Kenny, best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

The International Animated Film Society's nominations for best animated theatrical feature are "Brother Bear," "Finding Nemo," "Looney Tunes: Back in Action," "Millennium Actress" and "Triplets of Belleville." Although the Academy Award for animated feature film has existed only two years, the winner of the Annie Awards has taken that honor both times ("Spirited Away" and "Shrek"). The awards will be held Feb. 7 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Patrick Day

"Lilo & Stitch," Disney's tale of a Hawaiian girl and her irascible pet alien, was nominated Monday for 10 Annie awards, leading the field for the animation industry's top prizes. The hand-drawn Disney film, which bucked the trend toward computer animation, was one of five features nominated for outstanding achievement by ASIFA-Hollywood, the Southern California branch of the International Animated Film Society. Best feature and Annie winners in 21 other categories will be announced Feb.

It was as if animation gave a party, and everybody came but Disney. When the 27th annual Annie Awards were presented Saturday night in Glendale, the big winner was "The Iron Giant," the much lauded Warner Bros. feature about a boy and his 50-foot robotic pal. Directed by Brad Bird, the film was nominated for 15 Annies and took home nine, including best animated feature.

"Wreck-It Ralph's" five-trophy haul at this weekend's Annie Awards makes it a favorite of sorts in the race for the animated feature Oscar, but the category still lacks the kind of clear front-runner that we've seen the last five years. Since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began giving the animated feature prize in 2002, the Annie winner, presented by the Hollywood chapter of the International Animated Film Society, has gone on to win the Oscar eight out of 11 times.

It was as if animation gave a party, and everybody came but Disney. When the 27th annual Annie Awards were presented Saturday night in Glendale, the big winner was "The Iron Giant," the much lauded Warner Bros. feature about a boy and his 50-foot robotic pal. Directed by Brad Bird, the film was nominated for 15 Annies and took home nine, including best animated feature.

The International Animated Film Society is giving its Annie awards to Kihachiro Kawamoto, Tissa David, Virgil Ross, Ralph Bakshi and the late Bob Clampett this year. The awards were scheduled to be presented at a banquet ceremony scheduled for Friday night at the Universal Studios Hitchcock Theater. The bronze trophy is given annually to recognize career achievements in animation. Kawamoto made the first Japanese puppet animation films in 1953.