CGSociety :: Event Coverage
5th February 2009, by Renee Dunlop
Ahhh, the Annie Awards, an event that never fails to entertain.
A cross section of everything involved in the final production of animation converges at this annual event. Recognizing categories in animation from storyboarding to voice-overs, attendees join over drinks and delicacies, dressed in their finest humor. It’s an event I look forward to every year, and one I never leave without an aching face full of exhausted smile muscles.
THE CEREMONY
DreamWorks Kung Fu Panda swept the event with a total of ten awards including Best Animated Feature, an announcement that emptied what seemed a quarter of the theater to the stage amongst a standing ovation of coworkers and peers. In fact, Kung Fu Panda won so many awards that there was little doubt who was going to take the top prize, and the highlights of the evening were nestled in the antics of presenters in between.
Below Left to Right: From DreamWorks, Anna Catalano, Associate editor and Karla Alvarado, Editorial Coordinator on Kung Fu Panda 2, Bethany Harnois, Senior Coordinator and Digital Domain, and Rene Harnois, Editorial Supervisor on Kung Fu Panda 2. Credit: Renee Dunlop.
Producer Melissa Cobb and the crew of Kung Fu Panda accepting the award for Best Animated Feature. Credit: Michael Woodside.
DreamWorks Jennifer Yuh Nelson, won Storyboarding in and Animated Feature Production for Kung Fu Panda. Credit: Renee Dunlop.
Tom Kenny, the voice of Spongebob Squarepants and who has been known to drop his pants onstage, was the host again this year, complained the overhead flashing lights had driven him to the stage sober for the first time. Then, marveling at how far animation had come even in times like these, he pointed out how the animation industry had stood in unemployment lines for years, so once again, we were ahead of the curve. He stated he didn’t want to do a big song and dance about how great the Annies were, then the curtain opened to reveal a band, a four girl chorus line, and a dancing devil. I didn’t even know Kenny could sing.
When you are at an event that is based on the mischief of virtual characters, you come to expect the verbal explosions that define the Annies. Presenters ranging from Brad Garret, Pat Fraley, James Hong, Fred Willard, Edie McClurg, Cheech and Chong (via video) tried to outdo each other with various absurdities, and many winners tried to better them all. Accepting the trophy for Best Animated Home Entertainment Production was David S. Cohen for Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs. Cohen began his acceptance speech claiming President Obama had just appointed him the new Animation Czar and had instructed Cohen to deliver a dire warning. “Ladies and Gentleman. The upcoming transition to digital TV will hit animation especially hard. When today’s cartoons are stretched to fill wide screens, many characters have to be assigned new names. These include: Spongebob Rectangular Pants, Woody Widepecker, and Strawberry Fatcake.” He went on to thank his wife for his frequent absences as well as his even more frequent presence.
John Lasseter accepts his Winsor McCay Award as presenter Billy Crystal looks on.
Credit: Michael Woodside.
A Windsor McCay Award went to Nick Park.
Credit: Renee Dunlop.
June Foray, creator of the Annie Awards. Credit: Renee Dunlop.
Depending on your personal center of gravity, it went downhill, or uphill, from there. The laughs never stopped, and the crowd responded with cheers and the occasional standing ovation. Surprise presenters included Henry Selick who came out in jeans and disappeared from view after presenting one of the Windsor McCay awards to Nick Park who took the stage to a standing ovation. John Lasseter accepted another to thunderous applause from Billy Crystal, and the third Windsor McCay went to Mike Judge. The sweet and petite June Foray, creator of the Annie Awards, presented the June Foray Award to Bill Turner.
Actor Seth Green lamented his unfulfilled planned entrance that included smashing through the ceiling with machine guns blazing, a feat he instead presented in storyboard. He segued into presenting the award to Jennifer Yuh Nelson for Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production, who announced she and her husband were also celebrating their ten year anniversary. It added an “awwwww” factor to the win, but that was nothing compared to the cheers brought forth for the winner of Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form. Ahmed Best, the voice of Jar Jar Binks in both the Star Wars films and in this case, Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II – ShadowMachine, whose extremely pregnant wife struggled to her feet for his standing ovation. They disappeared from view before the VIP party to much speculation if the excitement had thrown her into labor. There was also much speculation if Dustin Hoffman would show up to accept his Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production win for Shifu in Kung Fu Panda, but maybe he decided he couldn’t compete with competitor Mark Walton (Rhino in Disney’s Bolt) who was dressed to the nines in his tuxedo, bow tie, and permanent grin.
Ahmed Best, voice of Jar Jar Binks had a treat for his wife and future son. He was winner of the Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form for voicing Jar Jar in Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II- Shadow Machine. Credit: Renee Dunlop
