Overview of the 52nd Annual Annie Awards
- No anime productions received awards at the 52nd Annual Annie Awards.
- The standout winners this year were *The Wild Robot* and *Arcane*.
- The absence of anime accolades underscores the high caliber of Western animation.
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The 52nd Annual Annie Awards, recognizing excellence in animation, were held on Saturday, hosted by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood. These awards celebrate animation showcased on television and in theaters across the United States, regardless of the origin of the content. This year, despite several nominations, anime did not achieve any awards, marking a notable shift in the recognition of this genre.
Two titles led the awards: *The Wild Robot* and *Arcane*, each claiming multiple honors. Traditionally, at least one anime feature has received an award annually, making this year’s complete shutout particularly striking. The lack of recognition for anime in 2024 is quite significant considering the genre’s rapid growth and increasing popularity in the American market; it also highlights the exceptional quality of Western animation that seems to overshadow it.
Anime Nominations at the Annie Awards
Competition Analysis
This year, several anime and anime-inspired series were nominated: *Ultraman: Rising*, *Look Back*, *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire*, *Transformers One*, and *Secret Level*.Unfortunately, none succeeded in securing an award.*The Wild Robot* dominated the ceremony with nine wins, sweeping every category it was nominated for, while *Arcane*, a compelling adaptation of the popular video game League of Legends, won seven awards, also taking everything it was nominated for.
Specifically, *Ultraman: Rising* was nominated in categories such as Best Feature, Best FX – Feature, and Best Production Design – Feature, but lost each to *The Wild Robot*.Meanwhile, *Look Back* was up for Best Feature – Independent, yielding to FLOW, and *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire* was nominated for Best Character Animation – Live Action, losing to *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*.*Transformers One* contended in the Best Voice Acting – Feature category but also fell to *The Wild Robot*.Lastly, *Secret Level* had three episodes nominated for Best FX – TV/Media, but they were overcome by *Arcane*.
Historical Context of Anime at the Annie Awards
Annie Awards Historical Overview
This is not the first year anime has been absent from the winner’s circle at the Annie Awards. The years 2020, 2021, and 2022 also saw no anime accolades. However, 2019 marked a notable victory for Mamoru Hosoda’s *Mirai*, which won Best Animated Feature – Independent. Last year, Hayao Miyazaki’s *The Boy and the Heron* received recognition for Best Storyboarding, and its animation director, Takeshi Honda, was awarded Best Character Animation. Additionally, renowned composer Joe Hisaishi of Studio Ghibli received the Winsor McCay Award for his contributions to animated film.
While it is disappointing for anime fans to see no wins despite numerous nominations, it highlights the exceptional quality of Western productions like *Arcane* and *The Wild Robot*.The absence of major anime releases in 2024 poses a significant challenge in the awards landscape; while other award events remain on the calendar, the chances for any anime titles to achieve recognition appear slim.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork
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