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    “KPop Demon Hunters” Leads 2026 Annie Award Nominations

    Amy DavisBy 14 Mins Read

    Since 1972, ASIFA-Hollywood (International Animated Film Association)’s Annie Awards have honored excellence in animation. The organization just announced their 2026 nominees, and Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” nabbed an impressive 13 nominations, with Pixar’s “Elio” garnering 10. 

    The Annie Awards are also a strong predictor of which way the Oscar’s Best Animated Feature category will go. Since its inception in 2002, 14 of the nominees have been Annie’s marquee Best Feature prize winners, with 7 winning the award.

    The 53rd Annie Awards ceremony will be held on February 21 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. This year’s nominees are:

    Best Feature

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

    Best Feature – Independent

    • “A Magnificent Life” – Mediawan, What the Prod, and Bidibul Productions
    • “Arco” – Remembers, MountainA France, and France 3 Cinéma
    • “I’m Frankelda” – Cinema Fantasma, Warner Bros. Discovery, Woo Films, and Cine Vendaval
    • “Lost In Starlight” – Netflix / Climax Studio
    • “Scarlet” – Studio CHIZU

    Best Special Production

    •  “A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice” – Nickelodeon Animation Studio and Jam Filled Entertainment
    • Adult Swim’s “The Elephant” – Titmouse and Williams Street
    • “Not Just a Goof” – Venturia Animation Studios for CNEK Films LLC
    • “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” – WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
    • “The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland” – Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group

    Best Short Subject

    • “Cardboard” – Locksmith Animation
    • “Ovary-Acting” – Klipp og Lim, Jante Films, and Apparat Filmproduktion AB
    • “Pillowzzz” – Animoshe
    • “Snow Bear” – The Art of Aaron Blaise
    • “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” – National Film Board of Canada

    Best Sponsored

    • Animated Short: “Trek” | Honkai: Star Rail – FLiiiP Design
    • Fortnite x The Simpsons: “Apocalypse D’Oh!” – A Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television Animation
    • “LouiMax Dreams of Being An Adult” – Imagine Create Media Inc. in conjunction with Maileg APS
    • “Olipop Yeti” – Screen Novelties and Passion Pictures
    • “Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – The Animation” – SEGA of America in association with GXS Productions

    Best TV/Media – Preschool

    • “Eva The Owlet,” episode: “Welcome to Treetopington” – Brown Bag Films and Scholastic Entertainment in association with Apple
    • “Kindergarten: The Musical!,” episode: “Gotta Go!” – Oddbot Entertainment and Disney Branded Television
    • “The Tiny Chef Show,” episode: “Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump Spectacular” – Imagine Entertainment, Tiny Chef Productions, and Nickelodeon Productions
    • “Wow Lisa,” episode: “Rainy Day” – Punkrobot
    • “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum,” episode: “I am Jackie Robinson” – 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films

    Best TV/Media – Children

    • “My Melody & Kuromi,” episode: “All For Our Best Friend” – Sanrio Company for Netflix
    • “Spice Frontier: Escape From Veltegar,” episode: “1” – Steamroller Animation
    • “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” episode: “Rise of the Night Ninja” – Nickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey Pictures
    • “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball,” episode: “The Rewrite” – Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
    • “Wylde Pak,” episode: “Sungandeul” – Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Jam Filled Entertainment

    Best TV/Media – Mature

    • “Bob’s Burgers,” episode: “Grand Pre-Pre-Pre Opening” – 20th TV
    • “Common Side Effects,” episode: “Pilot” – Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street Productions
    • “Haha, You Clowns,” episode: “107 – Duncan Holds a Baby” – Williams Street
    • “Il Baracchino,” episode: “Claudia entra in un caffè” – Luckyred and Megadrago
    • “South Park,” episode: “Sermon on the ‘Mount”- Comedy Central LLC

    Best TV/Media – Limited Series

    • “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” episode: “Episode III” – Netflix, Banijay Productions France, and Légende Films
    • “Eyes of Wakanda,” episode: “Into The Lion’s Den” – Marvel Studios
    • “Marvel Zombies,” episode: “2” – Marvel Studios
    • “Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3,” episode: “BLACK” – david production
    • “Win Or Lose,” episode: “Episode 8: Home” – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Student Film

    • “A Sparrow’s Song”
      • Director: Tobias Eckerlin
      • Producer: Tobias Eckerlin
      • School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
    • “Acrobats”
      • Directors: Eloïse Alluyn, Hugo Danet, Anna Despinoy, Antonin Guerci, Alexandre Marzin, and Shali Reddy
      • School: Gobelins
    • “Jour de vent”
      • Directors: Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, Elise Golfouse, Chloé Lab, Hugo Taillez, and Camille Truding
      • School: École des Nouvelles Images
    • “The Undying Pain of Existence”
      •  Director: Oscar Jacobson
      • Producers: Franz Rügamer and Nadiia Yunatska
      • School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH
    • “TRASH”
      • Directors: Maxime Crançon and Alexis Le Ral
      • Producers: Robin Delaporte, Romain Fleischer, and Mattéo Durand
      • School: ESMA

    Best FX – TV/Media

    • “Marvel Zombies,” episode: “Episode 4”
      • Production Company: Marvel Animation
      • FX Production Company: Stellar Creative Lab, Inc.
      • Emma Badia, Tristan Fairclough, Jimmy Dumont, Sheng Hung, and Arth Vasavada
    • “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age,” episode: “The Big Freeze”
      • Production Company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit
      • FX Production Company: Framestore
      • Edward Ferrysienanda, Kevin Christensen, Guy Shuleman , Benedikt Roettger, and Kevin Tarpinian
    • “Spice Frontier,” episode: “1”
      • Production Company: Steamroller Animation
      • FX Production Company: Steamroller Animation
      • Steamroller Animation Effects Department
    • “Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3,” episode: “The Bird of Paradise”
      • Production Company: Polygon Pictures
      • FX Production Company: Polygon Pictures
      • Takashi Okamoto, Kohei Yamamoto, Genyo Sasaki, Chizuru Nakamura, and Erika Matsui
    • “WONDLA,” episode: “Lost”
      • Production Company: Skydance Animation
      • FX Production Company: ICON Creative Studio
      • EP 209 ICON Creative Studio FX Team

    Best FX – Feature

    • “Elio”
      • Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
      • FX Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios
      • Ferdi Scheepers, Shaun Galinak, Alyssa Lee, Nate Skeen, and Gary Bruins
    • “In Your Dreams”
      • Production Company: Netflix and Kuku Studios
      • FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks
      • Dmitriy Kolesnik, Stephen Paschk, David Sellares, and Stephanie McNair
    • “KPop Demon Hunters”
      • Production Company: Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
      • FX Production Company: Sony Pictures Imageworks
      • Filippo Macari, Nicola Finizio, Simon Lewis, Naoki Kato, and Daniel La Chapelle
    • “The Bad Guys 2”
      • Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
      • FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
      • Landon Gray, Michael Losure, Zachary Glynn, Chris Wombold, and Olivier Malric
    • “Zootopia 2”
      • Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
      • FX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios
      • Le Joyce Tong, Shamintha Kalamba Arachchi, Dimitre Berberov, Chris Carignan, and Cristiana Covone

    Best Character Animation – TV/Media

    • “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” episode: “Episode III” by Floriane Caseiro – Netflix, Banijay Productions France, and  Légende Films
    • “Forevergreen,” “Special Production” by Brendan Gottlieb – Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
    • “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,” “Special Production” by Chris Derochie – WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
    • “The Simpsons,” Various Episodes by Nik Ranieri – A Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television Animation
    • “Win Or Lose,” Various Episodes by Alli Sadegiani – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Character Animation – Feature

    • “Elio” by Jonah Sidhom – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters” by Ryusuke Furuya – Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix
    • “Little Amélie” or “The Character of Rain” by Juliette Laurent – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “The Bad Guys 2” by Ludovic Bouancheau – DreamWorks Animation
    • “Zootopia 2,” Tony Smeed – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Best Character Animation – Live Action

    • “A Minecraft Movie”
      • Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Mojang Studios, Vertigo Entertainment, and On the Roam
      • FX Production Company: Weta FX
      • Kevin Estey, Anthony McIndoe, Jade Lorier, Caroline Ting, and Luisma Lavin Peredo
    • “Captain America: Brave New World”
      • Production Company: Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
      • FX Production Company: Weta FX
      • Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Andrew William Park, Marco Röth, Paul Seyb, and Thien Ly
    • “How To Train Your Dragon”
      • Production Company: DreamWorks Animation
      • FX Production Company: Framestore
      • Kayn Garcia, Jean-Denis Haas, Meena Ibrahim, Nathan McConnel, and Nick Tripodi
    • “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age”
      • Production Company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit
      • FX Production Company: Framestore
      • Adrien Annesley, Alvise Avati, Riyad Chalakkara, Daniel Mizuguchi, and Liam Russell
    • “Superman”
      • Production Company: DC Studios
      • FX Production Company: Framestore
      • Loic Mireault, Michael Elder, Philipp Winterstein, Victor Dinis, and Diego De Paula Pereira Batista

    Best Character Animation – Video Game

    • “Bye Sweet Carole” by Chris Darril – Little Sewing Machine
    • “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” by Hideo Kojima and Masaaki Kawata – Kojima Productions and PlayStation Studios XDEV
    • “Ghost of Yōtei” by Sucker Punch Productions Animation Team – Sucker Punch Productions
    • “Keeper” by Zach Baharov, Alex Turner, Jerry Matsko, Anne-Sophie Savard, and Geneviève Desbiens – Double Fine Productions
    • “South of Midnight” by Mike Jungbluth, Sebastien Dussault, Vincent Schneider, and Remi Edmond – Compulsion Games

    Best Character Design – TV/Media

    • “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” episode: “Episode IV” by Borja Montoro – Netflix, Banijay Productions France, and Légende Films
    • “Bat-Fam,” episode: “A Knight at the Movies” by Benjamin Tong – Amazon MGM Studios, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Entertainment
    • “Love, Death + Robots,” episode: “400 Boys” by Robert Valley – Blur Studio for Netflix
    • “Wednesdays with Gramps Short Film” by Seth St. Pierre – DreamWorks Animation
    • “Win Or Lose,” episodes: “Episode 8” and “Home” by Lou Hamou-Lhadj – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Character Design – Feature

    • “Elio,” Matt Nolte, Yingzong Xin, James Woods, Kaleb Rice, and Bob Pauley – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “Fixed,” Craig Kellman – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “KPop Demon Hunters,” Scott Watanabe and Ami Thompson – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” Adam Paloian, Thaddeus Couldron, and Alvi Ramirez – Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Movies
    • “The Twits,” Kei Acedera, Tristan Poulain, Jules Rigolle, Fernando Peque, and Remi Salmon – Netflix Presents and The Roald Dahl Story Company

    Best Direction – TV/Media

    • “Common Side Effects,” episode: “Cliff’s Edge” by Vincent Tsui – Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street Productions
    • “DAN DA DAN,” episode: “Clash! Space Kaiju vs. Giant Robot!” by Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Góngora – Science SARU, Mainichi Broadcasting System, and distributed by Gkids
    • “Not a Box,” episode: “It’s a Boat” by Siri Melchior – Silver Creek Falls Entertainment  and Passion Pictures in association with Apple
    • “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” episode: “Rise of the Night Ninja” by JJ Conway and Kevin Molina-Ortiz – Nickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey Pictures
    • “The Quinta’s Ghost Short Film” by James A. Castillo – Martirio Films and Illusorium films

    Best Direction – Feature

    • “Arco” by Ugo Bienvenu, Adam Sillard, and Anaëlle Saba – Remembers, MountainA France, and France 3 Cinéma
    • “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” by Tatsuya Yoshihara – MAPPA Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters” by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “Little Amélie” or “The Character of Rain” by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “Scarlet” by Mamoru Hosoda – Studio CHIZU

    Best Music – TV/Media

    • “Common Side Effects,” episode: “Lakeshore Limited” by Nicolas Snyder -Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street Productions
    • “Devil May Cry,” episode: “The First Circle” by Power Glove and Alex Seaver – A Netflix Series, Studio Mir, Adi Shankar Animation, and Capcom
    • “Éiru” by Leo Pearson and Ceara Conway – Cartoon Saloon
    • “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” “Special Production” by Ben Folds, Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary, and Michael Weiner – WildBrain Studios in association with Apple
    • “Win Or Lose,” episodes: “Episode 6” and “Mixed Signals” by Ramin Djawadi, Shane Eli, and Johnny Pakfar – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Music – Feature

    • “Arco,” Arnaud Toulon – Remembers, MountainA France, and France 3 Cinéma
    • “Elio,” Rob Simonsen – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters,” KPop Demon Hunters Music Team – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “Little Amélie” or “The Character of Rain,” Mari Fukuhara – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “Zootopia 2,” Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin, and Michael Giacchino – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Best Production Design – TV/Media

    • “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” episode: “Episode II,” Aurélien Prédal – Netflix, Banijay Productions France, and Légende Films
    • “Forevergreen” “Special Production,” Jeremy Spears and Gregory Culp – Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
    • “Love, Death + Robots,” episode: “How Zeke Got Religion,” Gigi Cavenago – Blur Studio for Netflix
    • “ParaNorman: The Thrifting,” “Special Production,” Thibault Leclercq, Santiago Montiel, Jung Woonyoung, and Stephanie Bray-Lee – LAIKA
    • “Wednesdays with Gramps Short Film,” Frederic Stewart – DreamWorks Animation

    Best Production Design – Feature

    • “Elio,” Harley Jessup, Ernesto Nemesio, Maria Lee, Kristian Norelius, and Kyle Jones – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters,” Helen Chen, Dave Bleich, Wendell Dalit, Scott Watanabe, and Celine Kim – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “The Bad Guys 2,” Luc Desmarchelier and Floriane Marchix – DreamWorks Animation
    • “The Twits,” Estefania Pantoja, Alexandre Diboine, Clement Dartigues, Fernando Peque, and Remi Salmon – Netflix Presents and The Roald Dahl Story Company
    • “Zootopia 2,” Cory Loftis and Limei Z. Hshieh – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Best Storyboarding – TV/Media

    • “Love, Death + Robots,” episode: “How Zeke Got Religion,” Edgar Martins – Blur Studio for Netflix
    • “ParaNorman: The Thrifting” “Special Production,” Coleton Palmer, Katherine Jay Myong, and Heewon Jeong – LAIKA
    • “Snow Bear” Short Film by Aaron Blaise – The Art of Aaron Blaise, LLC.
    • “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” episode: “Rise of the Night Ninja,” Richard Chi, Matthew Kim, Sheldon Vella, and Lyndsay Simpson – Nickelodeon Animation Studios and PointGrey Pictures
    • “Win Or Lose,” episodes: “Episode 8” and “Home,” Esteban Bravo – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Storyboarding – Feature

    • “Arco,” Ugo Bienvenu – Remembers, MountainA France, and France 3 Cinéma
    • “Elio,” Tony Rosenast – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “Little Amélie” or “The Character of Rain” by Nicolas Pawlowski – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “The Bad Guys 2,” Anthony Holden and Young Ki Yoon – DreamWorks Animation
    • “Zootopia 2,” Hikari Toriumi – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Best Voice Acting – TV/Media

    • “Bob’s Burgers,” episode: “Don’t Worry Be Hoopy,” Dan Mintz (Character: Tina Belcher) – 20th TV
    • “Hazbin Hotel,” episode: “Behind Closed Doors,” Erika Henningsen (Character: Charlie Morningstar) – Amazon MGM Studios, A24, and Bento Box Entertainment
    • “Long Story Short,” episode: “Shira Can’t Cook,” Abbi Jacobson (Character: Shira Schwooper) – Tornante Television and ShadowMachine for Netflix
    • “Smiling Friends,” episode: “Shmaloogles,” Zach Hadel (Character: Evil Wizard) – Williams Street
    • “The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball,” episode: “The Amadain,” Alkaio Thiele (Character: Gumball Watterson) – Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe

    Best Voice Acting – Feature

    • “Dog Man,” Lil Rey Howery (Character: Chief) – DreamWorks Animation
    • “Elio,” Remy Edgerly (Character: Glordon) – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “In Your Dreams,” Craig Robinson (Character: Baloney Tony) – Netflix Presents a Kuku Studios Production and Sony Pictures Imageworks
    • “KPop Demon Hunters,” Arden Cho (Character: Rumi) – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “The Twits,” Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Character: Beesha) – Netflix Presents and The Roald Dahl Story Company

    Best Writing – TV/Media

    • “#1 Happy Family USA,” episode: “Episode 101: NINE TEN,” Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady – Amazon MGM Studios, A24, and Cairo Cowboy
    • Adult Swim’s “The ElephantI,” “Special Production,” Pendleton Ward, Ian Jones-Quartey, Rebecca Sugar, and Patrick McHale – Titmouse and Williams Street
    • “Common Side Effects,” episode: “Pilot,” Joe Bennett and Steve Hely – Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street Productions
    • “Lulu is a Rhinoceros,” “Special Production,” Allison Flom – Bento Box and Propagate in association with Apple
    • “Win Or Lose,” episodes: “Episode 4” and “Pickle,” Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates – Pixar Animation Studios

    Best Writing – Feature

    • “Elio,” Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters” Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang, and Chris Appelhans – KPop Demon Hunters Editorial Team
    • “Little Amélie” or “The Character of Rain,” Liane-Cho Han, Aude Py, Maïlys Vallade, and Eddine Noël – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “Scarlet,” Mamoru Hosoda – Studio CHIZU
    • “Zootopia 2,” Jared Bush – Walt Disney Animation Studios

    Best Editorial – TV/Media

    • “Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight,” episode: “Episode III,” David Boyadjian – Netflix, Banijay Productions France, and Légende Films
    • “Common Side Effects,” episode: “Raid,” Tony Christopherson and Joie Lim – Green Street Pictures, Bandera Entertainment, and Williams Street Productions
    • “Haunted Hotel,” episode: “The Acolytes of Abaddon,” Benjamin Morse, Benjamin Martian, and Marshall Wetta – Titmouse for Netflix
    • “Invincible S3,” episode: “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up,” Luke Asa Guidici, Matt Michael, Lea Carosella, and Liam Johnson – Amazon MGM Studios, Skybound Animation
    • Tom Clancy’s “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch,” episode: “Up From the Grave,” Thomas Belair, Nicolas Bourgeois, and Julien Perez – Ubisoft Film and Television

    Best Editorial – Feature

    • “Arco,” Nathan Jacquard – Remembers, MountainA France, and France 3 Cinéma
    • “Elio,” Anna Wolitzky, Steve Bloom, Noah Newman, Greg Snyder, and Ben Morris – Pixar Animation Studios
    • “KPop Demon Hunters,” KPop Demon Hunters Editorial Team – Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix
    • “Little Amélie or “The Character of Rain,” Ludovic Versace – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, and distributed by Gkids
    • “Olivia & las Nubes,” Tomás Pichardo Espaillat – Cine Chani, Historias de Bibi, and Guasábara Cine

    The 53rd Annie Awards ceremony will be held on February 21 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. You can find out more about the ceremony here.

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    Hi, I’m Amy. I like long walks in the graveyard, horror movies, comic books, and bringing you the latest in nerd-centric news.

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