Disney Dominates Annies

[Sarangel]

From the LA Times:

GLENDALE -- Walt Disney Pictures leads the nominations for the animation industry's highest accolades, picking up 19 across feature categories recognized by the annual Annie Awards.

The Annie Awards consist of 22 categories recognizing feature films, television programming, home videos and special projects in categories ranging from directing to storyboarding.

Disney's "Lilo and Stitch" was nominated for 10 Annies, including Outstanding Achievement in Animated Theatrical Feature and effects animation, production design and voice acting. Nine others were awarded to "Treasure Planet" and "Return to Neverland."

2 for RtN and 7 for TP

Dreamworks' "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" received eight nominations, ranging from character design to effects animation.

The 30th annual awards will be Feb. 1 at The Alex Theatre. The awards are put on by the Association Internationale Du Film D'Animation, or ASIFA-Hollywood. The group's 1,800 members will select the winners from among the nominations.

ASIFA-Hollywood President Antran Manoogian said it wasn't unusual for a studio or two to dominate the nominations. Contenders are selected by committees composed of experts in the various animation specialties.
"Every year, it just depends on what has been released," Manoogian said. "It just so happens that the members of the nominating committees think Disney did a lot of great work."

In the past, the Annies were awarded in November. ASIFA-Hollywood members hope the move will give the animation industry accolades a greater pull with the Academy Awards, which are March 23.