Frozen 2 leads a diverse field of 2019 Annie Award nominees

Annie Awards, Frozen 2, Missing Link

As we near the end of this year's animated offerings, it's time once again for the Annie Awards to recognize the best of the best from animation studios all across the globe. Disney's FROZEN 2 and Laika's MISSING LINK are leading the pack this year, with each film having earned a total of eight nominations a piece, including the award for Best Animated Feature. Also included in the Best Animated Feature category are Dreamworks Animation's HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD, Netflix's KLAUS and Pixar's TOY STORY 4.

When looking at the list of this year's nominees, we find the selections being more diverse than ever, regardless of certain studios dominating the chart. After scanning the spread, we find that DWA has amassed an impressive 18 nominations, while Disney sits comfortably upon their ice-covered throne with 16. With regard to who rules the mountain, that would be Netflix, who snagged a total of 39 nominations for this year's ceremony.

If there's one thing that the Annie Awards prove, it's that there's no shortage of quality animations this year. If you're looking to escape into parts unknown and encounter characters and locales of an otherworldly nature, the films and projects listed below will be sure to get you there.

Here are all the categories and contenders for the 47th Annie Awards:

Best Feature

Frozen 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Dreamworks Animation

Klaus, Netflix Presents A Production of The Spa Studios and Atresmedia Cine

Missing Link, Laika

Toy Story 4, Pixar Animation Studios

Best Indie Feature

Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, Sygnatia, Glow, Submarine, Hampa Animation Studio

I Lost My Body, Xilam for Netflix

Okko’s Inn, Madhouse

Promare, TRIGGER, XFLAG

Weathering With You, Toho Co., LTD. / STORY Inc. / CoMix Wave Films

Best Special Production

Guava Island “Titles and Prologue,” Six Point Harness / Amazon

How to Train Your Dragon Homecoming, DreamWorks Animation

Infinity Train “The Perennial Child,” Cartoon Network Studios

SpongeBob SquarePants “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” Nickelodeon and Jonas & Co.

Zog, Magic Light Pictures

Best Short Subject

Acid Rain, Animoon

DONT KNOW WHAT, Thomas Renoldner

Je sors acheter des cigarettes, Miyu Productions

Purpleboy, Bando à Parte, Rainbox Productions, Ambiances… asbl, Luna Blue Film

Uncle Thomas: Accounting for the Days, Ciclope Filmes, National Film Board of Canada, Les Armateurs

Best VR

Bonfire, Baobab Studios

GLOOMY EYES, ATLAS V

Kaiju Confidential, ShadowMachine

Best Commercial

Dove Self-Esteem Project x Steven Universe: “Social Media,” Cartoon Network / Dove / Chromosphere

Fortnite Season 7 Launch Spot, Epic Games / Screen Novelties / iam8bit

The Mystical Journey of Jimmy Page’s ‘59 Telecaster, Nexus Studios

Best TV/Media – Preschool

Ask the Storybots, Episode: Why Do We Have To Recycle? JibJab Bros. Studios for Netflix

Elena of Avalor, Episode: Changing of the Guard, Disney Television Animation

Let’s Go Luna!, Episode: Dorsay Day/Honey in Paris, Brown Bag Films / 9 Story Media Group

Norman Picklestripes, Episode: “Pizza Pickle/The Forest Next Door,” Factory

Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, Episode: I Am Amelia Earhart, Brown Bag Films / 9 Story Media Group

Best TV/Media – Children

Disney Mickey Mouse, Episode: Carried Away, Disney TV Animation/Disney Channel

Niko and the Sword of Light, Episode: 206: The Caterpillar Train, Titmouse and Amazon Studios

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: “Evil League of Mutants,” Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Tales of Arcadia: 3Below, Episode: A Glorious End Part 1, DreamWorks Animation

The Tom and Jerry Show, Episode: Calamari Jerry, Warner Bros. Animation

Best TV/Media – General Audience

Big Mouth, Episode: Disclosure The Movie: The Musical!, Netflix

BoJack Horseman, Episode: The Client, Tornante Productions  for Netflix

Harley Quinn, Episode: So You Need a Crew, Warner Bros. Animation

Tuca & Bertie, Episode: The Jelly Lakes, Tornante Productions for Netflix

Undone, Episode: 2. The Hospital, Tornante Company and Amazon Studios

Best Student Film

Con Fuerza, Nichole Tate

Gravedad, Anke Kletsch

The Fox & The Pigeon, Michelle Chua

Un diable dans la poche, Luce Grosjean

Best FX for TV/Media

How to Train Your Dragon Homecoming, DreamWorks Animation; VFX Supervisor: Manuel Reyes Halaby FX Artist: Cristiana Covone; FX Artist: Koya Masubuchi; FX Artist: Jean Claude Nouchy Compositing Lead: Dustin Henning

Love, Death & Robots, Episode: The Secret War, Blur for Netflix; FX Artist: Viktor Németh; FX Artist: Szabolcs Illés; FX Artist: Ádám Sipos; FX Artist: Vladimir Zhovna

What do you think were the best animated films of 2019? Let us know in the comments section down below.

Source: Variety

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.