The winners of the 52nd Annual Annie Awards were revealed on Saturday, marking a notable year for the celebration of excellence in animation across both TV and film in the United States. Organized by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, the Annie Awards recognize the best in animation, regardless of whether the titles are American-made or international, as long as they are broadcast in the U.S.
This year, despite strong nominations, anime titles failed to win any of the coveted awards. Historically, at least one anime production has taken home an Annie each year, but 2024 marks a rare absence of accolades for the genre, a blow to the anime industry in America, even as its popularity continues to grow.
Dominance of Western Animation
The big winners of the evening were The Wild Robot and Arcane, which each took home multiple awards. The Wild Robot led the pack with a total of nine wins, sweeping every category it was nominated for. Meanwhile, Netflix’s Arcane, based on the League of Legends franchise, secured seven awards, also winning every category it was nominated in.
The victories of these Western animated series reflect the growing sophistication and success of U.S.-based animation, posing stiff competition for anime productions. Though anime’s presence in the nominations was substantial, it was ultimately unable to overcome the high-quality Western contenders.
Anime Nominations at the 52nd Annual Annie Awards
Several anime-inspired titles were nominated across various categories, though none could clinch a win. These included Ultraman: Rising, Look Back, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Transformers One, and Secret Level. Despite earning multiple nominations, these works fell short against their competitors, with many categories dominated by The Wild Robot.
- Ultraman: Rising was nominated for Best Feature, Best FX – Feature, and Best Production Design – Feature, but all three awards went to The Wild Robot.
- Look Back earned a nomination for Best Feature – Independent, but was bested by FLOW.
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was up for Best Character Animation – Live Action but lost to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
- Transformers One was nominated for Best Voice Acting – Feature but could not surpass The Wild Robot.
- Secret Level saw three episodes nominated for Best FX – TV/Media, including “Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear,” “Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle,” and “Crossfire: Good Conflict.” However, all were defeated by Arcane.
Previous Years and the Anime Presence at the Annie Awards
This isn’t the first time anime has been shut out of the Annie Awards. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, no anime titles took home awards, although the genre was still strongly represented in nominations. However, anime fans have seen notable successes in the past. In 2019, Mamoru Hosoda’s Mirai won Best Animated Feature – Independent, and in 2023, Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron earned recognition for Best Storyboarding, while the film’s animation director, Takeshi Honda, won Best Character Animation. Additionally, composer Joe Hisaishi, known for his work with Studio Ghibli, received the Winsor McCay Award for his lifetime achievements in animated film.
Looking Ahead
Despite its increasing popularity, anime struggled this year in the competitive Annie Awards, especially given the lack of a major anime film release in 2024. While the possibility of future recognition at other award ceremonies remains, the absence of an Annie win for anime this year may signal tougher competition from the West in the animation field.
For anime fans, the 2024 Annie Awards serve as a reminder of the high level of animation quality produced globally, even as anime continues to captivate audiences worldwide. While disappointing, it is clear that Western animated series like Arcane and The Wild Robot are leading the charge in this year’s awards season.