ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles area-based branch of the International Animated Film Society, has announced the nominations for the 28th Annual Annie Awards. This years competition is a much more difficult field than last years feature sweeping run by IRON GIANT. In the best feature category, FANTASIA/2000, TOY STORY 2, THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, CHICKEN RUN and TITAN A.E. will be battling it out for the top prize. Last years Golden Globe winner for best comedy feature, TOY STORY 2, leads the feature nominations with nine followed closely by the under appreciated EL DORADO with eight nods. FANTASIA/2000 and DINOSAUR received five nominations a piece with CHICKEN RUN, TITAN A.E., THE TIGGER MOVIE and STUART LITTLE tying with three each. Over in television, RECESS, ANGRY BEAVERS, BATMAN BEYOND, WARNER BROS' HISTERIA! and MICKEY MOUSEWORKS took the nominations for outstanding achievement in a daytime animated television program, while THE PJ'S, FUTURAMA, THE SIMPSONS, DEXTER'S LABORATORY and MTVs SPY GROOVE took the nighttime TV toon nods. Leading all TV entries is KING OF THE HILL with four nominations followed by FUTURAMA, WARNER BROS. HISTERIA! and MICKEY MOUSEWORKS with three each. This years surprises would have to be the toon communitys generous support of the box office let down EL DORADO. CHICKEN RUN received great reviews and has made over US$100 million in the U.S., but only took home three Annie nominations for best theatrical feature, feature writing and feature directing. In television, it could be a case of phenomenal success being the reason for not nominating THE POWERPUFF GIRLS, which only received one nomination for writing. Often with organizational awards like the Annies and SAG Awards, members decide to recognize the quality, lesser-profiled shows, leaving hit programs off their lists because they get recognized in so many other areas. This year the category for outstanding interactive animated program was replaced with outstanding achievement for an animated production produced for electronic media. The first nods in this category range from the Nets best with ELMO AARDVARK to some of the Webs worst with the questionable nomination of SPACE IS DUM. Finally, ASIFA-Hollywood traditionally keeps its honors to Hollywood productions, but recognized Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki with a directing nomination for PRINCESS MONONOKE. This years event will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2000 with voice actors Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche reprising their roles as hosts of the ceremony. Below is a complete list of nominations as provided by ASIFA-Hollywood:
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Animation World Network
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