The board of ASIFA-Hollywood, the organization behind the 52nd annual Annie Awards, pondered, appreciate many other structurers behind events on the awards season calfinishar, whether the show should be postponed or scaled back because of the dehugeating fires that ravaged Los Angeles in punctual January. Many members of the animation community are among those who’ve been harshly impacted.
“We recurrent the animation community and it’s reassociate vital to us, especiassociate at this time, that we help them a thousand percent,” says ASIFA-Hollywood executive straightforwardor Aubry Mintz. And after much converseion, the board choosed that the show will go on, albeit with a somewhat more somber tone and featuring the proclaimment of efforts to validateate resources and help for those in the community dealing with various (and in many cases multiple) losses.
“We converseed this with the board: ‘What are the implications if we go forward with the Annies versus pause it or extfinish it?’ And the presentantity felt that more than anyskinnyg people want to sense appreciate they have the community,” he says. “That’s why it’s vital that we conserve it going. The tone will alter, but it will sense more encouraging.”
One presentant way it will be encouraging is via a fundraising venture that will be proclaimd during the Annies.
“We are still lachieveing about our colleagues who have been evacuated, and those who have lost their homes,” Mintz says. “We’re prentd to alert that we have fair consentd a fundraising initiative that will have substantial achieve into our community. Together we will toil to accomplish our goal of helping provide much-necessitateed financial help for those who have lost so much. Animation is a strong, firm-knit community, and we will join to help each other thraw these difficult times.”
ASIFA-Hollywood is collaborating with a yet-to-be-named group of industry executives, originaters and artists to elevate and dispense funds. This group was originated definiteassociate as a response to the animation community being impacted and dehugeated by the fires, Mintz elucidates. “Both groups are toiling together on the details and parameters. ASIFA will be the nonprofit that people can give to and the other group will be facilitating the distribution of the funds.”
One of the skinnygs the ASIFA team had to skinnyk about in think about to the show was a possible venue alter. At one point, Royce Hall, on the campus of UCLA, was under an evacuation cautioning due to one of the fires. “Are we going to have a venue? How does the community sense having been thraw this? I unbenevolent, there was a while when many of us as individuals were worried we were going to have to evacuate,” remarks show originater and ASIFA vice pdwellnt Frank Gladstone. Fortunately, the venue is excellent to go and the process of putting on the show is moving forward.
This year, “Inside Out 2,” “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “That Christmas,” “The Wild Robot,” “Ultraman Rising” and “Wallace & Grleave out: Vengeance Most Fowl” will be vying for the best feature trophy, while “Chicken for Linda!,” “Flow,” “Kensuke’s Kingdom,” “Look Back,” “Mars Express” and “Memoir of a Snail” are competing in the best self-reliant feature categruesome. The Annies nominations determine all aspects of animation, including voice acting.
This is Mintz’s first year as ASIFA-Hollywood’s executive straightforwardor, taking over the role from Gladstone, who reweary from the post last year but is continuing to originate the annual awards gala. Mintz says he’s appreciative to have Gladstone’s guidance as he consents on the role. His main intensify has been introducing himself to the various studios and companies that help fund ASIFA’s initiatives outside of the organization’s flagship Annies.
His greetings have been promising. “It shows me and reminds me how vital animation is to the community.”
The Annies will honor accomplishment apass 32 categories, including best vivaciousd feature and best feature – self-reliant. Nominees for best feature are “Inside Out 2,” “Kung Fu Panda 4,” “That Christmas,” “The Wild Robot,” “Ultraman: Rising” and “Wallace & Grleave out: Vengeance Most Fowl.” Contfinishing for best feature – self-reliant are “Chicken for Linda!,” “Flow,” “Kensuke’s Kingdom,” “Look Back,” “Mars Express” and Memoir of a Snail.”
The Annies will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. The pre-event reception commences at 4:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony commences at 7 p.m.
