Disney's 'Wreck-It Ralph' Wins Best Animated Feature At 40th Annual Annie Awards

Disney's 'Wreck-It Ralph' won the Best Animated Feature honor at the 40 th Annual Annie Awards held Saturday, February 2 at UCLA's Royce Hall. This year's expanded list of categories topped 30, honoring many more nominees and team entries as in years past. New to the awards this year was the addition of the Best Student Film. A live streaming of the ceremony was made available again to animation enthusiasts as well as those who were unable to attend the event at www.annieawards.org/watch-it-live. A complete list of winners can be viewed at www.annieawards.org.

The Best Animated Special Production was awarded to "Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" (Illumination Entertainment); Best Animated Short Subject to "Paperman" (Walt Disney Animation Studios); Best General Audience Animated TV Production for Preschool Children "Bubble Guppies 'A Tooth on the Looth'" (Nickelodeon Animation Studios); Best Animated Television Production for Children "Dragons: Riders of Berk 'How to Pick Your Dragon'" (Dreamworks Animation); Best General Audience Animated Television Production "Robot Chicken 'DC Comics Special'" (Stoopid Buddy Studios); Best Animated Video Game "Journey" (Sony Computer Entertainment America); and Best Student Film "Head Over Heels" (Timothy Reckart).

"What a great evening filled with a lot of fun and surprises," said ASIFA-Hollywood President Frank Gladstone. "A variety of individuals and studios participated and joined in celebrating the best in animation across project, studio and geographic boundaries."

Former Annie Awards host and movie reviewer Leonard Maltin and voice actors Rob Paulsen and Maurice Lamarche shared hosting duties, along with a special appearance by long time Annies presenter-favorite, actor and animation industry professional, Seth Green.

Honored with the Winsor McCay award were Terry Gilliam, Oscar Grillo and Mark Henn. The Winsor McCay stands as one of the highest honors given to an individual in the animation industry in recognition for career contributions to the art of animation.