The 45th annual Annie Awards were a celebration of the animated entertainment industry. Held at UCLA’s Royce Hall and presented by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, it was a celebration of excellence, achievements and accomplishments in animation.

Coming in with 13 nominations was Disney’s Coco, including Best Animated Feature, followed by The Breadwinner with 10 noms, including Best Animated Feature – Independent. The Boss Baby earned a total of 6 noms, while Captain Underpants, The Big Bad Fox, Despicable Me 3, The Lego Batman Movie and Loving Vincent earned 3 nominations apiece.

There’s no dont Coco was the night’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Annie in 11 out of 13 categories. Since the Academy Awards’ Best Animated Feature category was launched in 2002, 11 of the 16 winners of the Annies’ top feature prize — and 4 of the past 6 — went on to win the animated feature Oscar. So if it wasn’t clear that Coco is the Oscar front-runner, it is now,

The evening was dedicated to voice actor and  co-founder of the Annie Awards June Foray, who passed away this July at the age of 99. Best known as the voice of Granny from the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, ASIFA-Hollywood executive director Frank Gladstone said: “More than anyone else, June was responsible for founding the Annies 45 years ago. This will be the first year she is not going to be with us, so we will do our best to remember and celebrate June’s creativity, generosity and unrelenting advocacy for the animation community.”

Check out the complete list of winners below!

Best Animated Feature
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Directing – Animated Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Outstanding Achievement, Directing – TV/Broadcast Production
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Walt Disney Television Animation
Dave Wasson, Eddie Trigueros, Alonso Ramirez-Ramo

Best Animated Feature-Independent
THE BREADWINNER
Cartoon Saloon / Aircraft Pictures / Melusine Productions

Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production\
RICK AND MORTY
Episode: 303 – “Pickle Rick”
Williams Street Productions

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children
WE BARE BEARS
Episode: Panda’s Art
Cartoon Network Animation Studios

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children
OCTONAUTS
Episode: Operation Deep Freeze
Vampire Squid Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media company, in association with Brown   Bag Films

Outstanding Achievement, Writing – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Adrian Molina, Matthew Aldrich 

Outstanding Achievement, Writing – TV/Broadcast Production
RICK AND MORTY
Episode: 307 – “The Ricklantis Mixup”
Williams Street Productions
Ryan Ridley, Dan Guterman

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting – TV/Broadcast Production
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
Nickelodeon
Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
JUNE
Broad Reach Pictures/Chromosphere/Lyft

Best Animated Special Production
REVOLTING RHYMES
Magic Light Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studio
Harley Jessup, Danielle Feinberg, Bryn Imagire, Nathaniel McLaughlin, Ernesto Nemesio

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCIII
Adult Swim
Scott Wills

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
John Chun Chiu Lee

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – TV/Broadcast Production
TROLLHUNTERS
Episode: 205 – “Homecoming”
DreamWorks Animation Television
Bruno Chiou, Yi-Fan Cho, Kevin Jong , Chun-Jung Chu

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Live Action Production
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Daniel Barrett, Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Emile Ghorayeb, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Alessandro Bonora

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Video Game
CUPHEAD

StudioMDHR

Hanna Abi-Hanna

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Daniel Arriaga, Daniela Strijleva, Greg Dykstra, Alonso Martinez, Zaruhi Galstyan

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCVI
Adult Swim
Craig Kellman

Outstanding Achievement, Music – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Michael Giacchino, Kristin Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Germaine Franco, Adrian Molina

Outstanding Achievement, Music – TV/Broadcast Production
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Walt Disney Television Animation
Christopher Willis

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Shaun Galinak, Dave Hale, Jason Johnston, Carl Kaphan, Keith Daniel Klohn

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects – Live Action
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Daniel Barrett, Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Emile Ghorayeb, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Alessandro Bonora

Best Animated Short Subject
DEAR BASKETBALL
Glen Keane Productions, Kobe Studios, Believe Entertainment Group

Best Student Film
POLES APART
Paloma Baeza

Outstanding Achievement, Editing – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Editing – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCIII, XCIV, XCIX
Adult Swim
Paul Douglas

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding – Feature/Broadcast Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Dean Kelly

The post Annie Awards 2018: The Complete Winners List appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Showtime is getting right down and animated with its 10, half-hour episodes about POTUS. The series chronicles the “tru-ish misadventures” of Donald Trump. With his family and advisors beside him, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of the President.

The show “examines the quintessentially Trumpian details of the presidency and his most important relationships, and no one is safe – from his close family and confidants to key political figures from both parties and members of the media,” the network said.

The series that will deconstruct White House life under the 45th President of the United States was inspired by Trump’s character on Colbert’s Late Show.

Serving alongside Colbert as executive producer is Late Show executive producer Chris Licht who will also serve as the series’ show runner.

Check out the sneak peak below!

The post Showtime Releases First Trailer for Stephen Colbert’s Donald Trump Cartoon Series appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Disney shared the success on Wednesday, adding that they still have to release the film in around a third of the international market, including Australia, Italy, Brazil, Korea, U.K. and Japan.

The absolute winner when it comes to international market has been China. Chinese audience brought the movie nearly the same earnings as the U.S. – $133 million.

Coco follows the story of a young boy Miguel as he enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.

The post “Coco” Tops $400 Million at Worldwide Box Office appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

While the Dia de los Muertos adventure film by the award-winning animation studio was just released (November 22), fans are already eyeing the studio’s future films with relish.

Coming up first with the release date of June 15, 2018 is the sequel to The Incredibles a long 14 years after the incredible Parr family made their first appearance. The sequel picks up where and when the original movie left off, with the narrative shifting slightly to feature Elastigirl as she steps into what is, according to director Brad Bird, the “forefront of the action.” In the family’s new house, Mr. Incredible assumes more responsibilities to do with his newfound discovery of baby son Jack-Jack’s powers.

Up next is third sequel to the studio mega hit Toy Story. The fourth installment in the franchise has a release date of June 21, 2019. The sequel  will be produced by Jonas Rivera and directed by Josh Cooley; this will be the first time two former Pixar interns produce and direct one of the studio’s films together. Even though details about the movie’s plot are scarce, there was a behind-the-scenes video that teased the filmmaker’s suggestive research trip in the form of an RV vacation. Beginning anew with the toy box is living a post-Andy era as they are in the possession of young Bonnie, perhaps this time around it’ll be a family vacation adventure.

A third film has yet to be titled or given a release date. An original by Monster’s University’s director Dan Scanlon, the “modern suburban fantasy” takes place in what looks like ordinary suburbia, however, rather than being inhibited by humans, it is populated by elves, trolls, and their fantastical ilk. In a place where magic existed, but has longed disappeared, two teenage brother creatures embark on an adventure and search of a way to spend “one last magical day” with their late father.

The post What’s Up Next from Pixar Animation Studios appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Kristen Bell who garnered recognition as the voice of Princess Anna of Frozen will lend her voice to Family Guy as a love interest for Brian.This won’t be a first for Bell as she has made an appearance in the past in Seth McFarlane’s The Cleveland Show. Family Guy’s executive producer Rich Appel told ET that Martha, the family’s canine co-worker and Brian’s love interest voiced by Bell “comes complete with her own theme song, which, like all great sitcom theme songs, literally tells you everything you need to know about her.”

The season premiere will also welcome Louis C.K., who will play himself to Quahog. The episode will center on the Emmys, imagining hit shows like Modern Family and Breaking Bad from the Griffin’s point of view. Not surprisingly, a guest cast of the real Modern Family Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara will star in the episode. Executive producer Alec Sulking spoke of the episode’s plot and said that Peter, “desperate for an Emmy, fortuitously runs into Louis C.K. on the street and tries to get the secret to winning the award from him.”

Season 15 of Family Guy will premiere October 1 with even more exciting guest appearances like Ian McKellen and Ryan Reynolds.

The post New and Exciting Guests Join the Griffin’s on “Family Guy” appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

The four-minute cartoon, posted on YouTube July 31, is winning hearts across the twittershpere, where many are praising the decision to share and represent gay characters onscreen.

416 backers pledged 14,191 dollars, more than four times the amount creators Esteban Bravo and Beth David hoped to collect. This was how In a Heartbeat was born, a cartoon story of Sherwin, a closeted boy who could possibly be outed because his heart wishes to pop out of his chest and chase Johnathan his crush.

The campaign that ended in December 2016 was also used as a platform by the creators to share their feelings and thoughts. They wrote of the decision to create a cartoon that tells an LGBTQ story, saying that they feel it is a topic that hasn’t been explored in computer animation. They added that they are very excited to share what is a personal topic in a sweet and cheerful way.

The post Animated Love Story “In a Heartbeat” is a Breath of Fresh Air appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

The 45th annual Annie Awards were a celebration of the animated entertainment industry. Held at UCLA’s Royce Hall and presented by the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, it was a celebration of excellence, achievements and accomplishments in animation.

Coming in with 13 nominations was Disney’s Coco, including Best Animated Feature, followed by The Breadwinner with 10 noms, including Best Animated Feature – Independent. The Boss Baby earned a total of 6 noms, while Captain Underpants, The Big Bad Fox, Despicable Me 3, The Lego Batman Movie and Loving Vincent earned 3 nominations apiece.

There’s no dont Coco was the night’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Annie in 11 out of 13 categories. Since the Academy Awards’ Best Animated Feature category was launched in 2002, 11 of the 16 winners of the Annies’ top feature prize — and 4 of the past 6 — went on to win the animated feature Oscar. So if it wasn’t clear that Coco is the Oscar front-runner, it is now,

The evening was dedicated to voice actor and  co-founder of the Annie Awards June Foray, who passed away this July at the age of 99. Best known as the voice of Granny from the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, ASIFA-Hollywood executive director Frank Gladstone said: “More than anyone else, June was responsible for founding the Annies 45 years ago. This will be the first year she is not going to be with us, so we will do our best to remember and celebrate June’s creativity, generosity and unrelenting advocacy for the animation community.”

Check out the complete list of winners below!

Best Animated Feature
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Directing – Animated Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Outstanding Achievement, Directing – TV/Broadcast Production
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Walt Disney Television Animation
Dave Wasson, Eddie Trigueros, Alonso Ramirez-Ramo

Best Animated Feature-Independent
THE BREADWINNER
Cartoon Saloon / Aircraft Pictures / Melusine Productions

Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production\
RICK AND MORTY
Episode: 303 – “Pickle Rick”
Williams Street Productions

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children
WE BARE BEARS
Episode: Panda’s Art
Cartoon Network Animation Studios

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children
OCTONAUTS
Episode: Operation Deep Freeze
Vampire Squid Productions Limited, a Silvergate Media company, in association with Brown   Bag Films

Outstanding Achievement, Writing – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Adrian Molina, Matthew Aldrich 

Outstanding Achievement, Writing – TV/Broadcast Production
RICK AND MORTY
Episode: 307 – “The Ricklantis Mixup”
Williams Street Productions
Ryan Ridley, Dan Guterman

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting – TV/Broadcast Production
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
Nickelodeon
Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants

Best Animated Television/Broadcast Commercial
JUNE
Broad Reach Pictures/Chromosphere/Lyft

Best Animated Special Production
REVOLTING RHYMES
Magic Light Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studio
Harley Jessup, Danielle Feinberg, Bryn Imagire, Nathaniel McLaughlin, Ernesto Nemesio

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCIII
Adult Swim
Scott Wills

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
John Chun Chiu Lee

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – TV/Broadcast Production
TROLLHUNTERS
Episode: 205 – “Homecoming”
DreamWorks Animation Television
Bruno Chiou, Yi-Fan Cho, Kevin Jong , Chun-Jung Chu

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Live Action Production
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Daniel Barrett, Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Emile Ghorayeb, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Alessandro Bonora

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation – Video Game
CUPHEAD

StudioMDHR

Hanna Abi-Hanna

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Daniel Arriaga, Daniela Strijleva, Greg Dykstra, Alonso Martinez, Zaruhi Galstyan

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCVI
Adult Swim
Craig Kellman

Outstanding Achievement, Music – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Michael Giacchino, Kristin Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Germaine Franco, Adrian Molina

Outstanding Achievement, Music – TV/Broadcast Production
DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE
Episode: The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!
Walt Disney Television Animation
Christopher Willis

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Shaun Galinak, Dave Hale, Jason Johnston, Carl Kaphan, Keith Daniel Klohn

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects – Live Action
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Daniel Barrett, Sidney Kombo-Kintombo, Emile Ghorayeb, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Alessandro Bonora

Best Animated Short Subject
DEAR BASKETBALL
Glen Keane Productions, Kobe Studios, Believe Entertainment Group

Best Student Film
POLES APART
Paloma Baeza

Outstanding Achievement, Editing – Feature Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Editing – TV/Broadcast Production
SAMURAI JACK
Episode: XCIII, XCIV, XCIX
Adult Swim
Paul Douglas

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding – Feature/Broadcast Production
COCO
Pixar Animation Studios
Dean Kelly

The post Annie Awards 2018: The Complete Winners List appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Showtime is getting right down and animated with its 10, half-hour episodes about POTUS. The series chronicles the “tru-ish misadventures” of Donald Trump. With his family and advisors beside him, viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of the President.

The show “examines the quintessentially Trumpian details of the presidency and his most important relationships, and no one is safe – from his close family and confidants to key political figures from both parties and members of the media,” the network said.

The series that will deconstruct White House life under the 45th President of the United States was inspired by Trump’s character on Colbert’s Late Show.

Serving alongside Colbert as executive producer is Late Show executive producer Chris Licht who will also serve as the series’ show runner.

Check out the sneak peak below!

The post Showtime Releases First Trailer for Stephen Colbert’s Donald Trump Cartoon Series appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Disney shared the success on Wednesday, adding that they still have to release the film in around a third of the international market, including Australia, Italy, Brazil, Korea, U.K. and Japan.

The absolute winner when it comes to international market has been China. Chinese audience brought the movie nearly the same earnings as the U.S. – $133 million.

Coco follows the story of a young boy Miguel as he enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.

The post “Coco” Tops $400 Million at Worldwide Box Office appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

While the Dia de los Muertos adventure film by the award-winning animation studio was just released (November 22), fans are already eyeing the studio’s future films with relish.

Coming up first with the release date of June 15, 2018 is the sequel to The Incredibles a long 14 years after the incredible Parr family made their first appearance. The sequel picks up where and when the original movie left off, with the narrative shifting slightly to feature Elastigirl as she steps into what is, according to director Brad Bird, the “forefront of the action.” In the family’s new house, Mr. Incredible assumes more responsibilities to do with his newfound discovery of baby son Jack-Jack’s powers.

Up next is third sequel to the studio mega hit Toy Story. The fourth installment in the franchise has a release date of June 21, 2019. The sequel  will be produced by Jonas Rivera and directed by Josh Cooley; this will be the first time two former Pixar interns produce and direct one of the studio’s films together. Even though details about the movie’s plot are scarce, there was a behind-the-scenes video that teased the filmmaker’s suggestive research trip in the form of an RV vacation. Beginning anew with the toy box is living a post-Andy era as they are in the possession of young Bonnie, perhaps this time around it’ll be a family vacation adventure.

A third film has yet to be titled or given a release date. An original by Monster’s University’s director Dan Scanlon, the “modern suburban fantasy” takes place in what looks like ordinary suburbia, however, rather than being inhibited by humans, it is populated by elves, trolls, and their fantastical ilk. In a place where magic existed, but has longed disappeared, two teenage brother creatures embark on an adventure and search of a way to spend “one last magical day” with their late father.

The post What’s Up Next from Pixar Animation Studios appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

Kristen Bell who garnered recognition as the voice of Princess Anna of Frozen will lend her voice to Family Guy as a love interest for Brian.This won’t be a first for Bell as she has made an appearance in the past in Seth McFarlane’s The Cleveland Show. Family Guy’s executive producer Rich Appel told ET that Martha, the family’s canine co-worker and Brian’s love interest voiced by Bell “comes complete with her own theme song, which, like all great sitcom theme songs, literally tells you everything you need to know about her.”

The season premiere will also welcome Louis C.K., who will play himself to Quahog. The episode will center on the Emmys, imagining hit shows like Modern Family and Breaking Bad from the Griffin’s point of view. Not surprisingly, a guest cast of the real Modern Family Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara will star in the episode. Executive producer Alec Sulking spoke of the episode’s plot and said that Peter, “desperate for an Emmy, fortuitously runs into Louis C.K. on the street and tries to get the secret to winning the award from him.”

Season 15 of Family Guy will premiere October 1 with even more exciting guest appearances like Ian McKellen and Ryan Reynolds.

The post New and Exciting Guests Join the Griffin’s on “Family Guy” appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.

The four-minute cartoon, posted on YouTube July 31, is winning hearts across the twittershpere, where many are praising the decision to share and represent gay characters onscreen.

416 backers pledged 14,191 dollars, more than four times the amount creators Esteban Bravo and Beth David hoped to collect. This was how In a Heartbeat was born, a cartoon story of Sherwin, a closeted boy who could possibly be outed because his heart wishes to pop out of his chest and chase Johnathan his crush.

The campaign that ended in December 2016 was also used as a platform by the creators to share their feelings and thoughts. They wrote of the decision to create a cartoon that tells an LGBTQ story, saying that they feel it is a topic that hasn’t been explored in computer animation. They added that they are very excited to share what is a personal topic in a sweet and cheerful way.

The post Animated Love Story “In a Heartbeat” is a Breath of Fresh Air appeared first on OMG Check It Out !.