‘Wreck-It Ralph’ won Annies for best direction, picture. | Image: Disney Animation Studios
On Feb. 2, CalArts’ alumnus Rich Moore won top honors at the 40th Annual Annie Awards for Directing an Animated Feature Production for Wreck-It Ralph. The film, from Walt Disney Animation Studios, features the voices of Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, with John C. Reilly playing the titular role of an arcade game character who’s tired of being the villain.
The film also won the Annie for Best Animated Feature Film, competing against several other films helmed by CalArts alumni, including Brave, directed by Mark Andrews (Film/Video BFA 93), Brenda Chapman (Film/Video BFA 87); Frankenweenie, directed by Tim Burton (Film/Video 79); and Hotel Transylvania, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (Film/Video 92).
Other CalArtians lauded by their animation peers were:
- Heidi Smith (Film/Video BFA 2008), who won for Character Design in an Animated Feature Production for her work on ParaNorman (LAIKA/Focus Features); and
- Hugo Morales (Film/Video BFA 2004) who shared the award for Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production for Kung Fu Panda-Enter the Dragon (Nickelodeon Animation Studios) with colleagues Adam Arnold, Davrick Waeden and Otto Ferraye. The trailer has been posted below.)
Presented by the International Animated Film Society, the Annies have recognized the work of animators in long and short-form films since 1972.