Review: Woodley Carries "Divergent" to Victory (Shailene Film Fest)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 53 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

Divergent (2014)
Running time:  139 minutes (2 hours, 19 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense violence and action, thematic elements and some sensuality
DIRECTOR:  Neil Burger
WRITERS:  Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor (based on the novel by Veronica Roth)
PRODUCERS:  Lucy Fisher, Pouya Shahbazian, and Douglas Wick
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Alwin H. Küchler (D.o.P.)
EDITORS:  Richard Francis-Bruce and Nancy Richardson
COMPOSER:  Junkie XL

SCI-FI/DRAMA/THRILLER

Starring:  Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoe Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Kate Winslet, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Christian Madsen, Amy Newbold, and Ben Lamb

Divergent is a 2014 science fiction drama from director Neil Burger.  The film is based on the 2011 novel, Divergent, by author Veronica Roth.  Divergent the film is set in a world divided by factions and focuses on a teen girl who does not really fit in with any one faction.

Divergent is set in an indeterminate future and a dystopian Chicago that is a walled city.  There, society is divided into five factions:  Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent).  There is also a sixth group, the “Factionless,” in which the members are homeless and shunned by everyone except Abnegation.

Beatrice Prior (Shailene Woodley) belongs to Abnegation with her mother, Natalie (Ashley Judd); father, Andrew (Tony Goldwyn); and brother, Caleb ( Ansel Elgort).  On her sixteenth birthday, Beatrice will take an aptitude test that is supposed to decide in which faction she would best fit.  She will also learn of a plot to destroy Divergents, people who think independently and do not really fit into any particular faction.  To which faction does Beatrice belong?  Or is she Divergent?

If honesty is the best policy (and often it is), then, I must be honest about my feelings concerning Divergent.  I love it – totally love it.  I enjoyed the hell out of this movie.  There, are two things about Divergent that stand out to me:  (1) the story's themes and messages and (2) Shailene Woodley's performance.

I think that Divergent the film is not literal dystopian science fiction so much as it is metaphorical and thematic.  It is not important that Chicago is a post-apocalyptic city full of survivors trying to both eek out a living and to maintain a social order that is supposed to... well, maintain social order.  In the film, Chicago is important as a setting where creeping individualism meets growing spots of selflessness.  Beatrice wants not only to be “herself,” but to also fit in where she wants.  Being an individual means being able to help people outside of one's caste, even if one's caste-mates frown upon that.  Divergent's story, as I see it, says that the individual and the society are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, the reign of one over the other means disaster for everyone.

As for Ms. Woodley's performance, she does what the best actors do with a character – bring them fully to life.  She makes Beatrice's wants and desires, conflicts and confusion, and her goals and struggles tangible, as if they belong to an actual living person.  When an actor can do this, she makes the audience buy into the character, as if the character were a real person.  I can see why people compare Woodley to fellow millennial actress, Jennifer Lawrence, but they are different from each other.  Lawrence's characters tend to be brash and bold, even when they are vulnerable.  Shailene Woodley is vulnerable and brash and brave in equal measures and at the same time.

Theo James, as the love-interest, Four, is good.  Perhaps, director Neil Burger makes him scowl more than he needs to do for this young male character who must be upfront and hidden.  James, however, has a screen quality that at least serves this film well.

In some ways, Divergent is predictable and follows the hero vs. the system journey so common in films adapted from Young Adult (YA) dystopian science fiction and fantasy books.  However, Divergent is not generic because of Woodley, by both her performance and her engaging screen presence.  She grabbed me and forced me to live in Beatrice's world.  I am glad that this film's box office success has yielded a sequel.

8 of 10
A

Friday, November 14, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "The Spectacular Now" a Spectacular Love Story (Shailene Film Fest)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 52 (of 2014) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Spectacular Now (2013)
Running time:  95 minutes (1 hour, 35 minutes)
MPAA – R for alcohol use, language and some sexuality - all involving teens
DIRECTOR:  James Ponsoldt
WRITERS:  Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (based on the novel by Tim Tharp)
PRODUCERS:  Michelle Krumm, Andrew Lauren, Shawn Levy, and Tom McNulty
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Jess Hall (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Darrin Navarro
COMPOSER:  Rob Simonsen

DRAMA/ROMANCE

Starring:  Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Masam Holden, Dayo Okeniyi, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nicci Faires, Andre Royo, Bob Odenkirk, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead

The Spectacular Now is a 2013 drama and romantic film from director James Ponsoldt.  The film is based on the 2008 novel, The Spectacular Now, by Tim Tharp.  The film follows a hard-drinking high school senior whose life changes when he meets a nice girl, the kind he previously ignored.

Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) is a high school senior who likes to drink and party.  He is charming and self-possessed, and he lives in “the now.”  He is also a budding alcoholic.  After a night of drinking, he wakes up in someone's yard, and standing over him is Aimee Finecky (Shailene Woodley).  She is the nice girl who reads science fiction and manga (Japanese comics), and does not have a boyfriend.  Sutter and Aimee start dating, but while Aimee dreams of a future with him, Sutter is not sure what he wants, other than to live in the “spectacular now.”

Much of the attention about The Spectacular Now, when it was released last year, focused on rising star, Shailene Woodley.  And she is indeed spectacular here.  She is a natural talent, and she seems like a pure movie star.  Perhaps, the camera does indeed love her, but I am sure that my eye-camera loves her.  Woodley is sincere and refreshing and makes this film sincere and refreshing – different from so many other romantic teen dramas.

However, Miles Teller also gives an exceptional performance.  Sutter Keely has soul, and he makes The Spectacular Now a truly soulful film.  Sutter has substance; there is something inside him.  He is a three-dimensional character, fighting in conflicts and holding motivation, even when it seems as if he does not have any motivation.  Teller is also a rising star, and has been cast as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in 20th Century Fox's reboot of its Fantastic Four film franchise.  Teller doesn't necessarily look like a leading man, but he has the talent to take him to leading man status.

The Spectacular Now is a surprisingly good film, mainly because of its romantic leads, Teller and Woodley, but there are plenty of good supporting performances – actors that add to this film's wonderful sense of naturalism.  The always-good Kyle Chandler makes the most of his screen time in a small role as Sutter's absentee father.  Chandler is intense and coiled, as if he is ready to explode or to strike.  It isn't a showy performance; rather, it adds to this film's overall quality.  The Spectacular Now is... well, spectacular, but in a subdued and inviting manner.  In the history of American cinema, it will go down as an authentic teen movie.

8 of 10
A

Friday, November 7, 2014


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

British Independent Film Awards Name Beresford and Warchus' "Pride" Best Indie Film

In 1998, Raindance created the British Independent Film Awards to celebrate merit and achievement in independently funded British filmmaking.  The awards also honor new talent and promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public.

On Sunday, December 7, 2014, the winners for the 17th Annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced at the Old Billingsgate in London.

The 2014/17th Annual Moët British Independent Film Awards winners:

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM -Sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Pride

BEST DIRECTOR - Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission
Yann Demange  – '71

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR] - Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios
Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard – 20,000 Days on Earth

BEST SCREENPLAY - Sponsored by BBC Films
Jon Ronson, Peter Straughan – Frank

BEST ACTRESS - Sponsored by M.A.C Cosmetics
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Belle

BEST ACTOR - Sponsored by Movado
Brendan Gleeson – Calvary

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Imelda Staunton – Pride

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Sponsored by St Martins Lane
Andrew Scott – Pride

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Sameena Jabeen Ahmed – Catch Me Daddy

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION
The Goob

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Stephen Rennicks - Music – Frank

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Next Goal Wins

BEST BRITISH SHORT
The Kármán Line

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM
Boyhood

THE RAINDANCE AWARD
Luna

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film):
Emma Thompson

THE VARIETY AWARD
Benedict Cumberbatch

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Announced at the Moët British Independent Film Awards on Sunday 7th December
John Boorman

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"Boyhood" is Los Angeles Film Critics' Best Picture of 2014

The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is a professional organization of Los Angeles-based, professional film critics working in the Los Angeles print and electronic media.  Since 1975, LAFCA members vote on the year's Achievement Awards each December, honoring screen excellence on both sides of the camera.

40th Annual (2014) Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards:

BEST PICTURE: “Boyhood”
Runner-up:  “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

BEST DIRECTOR:  Richard Linklater for "Boyhood"
Runner-up: Wes Anderson for “The Grand Budapest Hotel”

BEST ACTOR:  Tom Hardy for "Locke"
Runner-up: Michael Keaton for "BIRDMAN"

BEST ACTRESS:  Patricia Arquette for "Boyhood"
Runner-up: Julianne Moore for "Still Alice"

Best Supporting Actor: J.K. Simmons for “Whiplash”
Runner up: Edward Norton for "Birdman"

Best Supporting Actress: Agata Kulesza for "Ida"
Runner-up: Rene Russo "Nightcrawler"

Best Screenplay: Wes Anderson fir “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Runner-up: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., and Armando Bo for "Birdman"

Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for "Birdman"
Runner-up: Dick Pope  for "Mr Turner"

Best Production Design: Adam Stockhausen for "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
Runner-up: Ondrej Nekvasil for "Snowpiercer"

Best Editing: Sandra Adair for "Boyhood"
Runner-up: Barney Pilling "The Grand Budapest Hotel"

Best Music Score (TIE): Jonny Greenwood for "Inherent Vice" and Mica Levi for "Under the Skin"

Best Foreign-Language Film: "Ida" Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
Runner-up: "Winter Sleep" directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film: "CITIZENFOUR" Directed by Laura Poitras
Runner-up: "Life Itself" Directed by Steve James

Best Animation: "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” directed by Isao Takahata
Runner-up: "The Lego Movie" directed by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

New Generation:  Ava DuVernay for “Selma”

The Douglas Edwards Experimental/Independent Film/Video Award: Walter Reuben "The David Whiting Story"

Career Achievement: Gena Rowlands

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President Barack Obama Talks to BET News Monday, December 8th, 2014

Exclusive: President Barack Obama Sits Down with BET Networks for an Interview at the White House to Discuss Recent Unrest in America

President Barack Obama’s Interview with BET Networks to Air on "106 & PARK"; Interview Covers Modern Civil Rights, Police Relations and Justice For All in America

BET News Special Interview To Air Immediately Following "106 & PARK"

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an exclusive interview with BET Networks, President Barack Obama addressed community concerns and calls for justice and equality after recent grand jury decisions. BET’s “106 & PARK” will air a portion of the interview on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 5 p.m. ET/PT. The full in-depth interview will air immediately following at 6 p.m. ET/PT in “BET News Presents: A Conversation with President Barack Obama.”

This marks President Obama's first network interview during which he shares his thoughts on events that have sparked major protests nationwide. The special segment on “106 & PARK” is dedicated to bringing an empowering message to finding meaningful solutions and learning from the incidents that occurred in Ferguson, MO and across the nation.

President Obama discussed his strategy not only to investigate the various incidents, but ways in which he believes that country can come together during this time. BET News’ Jeff Johnson conducted the interview. The full interview will be available on BET.com following “BET News Presents: A Conversation with President Barack Obama,” which airs on December 8, 2014 at 6 p.m. ET/PT.

A preview of the “106 & PARK” interview is available here: https://qlnk.io/ql/5483709be4b057ea2df0d14a .

All reporting must credit “BET Networks.”

About “106 & PARK”

A powerful presence in the music and entertainment industry, “106 & PARK” has been the #1 music variety show on cable for the past 25 consecutive quarters among adults 18-49, according to the Nielsen Company, and has been integral in launching the careers of numerous artists. “106 & PARK” has become THE destination for today's brightest stars including Denzel Washington, Madonna, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Diddy, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Queen Latifah, Will Ferrell, Lady Gaga, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Lebron James, 50 Cent, Will Smith, Drake and many, many others. “106 & PARK” will host its final daily on-air show December 19, 2014 concluding its impressive 14-year run. The “106 & PARK” brand remains strong and will continue to produce various specials throughout the year including its annual New Year’s Eve show, “106 & PARTY,” along with live event experiences at the “BET Awards” and BET Experience.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

10 Films Contend for 5 "Best Visual Effects" Nominations at 87th Oscars (2015)

10 Contenders Remain In VFX Oscar® Race

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 87th Oscars®.

The films are listed below in alphabetical order:

•     “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
•     “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
•     “Godzilla”
•     “Guardians of the Galaxy”
•     “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
•     “Interstellar”
•     “Maleficent”
•     “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”
•     “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
•     “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist.  All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 10, 2015.  Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The 87th Academy Awards® nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

2015 Annie Awards Nominations Announced - Complete List

ASIFA-Hollywood, the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Society, presents the Annie Awards.  The Annie honors achievements in animation as a whole, including current animated productions, as well as career and lifetime achievements.  These awards were created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray.

On Monday, December 1, 2014, ASIFA-Hollywood announced nominations for the 42nd Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year 2014's best in the field of animation.  The Annie Awards cover 36 categories and include Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Special Production, Commercials, Short Subjects, and Outstanding Individual Achievements.  The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.  A pre-reception and press line begins at 5:00 pm with the awards ceremony following at 7:00 pm.  A post-show celebration begins immediately following the ceremony, and all events will be held at Royce Hall.

The “Juried Awards” honoring career achievement and exceptional contributions to animation, will also be presented.  Three “Winsor McCay” recipients have been selected by the ASIFA-Hollywood Board of Directors, and they are Didier Brunner, Don Lusk and Lee Mendelson for their career contributions to the art of animation.  The “June Foray Award” goes to Charles Solomon for his significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation.  The “Ub Iwerks Award” goes to DreamWorks Animation’s Apollo Software for technical advancement that has made a significant impact on the art or industry of animation.  The “Special Achievement Award” will be given to The Walt Disney Family Museum recognizing the unique and significant impact on the art and industry of animation.

2015/42nd Annie Awards nominations:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
    Big Hero 6 - 
Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Cheatin' - Plymptoons Studio
    How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
    Song of the Sea - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    The Book of Life - Reel FX
    The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
    The LEGO Movie -Warner Bros. Pictures
    The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Best Animated Special Production
    Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey - Voyager Pictures LLC
    Dawn of the Dragon Racers - DreamWorks Animation
    How Murray Saved Christmas - Universal Television
    Polariffic - Bent Image Lab
    Toy Story That Time Forgot - Pixar Animation Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
    Coda
- 62 George Street
    Duet
- Glen Keane Productions
    Feast
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Inside Homer - The Simpsons Couch Gag (Episode #549)  - Acme Filmworks
    Me and My Moulton
- National Film Board of Canada
    Silent -
Creative Artists Agency
    The Dam Keeper 
- Tonko House LLC
    The Raven - Moonbot Studios

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Commercial
    Citizen M: "Swan Song" - Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
    Flight of the Stories - Aardman Animations
    LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham 
- Plastic Wax

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children
    Doc McStuffins 
- Disney Channel / Disney XD
    Peter Rabbit - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Tumble Leaf
- Amazon Studios
    Wallykazam! - 
Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Zack & Quack
- Zodiak Kids

Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children’s Audience
    Adventure Time
 - Cartoon Network
    Gravity Falls - 
Disney Television Animation
    Legend of Korra - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Over The Garden Wall
 - Cartoon Network
    Wander Over Yonder 
- Disney Television Animation

Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Archer
 - FX Networks
    Back To Backspace
- Cartoon Network Studios
    Bob's Burgers
 - Bento Box Entertainment
    Rick and Morty 
- Starburns Industries, Inc.
    Mike Tyson Mysteries 
- Warner Bros. Animation
    Regular Show 
- Cartoon Network Studios
    The Simpsons
 - The Simpsons

Best Animated Video Game
    Forza Horizon 2 - Microsoft - Turn 10 Studios
    Valiant Hearts: The Great War - Ubisoft
    Child of Light - Ubisoft

Best Student Film
    After School - Junyi Xiao
    Dead Over Heels  - Jose Matheu
    El Coyote
 - Javier Barboza
    Frog's Legs -
 Katie Tamboer
    My Big Brother 
- Jason Rayner
    Tiny Nomad 
- Toniko Pantoja

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
    Michael Kaschalk, Peter DeMund, David Hutchins, Henrik Falt, John Kosnik - Big Hero 6 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    James Jackson, Lucas Janin, Tobin Jones, Baptiste Van Opstal, Jason Mayer - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Fangwei Lee, Krzysztof Rost, Jihyun Yoon, Robert Chen - Mr. Peabody & Sherman -
DreamWorks Animation
    Mitul Patel, Nicolas Delbecq, Santosh Khedkar, Yash Argawal - Penguins of Madagascar
- DreamWorks Animation
    Augusto Schillaci, Erich Turner, Bill Konersman, Chris Rasch, Joseph Burnette - The Book of Life - Reel FX
    Rick Sevy, Peter Vickery, Kent Estep, Peter Stuart, Ralph Procida - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Jayandera Danappal, Matt Ebb, Christian Epunan Hernandez, Danielle Brooks, Raphael Gadot - The LEGO Movie - Warner Bros. Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
    Steve Avoujageli, Atsushi Ikarashi, Pawel Grochola, Paul Waggoner, Viktor Lundqvist - Edge of Tomorrow - Sony Pictures Imageworks
    Raul Essig, Karin Cooper, Rick Hankins, Owen Calouro - Noah - 
Industrial Light & Magic
    Charles-Felix Chabert, Daniel La Chapelle, Spencer Lueders, Klaus Seitschek, Chris Messineo - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 
- Sony Pictures Imageworks
    Areito Echevarria, Andreas Soderstrom, Ronnie Menahem, Christoph Sprenger, Kevin Romond - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 
Weta Digital
    Michael Balog, Jim Van Allen, Rick Hankins, John Hansen - Transformers: Age of Extinction -
 Industrial Light & Magic
    Jeremy Hampton, Daniel Stern, Edmond Smith III, Hiroshi Tsubokawa, Daniel Jenkins - X-Men: Days of Future Past - 
Digital Domain

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
    Don Crum - Toy Story That Time Forgot - 
Pixar Animation Studios
    Carlo Vogele - Toy Story That Time Forgot 
- Pixar Animation Studios
    Ken Kim - Toy Story That Time Forgot  - Pixar Animation Studios
    Michael Granberry - Tumble Leaf - Amazon Studios
    Teresa Drilling - Tumble Leaf - Amazon Studios
    Justin Nichols - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
    Fabio Lignini - How to Train Your Dragon 2 
- DreamWorks Animation
    Steven "Shaggy" Hornby - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Thomas Grummt - How to Train Your Dragon 2
- DreamWorks Animation
    Ravi Kamble - Penguins of Madagascar
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Travis Knight - The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika
    Malcolm Lamont - The Boxtrolls
- Focus Features/Laika
    Jason Stalman - The Boxtrolls - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
    Daniel Barrett, Paul Story, Eteuati Tema, Alessandro Bonora, Dejan Momcilovic - Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
 - Weta Digital
    Kevin Spruce, Dale Newton, Sidney Kombo, Chris Mullins, Brad Silby - Guardians of the Galaxy - Framestore
    Eric Reynolds, David Clayton, Andreja Vuckovic, Guillaume Francois, Gios Johnston - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Weta Digital

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Video Game
    Mike Mennillo - Assassin's Creed Unity - Ubisoft
    Don't Starve: Console Edition - Klei Entertainment Inc.
    Alex Drouin - Child Of Light - Ubisoft

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Andy Suriano - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Benjamin Balistreri - Wander Over Yonder 
-  Disney Television Animation
    Zac Gorman - Welcome to the Wayne - Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
    Shiyoon Kim, Jin Kim - Big Hero 6
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Timothy Lamb, Joe Moshier - Mr. Peabody & Sherman - 
DreamWorks Animation
    Craig Kellman, Joe Moshier, Stevie Lewis, Todd Kurosawa - Penguins of Madagascar
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Sang Jun Lee, Jason Sadler, José Manuel Fernandez Oli - Rio 2 
- Blue Sky Studios
    Tomm Moore, Marie Thorhauge, Sandra Anderson, Rosa Ballester Cabo - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Paul Sullivan, Sandra Equihua, Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Book of Life - Reel FX 
    Mike Smith - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Yuasa Masaaki, Eunyoung Choi - Adventure Time
 - Cartoon Network
    Bryan Fordney - Archer
 - FX Networks
    Jennifer Coyle & Bernard Derriman - Bob's Burgers
 - Bento Box Entertainment
    Aaron Springer - Disney Mickey Mouse 
- Disney Television Animation
    Rob Renzetti - Gravity Falls
 - Disney Television Animation
    Robert Alvarez, Ken Bruce, Larry Leichliter - Over The Garden Wall - 
Cartoon Network
    Matthew Nastuk - The Simpsons
 - The Simpsons
    David Thomas - Wander Over Yonder - 
Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
    Don Hall & Chris Williams - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Bill Plympton - Cheatin'
 - Plymptoons Studio
    Dean DeBlois - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Tomm Moore - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Jorge R. Gutierrez - The Book of Life
 - Reel FX
    Anthony Stacchi & Graham Annable - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, Directors; Chris McKay, Co-Director - The LEGO Movie - Warner Bros. Pictures
    Isao Takahata - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
 - GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Christopher Willis - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Peter Lurye, George Gabriel, Chris Gifford - Dora and Friends: Into the City! - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Jay Vincent, Michael Kramer, Jeppe Riddervold, Erin Chapman - Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
 - Jam
    Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter & Michael McCuistion - Marvel's Avengers Assemble
 - Dynamic Music Partners
    Nathan Barr & Lisbeth Scott - Tumble Leaf
 - Amazon Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
    Nicole Renaud, Composer - Cheatin'
 - Plymptoons Studio
    John Powell, Jónsi - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Danny Elfman - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- DreamWorks Animation 
    Bruno Coulais & Kila - Song of the Sea
- GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Joe Hisaishi - The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
- GKIDS/Studio Ghibli

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Kara Vallow, Brent Woods, Lucas Gray & Andrew Brandou - Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
 - Voyager Pictures LLC
    Joseph Holt - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation 
    Narina Sokolova - Mickey Shorts
- Disney
    Kevin Dart, Chris Turnham, Jasmin Lai & Elle Michalka - The Powerpuff Girls - Cartoon Network
    Antonio Canobbio, Khang Le, Mark Taihei, Howard Chen & Brandon Cuellar - Turbo FAST - 
DreamWorks Animation
    Alex Kirwan, Chris Tsirigotis, Alexander Duckworth, Janice Kubo & Francis Giglio - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation
    Erez Gavish - Zack & Quack - Zodiak Kids

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
    David James, Ruben Perez, Priscilla Wong, Timothy Lamb & Alexandre Puvilland - Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- DreamWorks Animation
    Adrien Merigeau - Song of the Sea - 
GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Simon Varela & Paul Sullivan - The Book of Life 
- Reel FX
    Paul Lasaine, Tom McClure & August Hall - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Grant Freckelton - The LEGO Movie
 - Warner Bros. Pictures 

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Heiko Drengenberg - Disney Mickey Mouse - Disney Television Animation
    Luke Weber, Alonso Ramirez Ramos, Neil Graf & Steve Heneveld - Gravity Falls 
- Disney Television Animation
    Joaquim Dos Santos - Legend of Korra -Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Nathaniel Villanueva & Douglas Lovelace - Star Wars Rebels
 - Disney Channel / Disney XD
    Brad Ableson, Matthew Faughnan & Stephen Reis - The Simpsons
 - Film Roman
    Louise Smythe - Toy Story That Time Forgot 
- Pixar Animation Studios
    Mark Ackland - Wander Over Yonder - Disney Television Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
    Marc E. Smith - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Truong "Tron" Son Mai - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Piero Peluso - Planes: Fire & Rescue
 - Disneytoon Studios
    John Hurst - Rio 2
 - Blue Sky Studios
    Rodrigo Castro - Rio 2
- Blue Sky Studios
    Julian Nariño - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features
    Emanuela Cozzi - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Bill Farmer as the voices of Goofy and Grandma - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Carlos Alazaraqui as the voice of Crocker - Fairly Oddparents - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
    Seth Green as the voice of Robot Chicken Nerd - Robot Chicken 
- Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
    Cyndi Lauper as the voice of Nurse Cyndi - Henry & Me - Reveal Animation Studios
    Andy Garcia as the voice of Eduardo - Rio 2 
- Blue Sky Studios
    Sir Ben Kingsley as the voice of Archibald Snatcher - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Dee Bradley Baker as the voice of Fish - The Boxtrolls 
- Focus Features/Laika

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Darrick Bachman - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Dave Tennant, David P. Smith, Chris Mitchell & Will Mata - The Powerpuff Girls
 - Cartoon Network
    Rob LaZebnik - The Simpsons
 - 20th Century Fox
    Tim Long  - The Simpsons - 20th Century Fox
    Steve Purcell - Toy Story That Time Forgot  - 
Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
    Robert L. Baird, Daniel Gerson & Jordan Roberts - Big Hero 6
 - Walt Disney Animation Studios
    Dean DeBlois - How to Train Your Dragon 2
 - DreamWorks Animation
    Will Collins - Song of the Sea 
- GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    Irena Brignull & Adam Pava - The Boxtrolls
 - Focus Features/Laika
    Phil Lord & Christopher Miller - The Lego Movie
 - Warner Bros. Pictures

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production
    Illya Owens - Disney Mickey Mouse
 - Disney Television Animation
    Ernesto Matamoros - Dragons: Defenders of Berk
 - DreamWorks Animation Television
    Mike Elias - Family Guy
 - Super 78
    David Suther, Bradley Furnish & David Condolora - Toy Story That Time Forgot
 - Pixar Animation Studios
    Todd Raleigh & Doug Vito - Turbo FAST
 - DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
    Tim Mertens - Big Hero 6 
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
    John K. Carr - How to Train Your Dragon 2 - DreamWorks Animation
    Dan Molina, Mark Keefer & Karen Hathaway - Planes: Fire & Rescue - 
Disneytoon Studios
    Darragh Byrne - Song of the Sea
 - GKIDS/Cartoon Saloon
    David Burrows, Todd Hansen, Doug Nicholas, Jonathan Tappin & Courtney O'Brien-Brown - The LEGO Movie 
- Warner Bros. Pictures

www.annieawards.org

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