2026 Annie Awards Nominations Celebrate the Best Soundtracks

Often overlooked, the Annie Awards serve as the gold standard for celebrating animation achievement. Given the 2026 Annie Awards nominations, this year’s event promises to be no exception, handing out honors in 32 categories to the individuals who bring our favorite stories to life, including those in the musical arts.

Keep reading to learn who got nominated, as well as when and where you can watch the event.

The 53^rd Annie Awards Nominations Demonstrate the Importance of Music in Animation.

Run by the Hollywood Chapter of the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood), the Annie Awards are the world’s most prominent celebration of the animated arts and those who work in them. Often called the Oscars of Animation, the awards honor excellence in animation, voice acting, soundtracks, and everything in between.

The soundtrack categories hold a special place. These categories honor the composers, songwriters, and sound artists who craft the soundtracks that define our favorite characters and memorable scenes. As such, they are a testament to the collaborative relationship between music and animation.

The 2026 Annie Awards Nominations in Music

The Annie Awards celebrate soundtrack music through outstanding musical achievement categories in both feature film and television productions. Revealed on January 5, 2026, this year’s nominees offer several musical styles and approaches from around the world, from sweeping orchestral scores to inventive electronic soundscapes.

Best Animated Feature Film Soundtrack

The Best Feature Music Category honors high-profile animated features with great soundtracks. This year, the nominees come from both established studios and independent productions.

• Arco – Arnaud Toulon (Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma)
• Elio – Rob Simonsen (Pixar)
• KPop Demon Hunters – KPop Demon Hunters Music Team (Sony, Netflix)
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Mari Fukuhara (Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, GKIDS)
• Zootopia 2 – Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin, Michael Giacchino (Walt Disney)

Best Animated Television Series Soundtrack

The Television Music Category celebrates animated series and specials that pushed musical boundaries. It’s also awarded per episode, allowing series to have multiple nominees.  

• Common Side Effects: “Lakeshore Limited” – Nicolas Snyder (Green Street, Bandera, Williams Street)
• Devil May Cry: “The First Circle” – Power Glove, Alex Seaver (Netflix, Studio Mir, Adi Shankar, Capcom)
• Éiru– Leo Pearson, Ceara Conway (Cartoon Saloon)
• Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical – Ben Folds, Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner (WildBrain Studios, Apple)
• Win Or Lose: “Episode 6, Mixed Signals” – Ramin Djawadi, Shane Eli, Johnny Pakfar (Pixar)

The Other 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

Music’s impact on animation can’t be overstated, but it’s not the only thing celebrated at the Annies. ASIFA-Hollywood gives out awards in 32 categories in total, encompassing everything in the animation world.

This year, KPop Demon Hunters lead the pack with thirteen 2026 Annie Awards nominations, including Best Feature. However, Pixar’s Elio isn’t that far behind with ten.

Best Animated Feature 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

ASIFA-Hollywood established the Annie Awards in response to the Academy Awards‘ snubbing of animation. That rivalry continues to this day, even after the Oscars added the Best Animated Feature category in 2002, even though half of all Annie winners have won golden statues since then.

This year, the following five films aim to add to that total.

• Elio – Pixar
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids
• The Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks
• Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney

Best Animated Independent Feature

Five films are fighting for the indie crown:

• A Magnificent Life – Mediawan, What the Prod, Bidibul
• Arco – Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma
• I’m Frankelda – Cinema Fantasma, Warner Bros. Discovery, Woo Films, Cine Vendaval
• Lost In Starlight – Netflix / Climax Studio
• Scarlet – Studio CHIZU

Best Animated Special

Everyone loves a good, animated special, such as these:

• A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice – Nickelodeon, Jam Filled Entertainment
• Adult Swim’s The Elephant – Titmouse, Williams Street
• Not Just a Goof – Venturia, CNEK Films
• Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical – WildBrain Studios, Apple
• The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland – Lupus Films, Universal

Best Animated Short 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

Which one of these is your favorite short film?

• Cardboard – Locksmith Animation
• Ovary-Acting – Klipp og Lim, Jante Films, Apparat Filmproduktion AB
• Pillowzzz – Animoshe
• Snow Bear – The Art of Aaron Blaise
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls – National Film Board of Canada

Best Sponsored Animation

These crossovers exist to make you buy things.

• Honkai: Star Rail Animated Short: Trek | Honkai: Star Rail – FLiiiP Design
• Fortnite x The Simpsons: Apocalypse D’Oh! – Gracie Films,  20th Television
• LouiMax Dreams of Being an Adult – Imagine Create Media, Maileg
• Olipop Yeti – Screen Novelties, Passion
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – The Animation – SEGA, GXS

Best Preschool Television Series

These are the best shows for little kids. The award is per episode.

• Eva The Owlet: “Welcome to Treetopington” – Brown Bag, Scholastic, Apple
• Kindergarten: The Musical!: “Gotta Go!” – Oddbot, Walt Disney
• The Tiny Chef Show: “Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump Spectacular” – Imagine, Tiny Chef, Nickelodeon
• Wow, Lisa: “Rainy Day” – Punkrobot
• Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: “I am Jackie Robinson” – 9 Story Media, Brown Bag Films

Best Children’s Television 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

These are the best children’s cartoons on TV! The award is per episode.

• My Melody & Kuromi: “All for Our Best Friend” – Sanrio Company, Netflix
• Spice Frontier: Escape From Veltegar: “Episode 1” -Steamroller
• Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: “Rise of the Night Ninja” – Nickelodeon, PointGrey
• The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball: “The Rewrite” – Hanna-Barbera Europe
• Wylde Pak: “Sungandeul” – Nickelodeon, Jam Filled

Best Mature Television Animation

Awarded per episode, this category is for us adults.

• Bob’s Burgers: “Grand Pre-Pre-Pre Opening” – 20th TV
• Common Side Effects: “Pilot” – Green Street, Bandera, Williams Street
• Haha, You Clowns: “Episode 107: Duncan Holds a Baby” – Williams Street
• Il Baracchino: “Claudia entra in un caffè” – Luckyred, Megadrago
• South Park: “Sermon on the ‘Mount” – Comedy Central

Best Limited Animation 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

These are the nominations for the best limited animation series category:

• Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight: “Episode III” – Netflix, Banijay France, Légende Films
• Eyes of Wakanda: “Into the Lion’s Den” – Marvel
• Marvel Zombies: “Episode: 2” – Marvel
• Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3: “BLACK” – David Production
• Win Or Lose: “Episode 8: Home” – Pixar

Best Student Film 2026 Annie Awards Nominees

These kids are the next generation of animated filmmakers.

• A Sparrow’s Song – Director/Producer Tobias Eckerlin (School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)
• Acrobats – Directors Eloïse Alluyn, Hugo Danet, Anna Despinoy, Antonin Guerci, Alexandre Marzin, Shali Reddy (School: Gobelins)
• Jour de vent – Directors Martin Chailloux, Ai Kim Crespin, Elise Golfouse, Chloé Lab, Hugo Taillez, Camille Truding (School: École des Nouvelles Images)
• The Undying Pain of Existence – Director Oscar Jacobson, Producers Franz Rügamer, Nadiia Yunatska (School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH)
• TRASH – Directors: Maxime Crançon, Alexis Le Ral, Producers Robin Delaporte, Romain Fleischer, Mattéo Durand (School: ESMA)

Best FX in Television

This category celebrates the best animated visual FX in television.

• Marvel Zombies: “Episode 4” – Marvel, Stellar Creative Lab
• Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age: “The Big Freeze” – BBC, Framestore
• Spice Frontier: “Episode 1” – Steamroller
• Star Wars: Visions – Volume 3: “The Bird of Paradise” – Polygon
• WONDLA: “Lost” – Skydance, ICON Creative Studio

Best Movie FX 2026 Annie Awards Nominees

These films have the best cinematic animated FX.

• Elio – Pixar
• In Your Dreams – Netflix, Kuku Studios, Sony
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix, Sony
• The Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks
• Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney

Best Character Animation

These animated series and specials had the best characters in 2025.

• Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight: “Episode III” – Netflix, Banijay France, Légende Films
• Forevergreen – Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears
• Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical – WildBrain Studios, Apple
• The Simpsons (Various Episodes) – Gracie Films, 20th Television
• Win Or Lose (Various Episodes) – Pixar

Best Feature Film Character Animation

These films had the best characters in movies in 2025.

• Elio – Pixar
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids
• The Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks
• Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney

Best Live-Action Character Animation

These live-action films had the best animated supporting cast in 2025.

• A Minecraft Movie – Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Mojang, Vertigo, On the Roam, Weta FX
• Captain America: Brave New World – Marvel, Walt Disney, Weta FX
• How To Train Your Dragon – DreamWorks, Framestore
• Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age – BBC, Framestore
• Superman – DC Studios, Framestore

Best Video Game Character Animation

These were the best characters in gaming in 2025.

• Bye, Sweet Carole – Little Sewing Machine
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Kojima
• Ghost of Yōtei – Sucker Punch
• Keeper – Double Fine
• South of Midnight – Compulsion Games

Best Designed Animated Characters in Television

These television series and specials had the best-designed characters last year.

• Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight: “Episode IV” – Netflix, Banijay France, Légende Films
• Bat-Fam: “A Knight at the Movies” – Amazon, MGM, Warner Bros., DC Entertainment
• Love, Death + Robots: “400 Boys” -Blur Studio, Netflix
• Wednesdays with Gramps – DreamWorks
• Win Or Lose: “Episode 8, Home” – Pixar

Best Designed Animated Characters in Movies

Which movie do you think had the best character designs last year?

• Elio – Pixar
• Fixed – Sony, Netflix
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix
• The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Paramount, Nickelodeon
• The Twits – Netflix, The Roald Dahl Story Company

Best Television Director Annie Awards Nominations

Do you think these were the best directors on television last year?

• Vincent Tsui – Common Side Effects: “Cliff’s Edge” (Green Street, Bandera, Williams Street)
• Fuga Yamashiro, Abel Góngora – DAN DA DAN: “Clash! Space Kaiju vs. Giant Robot!” (Science SARU, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Gkids)
• Siri Melchior – Not a Box: “It’s a Boat” (Silver Creek Falls, Passion Pictures, Apple)
• JJ Conway, Kevin Molina-Ortiz – Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: “Rise of the Night Ninja” (Nickelodeon, PointGrey)
• James A. Castillo – The Quinta’s Ghost (Martirio Films, Illusorium films)

Best Feature Director

These are the Best Directors in animated cinema:

• Ugo Bienvenu, Adam Sillard, Anaëlle Saba – Arco (Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma)
• Tatsuya Yoshihara – Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (MAPPA Studios)
• Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans – KPop Demon Hunters (Sony, Netflix)
• Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han – Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids)
• Mamoru Hosoda – Scarlet (Studio CHIZU)

Best Television Producer Nominations

These are the 2026 Annie Awards nominations for the Best Animation Production in Television:

• Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight: “Episode II” – Netflix, Banijay France, Légende Films
• Forevergreen  – Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears
• Love, Death + Robots:” How Zeke Got Religion” – Blur Studio, Netflix
• ParaNorman: The Thrifting – LAIKA
• Wednesdays with Gramps – DreamWorks

Best Feature Producer 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

Who was the best production team for an animated movie last year?

• Elio – Pixar
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix
• The Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks
• The Twits – Netflix, The Roald Dahl Story Company
• Zootopia 2  -Walt Disney

Best Television Storyboards

Who do you believe had the best storyboarding on television last year?

• Love, Death + Robots: “How Zeke Got Religion” -Blur Studio, Netflix
• ParaNorman: The Thrifting – LAIKA
• Snow Bear – The Art of Aaron Blaise
• Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: “Rise of the Night Ninja” – Nickelodeon, PointGrey
• Win Or Lose: “Episode 8, Home” – Pixar

Best Feature Storyboards

These animated movies claim they had the best storyboards in 2025:

• Arco – Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma
• Elio – Pixar
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids
• The Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks
• Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney

Best Television Voice Actor

These are the Best Voice Acting on Television Award nominees:

• Dan Mintz (as Tina Belcher) – Bob’s Burgers: ”Don’t Worry Be Hoopy” (20th TV)
• Erika Henningsen (as Charlie Morningstar) – Hazbin Hotel: “Behind Closed Doors” (Amazon MGM, A24, Bento Box)
• Abbi Jacobson (as Shira Schwooper) – Long Story Short: “Shira Can’t Cook” (Tornante, ShadowMachine, Netflix)
• Zach Hadel (as Evil Wizard) – Smiling Friends: “Shmaloogles” (Williams Street)
• Alkaio Thiele (as Gumball Watterson) – The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball: “The Amadain” (Hanna-Barbera Europe)

Best Feature Voice Actor 2026 Annie Awards Nominations

Who had the best voice in cinema?

• Lil Rey Howery (as Chief) – Dog Man (DreamWorks)
• Remy Edgerly (as Glordon) – Elio (Pixar)
• Craig Robinson (as Baloney Tony) – In Your Dreams (Netflix, Kuku Studios, Sony)
• Arden Cho (as Rumi) – KPop Demon Hunters (Sony, Netflix)
• Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (as Beesha) – The Twits (Netflix, The Roald Dahl Story Company)

Best Animated Television Screenplay

Which television series or special had the Best Writing last year?

• #1 Happy Family USA: “Episode 101: NINE TEN” – Amazon MGM, A24, Cairo Cowboy
• Adult Swim’s The Elephant – Titmouse, Williams Street
• Common Side Effects: “Pilot” – Green Street, Bandera, Williams Street
• Lulu is a Rhinoceros – Bento Box, Propagate, Apple
• Win Or Lose: “Episode 4, Pickle” – Pixar

Best Animated Feature Screenplay

These are the nominees for the Best Writing in Feature Animation category:

• Elio – Pixar
• KPop Demon Hunters – KPop Demon Hunters Editorial Team
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids
• Scarlet – Studio CHIZU
• Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney

Best Television Editing

Which episode or special do you think had the best editing in 2025?

• Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight: “Episode III” – Netflix, Banijay France, Légende Films
• Common Side Effects: “Raid” – Green Street, Bandera, Williams Street
• Haunted Hotel: “The Acolytes of Abaddon” – Titmouse, Netflix
• Invincible S3: “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up” – Amazon MGM, Skybound
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch: “Up From the Grave” – Ubisoft

Best Animated Feature Editing

Finally, here are the contestants for the 2026 Annie Award for Best Feature Editorial:

• Arco – Remembers, MountainA France, France 3 Cinéma
• Elio – Pixar
• KPop Demon Hunters – Sony, Netflix
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – Maybe Movies, Ikki Films, Gkids
• Olivia & las Nubes – Cine Chani, Historias de Bibi & Guasábara Cine

2026 Annie Awards Achievement Award Winners

In addition to the voting categories, ASIFA-Hollywood presents several achievement awards. Called the Juried Awards, these honors celebrate “unparalleled achievement and exceptional contributions to animation.” This year’s winners include:

• Michaël Dudok de Wit, Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Chris Sanders – Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sandy Rabins – June Foray Community Impact Award-
• Wacom – Ub Iwerks Technical Achievement Award
• LightBox Expo – Special Achievement Award

When will the 53^rd Annie Awards Air?

ASIFA-Hollywood will hold the 53^rd Annie Awards ceremony on February 21, 2026, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. No television coverage has been announced. However, the organization will stream the event live on its website.

Final Thoughts

Winning an Annie is a significant honor that recognizes both creative achievement and technical mastery in animation. It’s also fun for us fans to see our favorite artists get what they deserve.

Stay tuned for the winners. In the meantime, post your preferred winners in the forums or in the comments below.