Animated shows from FOX, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon are all in contention for an Emmy this year.

HEROES, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and others are in the running for the big vfx awards.

Nominations for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Thursday, July 17, at 5:35 a.m. PT from the Television Academy's Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood, California.

On Sunday, September 21 at 8 pm (ET/PT) the telecast awarding Primetime Emmys in 29 categories will be presented before a black-tie audience and televised by the ABC Television Network from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE.

The three major animation awards are as follows:

Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)

CREATURE COMFORTS AMERICA -- "Don't Choke To Death, Please" -- CBS -- Aardman Animations production in association with The Gotham Group
Kit Boss, Executive Producer
Miles Bullough, Executive Producer
Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Executive Producer
Peter Lord, Executive Producer
Nick Park, Executive Producer
David Sproxton, Executive Producer
Peter McHugh, Co-Executive Producer
Jacqueline White, Supervising Producer
Kenny Micka, Producer
Gareth Owen, Producer
Merlin Crossingham, Director
Dave Osmand, Director
Richard Goleszowski, Supervising Director

KING OF THE HILL -- "Death Picks Cotton" -- FOX -- 20th Century Fox Television in association with 3 Arts Ent., Deedle-Dee Productions & Judgemental Films
Mike Judge, Executive Producer
Greg Daniels, Executive Producer
John Altschuler, Executive Producer/Writer
Dave Krinsky, Executive Producer
Jim Dauterive, Executive Producer
Garland Testa, Executive Producer
Tony Gama-Lobo, Supervising Producer
Rebbeca May, Supervising Producer
Christy Stratton, Supervising Producer
Joe Boucher, Supervising Producer
Mark McJimsey, Producer
Malisa Caroselli, Animation Executive Producer
Stephanie Elliott, Animation Producer
Judah Miller, Writer
Murray Miller, Writer
Tony Kluck, Director
Wes Archer, Supervising Director
Philippe Angeles, Overseas Animation Director
Brenda Chat, Overseas Animation Director

ROBOT CHICKEN -- "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" -- Cartoon Network -- ShadowMachine Films
Seth Green, Executive Producer/Writer/Director
Matthew Senreich, Executive Producer/Writer
Mike Lazzo, Executive Producer
Keith Crofford, Executive Producer
Corey Campodonico, Producer
Alex Bulkley, Producer
Douglas Goldstein, Head Writer
Tom Root, Head Writer
Jordan Allen-Dutton, Writer
Mike Fasolo, Writer
Charles Horn, Writer
Breckin Meyer, Writer
Hugh Sterbakov, Writer
Erik Weiner, Writer
Mark Caballero, Animation Director

THE SIMPSONS -- "Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind" -- FOX -- Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox
James L. Brooks, Executive Producer
Matt Groening, Executive Producer
Al Jean, Executive Producer
Ian Maxtone-Graham, Executive Producer
Matt Selman, Executive Producer
Tim Long, Executive Producer
John Frink, Co-Executive Producer
Kevin Curran, Co-Executive Producer
Michael Price, Co-Executive Producer
Bill Odenkirk, Co-Executive Producer
Marc Wilmore, Co-Executive Producer
Joel H. Cohen, Co-Executive Producer
Ron Hauge, Co-Executive Producer
Rob Lazebnik, Co-Executive Producer
Laurie Biernacki, Animation Producer
Rick Polizzi, Animation Producer
J. Stewart Burns, Written By
Chuck Sheetz, Directed By
Mark Kirkland, Supervising Director
Jess Espanola, Assistant Director
Patricia Shinagawa, Animation Timer

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS -- "Inmates of Summer"/"Two Faces of Squidward" -- Nickelodeon -- Nickelodeon with United Plankton Pictures, Inc.
Stephen Hillenburg, Executive Producer
Paul Tibbit, Co-Executive Producer/Supervising Producer
Charlie Bean, Written By/Storyboard Director
Aaron Springer, Written By/Storyboard Director
Chris Reccardi, Written By/Storyboard Director