Finalists for the 2008 British Animation Awards (BAA) were announced today. The awards reward the most distinguished creatives in the U.K. animation scene. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on March 13 at the BFI on the South Bank (National Film Theatre).

Aardman Animations lead the way with four nominations for Best Children's Series, New Media: Best Commissioned Animation, Craft Award and Best Short Film. THE PEARCE SISTERS, created by Aardman's Luis Cook, received two nominations. In the hotly contested Craft Award, Aardman will find tough competition from DREAMS & DESIRES: FAMILY TIES by Joanna Quinn, as well as Ian Mackinnon's ADJUSTMENT. Best Short Film nominations also include Elizabeth Hobbs' THE OLD, OLD, VERY OLD MAN, and YOURS TRULY directed by Osbert Parker.

Oscar-nominated SWEENEY TODD, directed by Tim Burton, has been nominated for Best Film and TV Graphics for the film's title sequence and will battle it out with FUN FACTS, produced by Trunk Animation, and MTV: 3650 produced by Picasso Pictures. In the Best TV Specials category are Tiger Aspect's CHARLIE & LOLA: HOW MANY MORE MINUTES UNTIL CHRISTMAS and THE WRONG TRAINERS, but they face stiff competition from Suzie Templeton's PETER & THE WOLF, which has also been nominated for an Oscar.

For further details visit www.britishanimationawards.com.

The complete list of 2008 British Animation finalists are:

* Best Pre-School Series (sponsored by HIT Ent.)

CHARLIE & LOLA: Too Many Big Words
Director: Kitty Taylor
Produced by Tiger Aspect for CBeebies.

LITTLE PRINCESS: I Want My Snail
Director: Edward Foster
Produced by The Illuminated Film Co. for Five

POCOYO
Director: David Cantolla & Guillermo Garcia
Produced by Granada Kids / Zinkia Ent. for CITV

* Best Children's Series (sponsored by Cartoon Network)

SHAUN THE SHEEP: Still Life
Director: Richard Goleszowski
Produced by Aardman Animations for CBBC

KNTV PHILOSOPHY: Smith
Director: Garry J Marshall
Produced by Tern Television Prods. Ltd for Channel 4

THE SECRET SHOW: Flick the Switch
Director: Tony Collingwood
Produced by Collingwood O'Hare Ent. for CBBC

* Best TV Special (sponsored by Animation Art Gallery)

THE WRONG TRAINERS
Directors: Kez Margrie, Matthew Walker/Arthur Cox, Helen Arnsten/Blue Zoo, Martin Orton, Greg Villalobos/Bold Creative, Leigh Hodgkinson/Slinky Pictures & Trunk
Produced by BBC Newsround/Arthur Cox/Blue Zoo/Bold Creative/Slinky Pictures/Trunk for BBC

CHARLIE & LOLA: How Many More Minutes Until Christmas?
Director: Kitty Taylor
Produced by Tiger Aspect Prods. for CBeebies

PETER & THE WOLF
Director: Suzie Templeton
Produced by Break Thru Films Ltd for Channel 4

* Best Film & TV Graphics

FUN FACTS
Director: Steve Smith
Produced by Trunk Animation

SWEENEY TODD: Title sequence
Director: Richard Morrison
Produced by Th1ng

MTV: 3650
Director: Ubik
Produced by Picasso Pictures

* Best Commercial: Craft

Sony Bravia: PLAY-DOH
Directors: Darren Walsh (Animation) & Frank Budgen (Live Action)
Produced by Passion Pictures for Fallon London

IRN BRU: PHENOMENAL XMAS
Director: Robin Shaw
Produced by Sherbet Ltd for The Leith Agency

National Lottery: THE BIG WIN
Director: Marc Craste
Produced by Studio AKA for Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO Ltd

* Best Commercial: Direction (sponsored by Blue Zoo)

Cravendale: LAST GLASS
Directors: Pic Pic Andre
Produced by Nexus Prods. for Weiden + Kennedy London

Sony Bravia: PLAY-DOH
Directors: Darren Walsh (Animation) & Frank Budgen (Live Action)
Produced by Passion Pictures for Fallon London

Olay: LINES
Director: Suzanne Deakin
Produced by Slinky Pictures for Saatchi, New York

* Best Film at the Cutting Edge (sponsored by the UK Film Council)

MAGNETIC MOVIE
Directors: Ruth Jarman & Joe Gerhardt (Semi Conductor)