DreamWorks/Aardman Animations’ swept the Annie Awards, taking the Best Animated Feature, as well as the nine other categories it was nominated in, at the 33rd annual Annie Awards, held Feb. 4, 2006, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. The Cartoon Network series, STAR WARS: CLONE WARS II CHAPTERS 21-25, won the top TV category, Best Animated Television Production at ASIFA-Hollywood’s formal fete.

Unfortunately, no one from the CLONE WARS production or Cartoon Network came to the podium to accept the awards for best series. Ends up, Cartoon Network people were seated high up in the balcony area, which made for too long a trek down to the stage during the fast-paced show. Nominees are given tickets on the orchestra floor and should send reps in the future, if even from the sponsoring network, to make an acceptance.

Co-directors Nick Park and Steve Box were apologetic about coming to the podium so many times to accept awards for themselves and various members of their crew who did not make the trip across the pond for the awards ceremony.

This year's presenters included Brad Bird, Seth MacFarlane, Jason Alexander and William Shatner, as well as many studio execs. SpongeBob voice Tom Kenny again hosted the ceremony with great flourish and was nominated by actor/presenter to host the Academy Awards.

At one point, Kenny quipped that ASIFA would be installing a diamond lane for Park to make his way to the podium to pick up his trophy hardware during the evening. Park and Box said they were humbled by the recognition as against such honorable competition.

In addition to Kenny’s antics, the proceedings upped the ante with the quality of presenters, technical execution, clip edits and pacing. Attendees mingled at a two-hour pre-reception in the courtyard and lobby areas of the Alex Theatre, while ticket holders and guests were treated to a post-show celebration dinner at Milano’s Cucina Italiana restaurant, up the street from the venue.

Animation professionals and fans comprise the voting membership of ASIFA-Hollywood that doles out the awards. For more information visit www.asifa-hollywood.org.

Following is the list of final winners:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature

* WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Best Home Entertainment Production
* LILO & STITCH 2: STITCH HAS A GLITCH — DisneyToon Studios

Best Animated Short Subject
* THE FAN AND THE FLOWER — Atomic Television/Plymptoons Prods.

Best Animated Television Commercial
* United Airlines "Mr. Pants" — Acme Filmworks

Best Animated Television Production
* STAR WARS: CLONE WARS II CHAPTERS 21-25 — Cartoon Network Studios

Best Animated Videogame
* ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN — Activision

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects

* Jason Wen — WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation
* Claire Billett — WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
* Nick Park — WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Television Production
* Ernie Gilbert — THE FAIRLY ODDPARENT “The Good Old Days” — Nickelodeon

Directing in an Animated Feature Production
* Nick Park, Steve Box — WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Television Production
* Peter Shin — FAMILY GUY “North by North Quahog” — Fox TV Animation

Music in an Animated Feature Production
* Julian Nott — WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT — Aardman Animations Ltd./DreamWorks Animation

Music in an Animated Television Production