Forenote: I am aware that there is already a topic/thread regarding the Annie Awards in the Up forum board. However, the awards ceremony itself covers not just Pixar films, but all fields of animation, so I felt that it was necessary to create a separate thread for the event in a broader section of this site.
Since 1972, the annual Annie Awards have been held to celebrate and honor outstanding achievements in animation in all fields, from computer animation to stop motion, and to bestow upon those producers, directors, artists/animators, musicians, and (voice) actors the awards they have earned in their individual categories.
On February 6th, 2010, at 7:00 PM Pacific Time, the 37th Annual Annie Awards will be held in the Royce Hall at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The event will be hosted by William Shatner, acclaimed actor, producer, and director. A pre-reception party will be held at 5:00 PM Pacific Time, two hours before the actual awards ceremony commences, and a post-award party will take place after the event at 10:00 PM Pacific Time.
The nomination categories are many, and include awards for achievements in such fields as “Best Animated Feature”, “Best Character Design”, and “Best Animated Effects”. Among those films that have been nominated this year are Pixar Animation Studios’ feature film, Up, Laika’s Coraline, and Cartoon Saloon’s The Secret of Kells.
For further information on the Annie Awards, feel free to visit the official Annie Awards web page located here: The Annie’s
In addition to this exciting information, I have further news that might interest you guys…
Being a resident of Southern California, and taking into account the fact that my dad was one of the judges for the Annie Awards last year, my dad, sister, and I will be attending the awards ceremony this year. We will have access to the pre-reception party, the ceremony itself, and the post-award party.
Now, here is where things get interesting. Due to the fact that quite a few individuals from the entertainment industry will be in attendance at this event, and because we will have the privilege of joining in on both the pre- and post- parties, I will, more than likely, have the opportunity to converse with some notables. So… you can probably guess what that means…
If anyone would like any autographs from those individuals who will (or may) be in attendance at the Annie Awards this February, or if you simply have a note of congratulations or a personal note that you would like me to deliver to a particular person, please feel free to let me know!!
Be advised that only fifteen positions are open. In other words, I will only accept fifteen requests, and this includes both autographs and personal notes. Additionally, I will only ask one person for one thing. (For example, if one of you guys wants Bob Peterson’s autograph, and another person wants to give him a personal note, I will only accept one, that one being from the person who posted first.)
Also, please take notice that three of the fifteen positions have already been filled. This is strictly my fault, as I’ve already asked a few friends of mine if they would like an autograph or would like to offer their congratulations/personal note. I have already offered to obtain John Lasseter’s autograph for Hannahmation, if he is there, Wes Anderson’s autograph for a friend of mine, and to give a personal note of congratulations to Pete Docter from ffdude1906.
Last, but not least, understand that not every person from Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios, DreamWorks, Blue Sky Studios, and other represented studios will be in attendance at the event, so it’s basically guesswork as to who is going to be there, although there will obviously be a pretty good chance that those individuals who have been nominated will be there, including Pete Docter, Tim Burton, Henry Selick, Wes Anderson, Andreas Deja, Bruce Smith, Eric Goldberg, Michael Giacchino, Peter Sohn, Ronnie Del Carmen, and many others. I want to say that such voice actors as John Leguizamo and Hugh Laurie will be there, as well as Shane Acker, the director of 9, but I can’t be sure. There is also a very slim chance that Hayao Miyazaki might show up, but I highly doubt it. If he does, however, I already know someone else who will want to express their congratulations and/or receive an autograph.
Here are those few individuals who you may not choose (who have already been “taken”/“chosen”):
Pete Docter
Wes Anderson
John Lasseter
Ronnie Del Carmen
Michael Giacchino
Other than that, feel free to ask away for an autograph or to offer a personal note to an individual that I will give to them on your behalf.
By the way, if anyone will be attending the event, I would love to know so as I may possibly meet you while there!
Good day to you all!! 
– Mitch
