Flushed Away, Cars race off with most Annie nominations
The movies Flushed Away and Cars have garnered nine nominations each for the Annie Awards, topping the list for the U.S. honours that recognize the best in animation.
Flushed Away ó from Aardman Animation, the British team that created Wallace & Gromit ó received nods in directing, writing and voice acting for Ian McKellen, who portrayed the evil character of Toad.
Flushed Away follows the travails of a hapless upper-class mouse who accidentally ends up in the sewers with his lower-class brethren.
The Disney-Pixar film Cars, following a rookie race car (voiced by Owen Wilson) who learns respect through community service with older cars, is up for best feature and best director for John Lasseter, who also directed Toy Story.
Composer Randy Newman was also nominated for the movie’s soundtrack.
The other nominees for top animated feature include the penguin film Happy Feet, Monster House and Open Season. Over the Hedge, an animated version of a popular cartoon strip, earned eight nominations including best feature and voice acting for comedian Wanda Sykes, who played a skunk named Stella.
Overall, Dreamworks Animation, which made Over the Hedge and co-produced Flushed Away, had 17 nominations.
Programs under the best animated television production category are: Charlie and Lola, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, King of the Hill, The Fairly OddParents and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
The best home entertainment field included Bambi II, Winnie the Pooh: Shapes & Sizes and The Adventures of Brer Rabbit.
The awards, including those in shorts, commercials and best animated video game race will be handed out Feb. 11 at a ceremony in Glendale, Calif.
Only films that have shown in the U.S. are eligible to enter the race.
Winners are voted on by the American members of the International Animated Film Society.
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