What are the Annies? The Annies are Animation�s greatest honor in recognizing the best of the best in the Animation world, just as the Oscars honor their achievers in the Motion Picture Industry.  Legendary voice artist, June Foray brought the Annie Award to life in 1972 and today ASIFA-Hollywood continues this tradition with their ceremony to honor Animation�s highest achievers. 

The 39th Annual Annie Awards were held on February 4, 2012 at U.C.L.A.�s Royce Hall.
General Admission tickets (non members) for the Annie Awards only cost $25.
VIP tickets (non members) to the 5pm Champagne Reception, the 7pm Annie Awards Ceremony and the Post Award Party afterwards cost $250, while members paid $200. 

Guests began arriving at 5pm dressed for the black tie event, accordingly for the lovely warm afternoon in sunny California but carried wraps for the cooler evening temperatures. Guests had the option of staying inside or venturing out on the patio to snack on plentiful hors d'oeuvres, carried by circulating waiters. There were open bars throughout both areas. People mixed and mingled with friends or networked with executives. Regular guests were plentiful, obtaining autographs and pictures of their favorite celebrities.

The Annie Award ceremony began promptly at 7pm , when guests took their assigned seats in the auditorium. Patton Oswalt, voice of Remy in the Disney/Pixar film �Ratatoulle� hosted the event, in place of the regular host, Tom Kenny (Sponge Bob.)

Everything went according to plan during the Award Ceremony until the moment when three presenters, Brittany Snow, Bridgit Mendler and Jason Marsden were onstage. They had jokingly argued about who would get to present an award first. The first category was best animated television production � pre school. Lovely Brittany opened the envelope she had been given and gave the answer. Unfortunately she had been given the wrong envelope as the answer she gave was for the winner of best animated television production � children. When she announced �The Amazing World of Gumball�, there was dead silence in the auditorium. All three presenters just stood there amidst the silence until Patton Oswalt saved the day by racing across the stage, throwing his jacket to the floor and bringing sanity and humor to the moment. He said �is this technically an animation spoiler? Okay here�s what we�re going to do. You just read one too early. You opened.( and then said to Jason) I love the way you threw the hottie under the bus, that was awesome. �Here�s just what happened, an envelope was opened early, before the demons come to attack, we�re going to have these winners come up and get their Annie Award and we�re gonna go right back and read the next one..� This did provide the needed levity for the moment. And it proved that comedians are always needed to moderate events as they are quick thinking and recover well from unexpected incidents, such as this one was.

After the award ceremony, everyone enjoyed the lavish dinner buffets and open bars, which were graciously provided by Walt Disney Animation Studios, DisneyToon Studios and Pixar Animation Studios. ASIFA-Hollywood and Disney have mended the breach that kept them apart last year. Hooray!!!!

There were lovely gift bags provided for all the Post party guests, which included the following:

• Rango book bag
• Animation Magazine 20 year book
• TinTin poster
• Core for ear plugs and jack
• TinTin keychain and lock

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