Sheridan alumni earn nods at Annie Awards

Alumni from Sheridan College’s renowned Animation and Arts programs have been nominated for the 45^th annual Annie Awards. The awards, handed out by the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) will be announced at a gala in Los Angeles, California on February 3, 2018.

This year’s nominations come as Sheridan gets ready to mark 50 years of its Animation programs in 2018. Since Animation’s launch in 1968, graduates have worked on blockbuster films and award-winning TV programming, and they’ve won Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys and Annies. Angela Stukator, Associate Dean of Animation and Game Design at Sheridan, says this year’s Annie nominees build on that legacy of success. “We are very proud to celebrate our alumni’s work. Their skills, knowledge and passion have earned Sheridan its reputation for educating talented graduates who are in demand in the industry.”

Sheridan alumni nominated this year are:

• Allison Rutland (Computer Animation ’03) and John Chun Chiu Lee (Animation ‘02; Computer Animation ‘03) for best Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production for their work on Coco. Coco leads the nominations, receiving 13 in total.
• In the category of Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production, Ben Plouffe (Animation ’05) is nominated for his work on the Baymax Returns episode of Big Hero 6: The Series.
• Andrew Hickson (Illustration ’84) is nominated for his work on Ferdinand in the Production Design in an Animated Feature Production category.

Grads also contributed to other films that received nominations. Four of five films nominated for Best Animated Feature include the work of Sheridan grads, including: Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, directed by David Soren (Animation ’96); Cars 3; Coco; and The Boss Baby. Several alumni also worked on The Breadwinner, including executive producer Frank Falcone (Computer Animation ’92), which is nominated for Best Animated Feature – Independent. And grads also lent their talents to Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, which is nominated in the Best Animated Special Production Category, and Rick and Morty: Episode 303: Pickle Rick, nominated for Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production. Sheridan faculty’s expertise is also being celebrated. Art Fundamentals Professor Valerie Fulford was a painting animator on the film, Loving Vincent, which is nominated for Best Animated Feature – Independent.

Alumni from Sheridan’s programs in the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design are renowned for their expertise, innovation and creativity. For more information, visit www.sheridancollege.ca.