'Rango' and 'Kung Fu' get top Annie Awards for animated film

At the 39th annual Annie Awards for animated films and television, the western comedy Rango by Gore Verbinski (The Pirates of the Caribbean), starring Johnny Depp, won the award for Best Animated Feature.

Rango has won the top prize for animated film at other awards shows this season, including the Golden Globes, so receiving the Annie from professional peers bodes well for its chances at the Oscars. The film also took three technical awards for writing, editing and character design.

The ceremony, sponsored by for the International Animated Film Society, was presented Saturday, February 5, at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus.

Also recognized, Jennifer Yuh Nelson was named best director for Kung Fu Panda 2, which also was awarded a second Annie for production design.

Other films that received kudos included The Adventures of Tintin, which collected a pair of Annies for John Williams music and Animated Effects.

Additionally, the Annies recognized Rio, Rise of the Planet Of the Apes, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Winnie the Pooh, which each earned an Annie.

British actor Bill Nighy won for his performance as Grandsanta in Arthur Christmas.

Among the television awards, The Simpsons won for Best Animated Production and Best Direction.

Actor/comedian Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) hosted the Annie ceremony.

RC