Dec 8, 2017

"My Life as a Zucchini", "Rebellious Rhyme" won top honors at the first ever European Animation Award

Over one thousand people, including a who's who of top European animation directors, showed up tonight for the inaugural edition of the European Animation Awards.

The awards, called the Emiles, aspire to honor the diverse range of commercial and independent filmmaking currently being produced across Europe. Awards were handed out in 16 different categories, as well as a lifetime achievement award that was presented to Richard Williams (The Thief and the Cobbler, Who Framed Roger Rabbit).

On the feature side, the winners were led by the Swiss/French feature My Life as a Zucchini, which won the top prize for best feature film, in addition to honors for its script and soundtrack. Its three awards were the most for any project this evening.

Michael Dudok de Wit's The Red Turtle picked up two honors for character animation and storyboard, while Rémi Chayé's Long Way North was recognized for its background and character design.

In the broadcast categories, the two-part tv special Revolting Rhymes, currently shortlisted for Oscar nomination consideration, earned the main prize for best tv/broadcast production, in addition to an award for best character animation. Though it is officially listed as a U.K. production, the special was animated at studios in Berlin, Germany and Cape Town, South Africa.

Television honors were also handed out to The Amazing World of Gumball, the Ernest and Celestine series, Shaun the Sheep, and Lastman.

Moth Studio's The Last Job on Earth picked up the honor for best commissioned film, while Niki Lindroth von Bahr's The Burden earned the nod for best animated short film.

Further thoughts to follow on the awards, and what they mean for European animation, over the next few days.

A complete list of winners is below:

Feature FilmMy Life as a Zucchini (France, Switzerland)

TV/Broadcast ProductionRevolting Rhymes (U.K.)

Animated Short FilmThe Burden (Sweden)

Student FilmMerlot (Italy)

Commissioned FilmThe Last Job on Earth (U.K.)

Background and Character Design in an Animated Short FilmPeripheria (France)

Background and Character Design in a TV/Broadcast ProductionErnest & Celestine (France)

Background and Character Design in a Feature Film ProductionLong Way North (France, Denmark)

Character Animation in a TV/Broadcast ProductionRevolting Rhymes (U.K.)

Character Animation in a Feature Film ProductionThe Red Turtle (France, Belgium)

Writing in a TV/Broadcast ProductionThe Amazing World of Gumball (U.K.)

Writing in a Feature Film ProductionMy Life as a Zucchini (France, Switzerland)

Soundtrack in a TV/Broadcast ProductionLastman (France)

Soundtrack in a Feature Film ProductionMy Life as a Zucchini (France, Switzerland)

Storyboard in a TV/Broadcast ProductionShaun The Sheep” (Season 5) (U.K.)

Storyboard in a Feature Film ProductionThe Red Turtle (France, Belgium)

Lotte Reiniger Lifetime Achievement AwardRichard Williams