'Giant' casts big shadow at 27th Annies

Ani works get nods

By JILL TIERNAN

"The Iron Giant" was the giant winner at the 27th Annie Awards, in which the Intl. Animated Film Society honors toon achievement in TV, film, commercials, homevideo and interactive production.

At the Oct. 30 ceremonies in Glendale, "Iron Giant" won nine awards out of 15 noms, including excellence in character animation, effects animation, directing, music, storyboarding, writing, theatrics, individual voiceover and production design.

Other winners include "The Simpsons," animated TV program and writing; "The Lion King II, Simba's Pride," homevideo production; "The Goddamn George Liquor Program," animated interactive production; "Bunny," animated short; "Condom-Sensitive," commercial; "Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain," voice acting; "The PJs," individual episode directing for "Bougie Nights"; "Histerja!" music; "The New Batman/Superman Adventures," individual episode production design for "Legends of a Dark Knight"; "Batman Beyond," individual episode storyboarding for "Black Out"; and "Tarzan," technical achievement.

The Winsor McCay Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon Ray Patterson. Dave Master received the June Foray Award, and Melanie Crandall and Michael Mallory were presented Certificates of Merit.

Show creators and top animation talents were among presenters. On hand were Disney animation helmers John Musker and Ron Clements, creator Seth MacFarlane and exec producer Eli Marienthal of Fox's "Family Guy," and the young actor nominated for the voice of Hogarth in "The Iron Giant."