Inside Move: Animated battle over Emmys

Writer/producers, animators disagree over voting procedure

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

An battle of animated proportions is brewing in the world of primetime toons, which weren't included in the TV Academy's recent decision to expand the base of Emmy voters through at-home judging.

Adding to the debate, starting this year nominees for all animation categories will also be chosen by a small blue-ribbon panel.

Executive producers from "King of the Hill," "The PJs," "Futurama" and last year's winner, "The Simpsons," sent a letter to the Academy on Friday protesting the decision.

"The animated program awards are not technical merit awards," the producers wrote. "While the entire Emmy process has moved to be more inclusive, seeking an even wider body to vote on nominations and awards, the animation program awards have gone in the exact opposite direction."

The Academy of TV Arts and Sciences first allowed at-home voting last year for its primetime categories. Traditionally, a small pool of judges met at a hotel to vote on categories such as outstanding drama and outstanding comedy.

Energized by the positive response from that change, the TV academy recently announced plans to adopt at-home voting for the majority of Creative Arts Emmy awards starting this year (Daily Variety, Jan. 17).

But animation categories, including the outstanding animated series trophy, were not included in the rule making.

Fueling the uproar is a major rift among the 524 members of the academy's animation branch. On one side are series writer/producers, whose peers compete in the primetime categories; on the other end are traditional animators who consider their craft highly technical.

The writers/producers would like their work judged by the largest pool of voters possible; many traditional animators prefer blue ribbon panels of a few professionals who must judge the craft under a controlled setting.

"The Academy at large is going one way, while the animators are going the other way," one series executive producer said.

Academy chairman-CEO Meryl Marshall Daniels said the org waived at-home viewing for the animation branch after hearing testimony from animation branch governor Mark Glamack. Daniels said the Academy might re-evaluate the decision if a motion is brought forward at a future meeting.

"The process of creating and deliberating and ultimately awarding the Emmy is quite a challenging process and always under review," Daniels said.