The Annie Awards are accolades which the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood, has presented each year since 1972 to recognize excellence in animation shown in cinema and television. Originally designed to celebrate lifetime or career contributions to animation, the award has been given to individual works since 1992. Membership in ASIFA-Hollywood is divided into three main categories: General Member (for professionals), Patron (for enthusiasts of animation), and Student Member. Members in each category pay a fee to belong to the branch. Selected professional members of the branch are permitted to vote to decide the awards. The 48th and 49th Annie Awards ceremonies were held virtually on April 16, 2021, and March 12, 2022, respectively, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. History In 1972, June Foray first conceived the idea of awards for excellence in the field of animation. With the approval of ASIFA-Hollywood president Nick Bosustow, an Annie Award ceremony was organized. The first ceremony was held at the banquet room of Sportsmen's Lodge in Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. Max Fleischer and Dave Fleischer were the first to be honored by the first Annie Awards for creating Betty Boop, bringing Popeye, and Olive Oyl to the animated screen, and for inventing the technique of rotoscoping. Naming "Annie Awards" According to Foray, her husband Hobart Donavan suggested that the awards be called "Annie", because they are presented for excellence in animation. Trophy The first trophy for the Annie Award trophy was presented in the second award ceremony, to Walter Lantz, the founder of Walter Lantz Productions and creator of Woody Woodpecker. Made of wood and plastic, it was shaped like a zoetrope. The next year, Tom Woodward designed the trophy now presented. Award categories Current categories As of 2022, 37 categories are presented including for film and television productions. Production Best Animated Feature Best Animated Feature — Independent Best Animated Special Production Best Animated Short Subject Best Animated Sponsored Production Best General Audience Animated Television Production Best TV Production for Children Best TV Production for Preschool Children Best Student Film Best TV/Media – Limited Series Individual achievement in Film Outstanding Animated Effects Outstanding Character Animation - Animation Outstanding Character Animation - Live Action Outstanding Character Design Outstanding Directing Outstanding Editorial Outstanding Music Outstanding Production Design Outstanding Storyboarding Outstanding Voice Acting Outstanding Writing Individual achievement in Television, Broadcast and Video Game Outstanding Animated