Winsor McCay Awards Ceremony

The Annie Awards were presented last Friday. Here's a report about the three Winsor McCay recipients... The entire article can be found here: A Night Out at the Annie Awards

Three of the most prestigious trophies were awarded next, the Winsor McCay Awards. The first went to animation historian, educator, lecturer, and Academy award winning animator John Canemaker, who admitted backstage that he was nervous. “This award is more important [than his Oscar],” and he thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart.

Glen Keane, son of cartoonist Bill Keane, director of Disney’s upcoming film Rapunzel, and whose influence on Disney has earned him endorsement of one of the “Nine New Men,” was the second to receive the award. He has worked as supervising animator for Beast in Beauty and the Beast, and title characters for Tarzan, Pocahontas, Aladdin, and Little Mermaid. He took the stage to another standing ovation. He thanked many of his own heroes, but the one that drew the first “awwwwww” of the evening, elicited almost involuntarily from the crowd was when he thanked his wife, “Linda, who was the inspiration for [Little Mermaid character] Ariel, and also my live-in own special fairytale princess.”

John Kricfalusi took the third Winsor McCay. His unique style such as the Ren & Stimpy Show has made his stand out as one of the most “original and outspoken directors.” He was accused of making every step creative, and now shares his knowledge on his blog, “All Kinds of Stuff.”