The Snail and the Whale, Shaun the Sheep, and Moominvalley among finalists in British Animation Awards 2020

The Snail and the Whale, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea have all been named among the finalists in this year’s British Animation Awards.

Rewarding the very best in British animation across a variety of categories, the British Animation Awards – now in its 24th year – attracts the great and the good from across the industry to its biennial celebration of the craft.

This year’s ceremony will be held at London’s BFI Southbank on March 12th 2020, where it will unveil the latest names to join the list of illustrious winners from past years.

This year’s finalists included in the Best Voice Performance category are renowned British actors Sally Hawkins (Paddington, The Shape of Water) and Bella Ramsey from Game of Thrones, who are nominated for their work on The Snail and the Whale and as Hilda in Hilda – The Hidden People respectively.

They are up against strong competition from the cast of The Rubbish World of Dave Spud and young newcomer Clara Ross for The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

The Best Long Form category includes nominations from the likes of Aardman Animations and its A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon; two festive favourites from Magic Light Pictures, Zog and The Snail and the Whale; The Tiger Who Came to Tea from Lupus Films, and Aliens Love Underpants And…Panta Claus from Tiger Aspect.

Contenders for the Best Children’s Series award include The Amazing World of Gumball from Cartoon Network, the Shaun the Sheep series from Aardman, Moominvalley from Gutsy animations, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud from Illuminated Films and 101 Dalmatian Street from Disney.

Up for the Best Animation in a Commercial award is The Wind in the Willows for The Wildlife Trusts, the commercial Whatever You Call It by Moth Studio for Marie Curie and the organic baby food NatureNes by Studio AKA for Nestle.

Meanwhile, the family favourites Hey Duggee, The Adventures of Paddington and Clangers are each nominated for the Best Children’s Pre-School Series award.

Some of the leading British animation courses are represented in both Best Undergraduate and Best Postgraduate Student film categories including nominees from Falmouth University School of Film and Television, University of Creative Arts in Farnham, Arts University Bournemouth and the Royal College of Arts London. In an encouraging sign for the industry, all four finalists in the Best Undergraduate category are women.

New for 2020 is the Best Social Good Award, while four additional award categories will be announced on the night.

BAA director, Helen Brunsdon, said: “Animation leads the way in visually imaginative and innovative forms of storytelling. From a record number of submissions, I am delighted to see rich and diverse talent make it through to the final stages of the various categories.

“The nominated finalists for 2020 are shining examples of the best in the business. I wish them all the best of luck and look forward to the big night on March 12th at the BFI South Bank where all will be revealed.”

The awards themselves (the BAAs) are unique artworks, featuring sheep, created especially for the occasion by a range of leading international and UK animation artists: a measure of the worldwide respect felt for British animation.