The Ann Awards 2024 brought together the entire Indian animation industry for a spectacular celebration of artistry, innovation, and peer recognition, ending on a high note.
The fifth edition of the Animation & More (AM) Summit, held on 3 and 4 September 2024 at NESCO, Mumbai, culminated in a grand gala with the prestigious Ann Awards on the second day of the conference. The event honoured excellence in animation, shining a spotlight on the brilliant creative minds shaping the industry.
As India’s premier animation awards, the Ann Awards continues to raise the bar, serving as a vital platform for recognising outstanding talent and elevating the animation industry.
Click here for images of Ann Awards 2024
AnimationXpress had instituted two special “In Memoriam” awards to pay tribute to the industry stalwarts. The first is the Ram Mohan Award for Excellence in Animation, introduced in 2022, in collaboration with Graphiti Multimedia, to honour the late Padma Shri Ram Mohan, widely regarded as the father of Indian animation. The second, the Arnab Chaudhuri Director’s Award, was introduced in 2021 to commemorate the late Arnab Chaudhuri, a visionary who placed Indian animation on the global map.
Continuing the tradition, like previous editions, this year, Graphiti Multimedia COO & co-founder Munjal Shroff, AVGC-XR Forum – FICCI chairman & Punnaryug Artvision Ashish Kulkarni and AnimationXpress founder, chairman & editor-in-chief Anil NM Wanvari felicitated Nina Sabnani with Ram Mohan Award For Excellence for her significant contributions to the Indian animation industry.
The Arnab Chaudhuri Director’s Awards has two subcategories – the first one was ‘The Arnab Chaudhuri Animation ACE Award’ for directors and professionals who are making their mark with their brilliant boundary-pushing work that has its own unique creative voice. The winner of this category was Shaheen Sheriff who received a cash prize of Rs 50,000 jointly contributed by Ashima Avasthi, Vaibhav Kumaresh, and Animation Xpress. Along with the cash prize, he also got the licence of TVPaint Animation 12 Professional which is worth 1.5 lakh rupees.
In the second category “The Arnab Chaudhuri Young Ace Award,” Kartik Mahajan emerged as the winner. Mahajan is a recent graduate of the National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh (NID MP). He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 30,000 along with a tablet from Huion.
Here’s the complete list of the nominees and the winners of Ann Awards 2024:
DIGITAL & OTT
Best Animated Digital Series – 2D
- Creepy Candy by Toonz Media Group
- Captain Kidd and Friends by Paper Boat Apps
- Pandari – New Tidings by Studio Anga
- Story time with Sudha Amma by Murty Media (winner)
Best Animated Digital Series – 3D
- Toadlly Awesome – Guru Ghantal (Hindi) by Powerkids Entertainment
- ViR: The Robot Boy by Cosmos Maya India
- Mighty Bheem’s Playtime – First Day At School by Green Gold Animation [Domestic]
- (winner)
- Transformers Earth Spark Season 2 by 88 Pictures [International] (winner)
Best Use of Animation in a Music Video
- Life Song by The Mill – Technicolor Group (3D) (Winner)
- Rasmalai | Music Video by Ketan Pal
- Hisaab (by DIVINE feat. KARAN AUJLA) by Debjyoti Saha – Goppo Animation (2D) (Winner)
- Civilization’s Crisis (Sobhyotaar Songkot) by Jishnu Basu @ Wackytoon Studio
- C C C – Animated Music Video by Siddharth Modi & Aishwarya Chaudhari (2D) (Winner)
Best 3D Content Acquired
- Boonie Bears – Guardian Code by Ultra Media & Entertainment (Winner)
- Mia and Me by ONE TAKE MEDIA
- BABLU DABLU SHRUNK (BOONIE BEAR SHRUNK) by ONE TAKE MEDIA
Pre-School
- Mighty Bheem’s Playtime – First Day At School (3D) by Green Gold Animation (Winner)
- Captain Kidd and Friends (2D) by Kiddopia | Paper Boat Apps (Winner)
- Mighty Bheem’s Playtime – The Class Picnic by Green Gold Animation
- TMKOC Rhymes – Neela Mediatech
Best Animated Short Film
- Gattu Chinki’s Leardership Skill by PunToon Kids (Winner)
Best Animated Full-Length Feature Film
- Chhota Bheem – Trishira Ka Tehelka by Green Gold Animation
- Elli by philm CGI
- Chhota Bheem Aur Registaan Ka Shehenshah by Green Gold Animation (Domestic) (Winner)
- Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate by 88 Pictures (International) (Winner)
LICENSING AND MERCHANDISING
Best Licensed Animated Series Programme
- Mia and Me by One Take Media (Winner)
Best Use of Leveraging a Character for Brand Marketing
- Mowgli Character in Burger King promotion by Powerkids Entertainment (Winner)
Best Animated Character Merchandise
- Appu merchandise by Appu Series (Winner)
Best Animated Series Merchandise
- Classmate Chhota Bheem Notebooks by Green Gold Animation (Winner)
MEDIA ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
Best Digital Campaign for an Animated Series
- Lego Ninjago | I Just Had the Weirdest Dream by Zebu Animation Studios (Winner)
Best Channel Packaging
- Welcome To #Happyverse I Summer 2024 by Sony YAY! (Winner)
Best Brand Collaboration
- Collaboration with Burger King for Jungle Book by Powerkids Entertainment (winner)
Best Experiential Marketing
- Jungle Book Mall Promotions by Powerkids Entertainment
- Heroes Of Kindness – School Contact Program by Warner Bros. Discovery
- Titans of Tomorrow – School Contact Program by Warner Bros. Discovery (winner)
Best Innovative Campaign
- Orcas Films for HMD_CREST (winner)
- Warner Bros. Discovery for Laddoo Khake Bolo Happy Birthday Bheem
- Paperboat Design Studios for Tata Power – It’s a beautiful world | Embrace Love Switch (winner)
- Famous Digital Studios for LG OLED evo _ The One And Only
Best Promo
- Vaibhav More Films & Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo for Happy Holi Promo (winner)
- Powerkids Entertainment for King Eggbert’s Crown Chronicles
- Fairycows Animation Studio for Tata IPL 2024 Opening graphics (winner)
- Culver Max Entertainment/Sony YAY! For Shinchan brand new episodes
Best Use of Animated Character in a Brand TVC
- Sanhita Das (Viacom18) for Nickelodeon Holi Ident 2024
- Tapas Chanda (Viacom18) for Big Babool TVC
- Paperboat Design Studios for Kissan (winner)
Best Animated Brand Film
- Vaibhav More Films for Coke Durgo Pujo (winner)
- Orcas Films for HMD_CREST
- Abdul Samad Patel (Viacom18) for Nickelodeon Spot The Splat Contest
- Paperboat Design Studios for Parle Fab! | Fab! World
PROGRAMMING
Best 2D Animated Series
- Bhaiyyaji Balwaan from Reliance Animation Studios
- Chhota Startup: Cutest Cure by Green Gold Animation
- Jay Jagannath-Lanka Yatra from Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo and Ele Animations (winner)
- Chikoo Aur Bunty – Adventurous Anniversary & Museum Me Masti from Viacom18 Media
Best 3D Animated Series
- Pirate Academy from Toonz Media Group (winner)
- Jungle Book Season 4 from Powerkids Entertainment
- Chhota Bheem & Little Singham: Aag Aur paani ka Badla from Warner Bros. Discovery
- Bhoot Bandhus – Volley Bhoot & Tel Ka Kuan from Viacom18 Media (winner)
Best Preschool Show
- Cuddle Cubbies by Powerkids Entertainment Winner (Winner)
Best Live Action Kids
- Fevicreate Idealabs powered by Nickelodeon by Prisha Arts (Winner)
Best Animated Full-length Feature Film
- Bartali’s Bicycle by Toonz Media Group [International] (Winner)
- Chhota Bheem & Little Singham: Aag aur paani ki Takkar by Warner Bros. Discovery [Domestic] (Winner)
- Little Singham: Bahubali Friends: Rise of Aparshatru by Warner Bros. Discovery
SOCIAL MEDIA
Best Reel with the use of Animation
- Uncle Wala Bar by Priyanka Tampi
- अनजान गिफ्ट्स से सावधान! by Pratilipi Comics (winner)
- Teen Buddhu | Green Gold Originals by Green Gold Animation
- Cockroach Party by Cartoonly Studios OPC (winner)
Best Social Media presence by an Animation platform/ studio
- Powerkids TV – Powerkids Entertainment (Winner)
- Chhota Bheem – Green Gold Animation
- Desi Pizza – Sakinanimation
- WowKidz – Cosmos Maya India
Best social media content – Animated
- Gattu and Chinki from PunToon Kids
- Haath ka Khana from Sakinanimation (winner)
- Aag Aur Paani Ki Takkar Promotions from Warner Bros. Discovery
- Chai Piyo Biscuit Khaao from Neela Mediatech Private Limited (winner)
SHORT FILM
Best Professional 2D film
- Unicorn Lady – Rebecca Rechana Paul (Winner)
Best Student 2D film
- Patangarh ka Hero by Nanki Ghuman (Indian Institute of Art and Design)
- Ankam – the last resort by Pranav Shirole (MIT Institute of Design)
- Koli by Aryan Mhatre (Whistling Woods International)
- Fish Out of Water by Esha John (Whistling Woods International) (winner)
Best Student 3D Film
- Ek Dum Kadak by Samridhi (Chitkara Design School)
- First Gate of Hell by Yash Rahangdale (Assistant Professor), Chandigarh University
- Kath Ki Putli by Maya Academy of Advanced Creativity (Winner)
- Burden of Doubt by Chirag Dhiman (Whistling Woods International)
TECHNOLOGY
Best Software used in animation
- Lego Ninjago | I Just Had the Weirdest Dream by Zebu Animation Studio (Winner)
Best use of AI
- Cartoon Mat Bano – SXILL
- Jhoot Bole Kauwa Nache – Wowtoons Animation (Winner)
- AI-Enhanced Animation Mockups for Travel and Lifestyle TV Channel – Wackytoon Studio Pvt. Ltd.
- Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta – Saggitive Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd.
ICONS AWARD
For the first time, AnimationXpress and Women in Cloud introduced the ICONS Award for “Outstanding achievement in animation by a woman.” With Icons Awards, AnimationXpress and Women in Cloud aim to recognise and honour the achievements of women in animation, celebrating their creativity, leadership, and impact in the industry.
- Charuvi Agarwal (Winner)
PARTNERS/SERVICE
Best Title Song
- Kahaani – Story Time With Sudha Amma – Cosmos Maya India (Winner)
Best Preschool show
- Morphle and the Magic Pets – Assemblage Entertainment (Winner)
- Morphle – The Flower Power Prize – Green Gold Animation (Winner)
Best Character Design
- Story Time with Sudha Amma – Cosmos Maya India
- Character Designs @ Wackytoon Studio – Wackytoon Studio
- Bandits of Golak – 88 Pictures (Winner)
Best Animated Digital Series
- Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir – Assemblage Entertainment
- Story Time with Sudha Amma – Cosmos Maya India [Domestic] (Winner)
- LEGO Ninjago | I Just Had the Weirdest Dream – Zebu Animation Studio [International] (Winner)
Best animated series
- Puffins Impossible -Assemblage Entertainment [International](Winner)
- Pandeyji Pehelwaan – Reliance Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd
- Honey Bunny Ka Jholmaal–Rose Overdose – Wackytoon Studio Pvt. Ltd.
- B & B: Bujji and Bhairava – Green Gold Animation [Domestic](Winner)
Best animated TVC
- Madhya Pradesh Tourism – Vaibhav More Films (Winner)
- Haisha Paints – philmCGI
- Puma Nitro: A New Era of Running – Famous Digital Studios Pvt Ltd
- LG OLED evo_The One And Only – Famous Digital Studios Pvt Ltd
Best Animated Full length Feature Film
- Elli by philmCGI (Winner)
Best Storyboard artist
- Basudev Nag (Wackytoon Studio) for Honey Bunny Ka Jholmaal-One Day Flower (Winner)
Best Concept artist
- Ajit Khairnar (philmCGI) for Chamkila (Winner)
Best Lightning artist
- Ravindra Adate (88 Pictures) for Transformers Earth Spark 3 (Winner)
Best Producer
- Manoj Mishra (Powerkids Entertainment) for Dragonero (Tales of Paladins) (Winner)
Best Art director
- Venkataramanan K (Zebu Animation Studio) for LEGO Ninjago | I Just Had the Weirdest Dream (Winner)
- Aajjay Mahajan (88 Pictures) for Bandits of Golak (Winner)
Best Animator – Male
- Arnov Mipun (philmCGI) for Elli (Winner)
Best Animator – Female
- Kavita Patil (88 Pictures) for Bandits of Golak (Winner)
Best Partnered Animation Work
- BOOBA – Assemblage Entertainment [International] (Winner)
- Aag aur Paani ki Takkar – Green Gold Animation
- Elli – philmCGI
- Jay Jagannath – Cartoonly Studios OPC Private Limited [Domestic] (Winner)
TECHNICAL
Best Title Song
- Oh My Lallan_Title Song – Sony YAY
- Shibaba Shibi – Appu Series
- Jay Jagannath – Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo | Toonz | Ele Animations (Winner)
- Chhota Bheem & Little Singham : Aag aur Paani ki Takkar -Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo
Best Storyboard artist
- Sumit Mandre (philmCGI) for Chamkila [Professional] (Winner)
- Pixel Frame Animation Academy for Swatch Bharath [Student] (Winner)
Best Screenplay writer
- Sonam Shekhawat – Chhota Start-Up (Winner)
- Jovita D’Souza and Saharsh W.S. Rathore (Bragging Writes) – Chhota Bheem: Kirmada aur Zuhu- Qayamat Shuru
- Gaurav Malani and Seema Malani – Abhimanyu ki Alien Family (Winner)
- Alok Sharma & Nupur Sharma – Veer Singham: Little Singham in Multiverse
Best Dialogue writer
- Yash Thakur and Bahaish Kapoor – Little Singham: Kaal Ka Kaalverse (Winner)
- Jovita D’Souza and Saharsh W.S. Rathore (Bragging Writes)- Chhota Bheem: Kirmada aur Zuhu- Qayamat Shuru
- Alok Sharma – Little Singham in Multiverse : Baardok Ka Mayajaal
Best Production Coordinator
- Aman Singh (philmCGI) – Chamkila (Winner)
Best Modeller
- Aman Nayak (KVD Animation Academy) – Modeling and Texturing Student Work 2023-24 (Winner)
Best Music Composer
- Sony YAY! for The Giant Wheel Festival (Winner)
Best Background designer (Pre-production)
- Ajit Khairnar (philmCGI) – Chamkila (Winner)
Best Producer
- Manoj Mishra (Powerkids Entertainment)- Adventures of Akira & Mowgli (Winner)
Best Animator – Male
- Sumit Mandre (philmCGI) – Chamkila (Winner)
Best Director of an animated film
- Dheeraj Berry – Cosmos Maya – Atrangi Titoo Ke Satrangi Sapne (Winner)
LIVE ACTION FOR KIDS
- Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd – Chhota Bheem And The Curse of Damyaan (Winner)
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
- Appu by Media Fusion (India) [National] (Winner)
- The Quest for The Never Book by Manoj Mishra (Powerkids Entertainment) [International] (Winner)
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best use of animation in a public service message
- LIFE Song – The Mill – Technicolor Group (Winner)
- Anti Drug Song (2024)- Wackytoon Studio Pvt. Ltd.
- Sony YAY! Wishes you All the best for exams!! – Sony YAY! (Winner)
Best Syndicated Content
- Peter Pan franchise by Manoj Mishra (Powerkids Entertainment) (Winner)
India’s most loved animated character
- Chhota Bheem – Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd (Winner)
- Little Singham – Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo (Winner)
- Jay Jagannath – Warner Bros. Discovery | Pogo | Ele Animations
- Jethalal Champaklal Gada – Neela Mediatech Private Limited
Popular Character (Global)
- Mowgli – Manoj Mishra (Powerkids Entertainment)
- Bablu Dablu Shrunk – One Take Media
- Captain Kidd – Kiddopia | PBA
- Chhota Bheem – Warner Bros Discovery | Pogo | Green Gold
Best Indian cinema-inspired animated IP
- Golmaal Jr.- Reliance Animation Studios Pvt. Ltd. (Winner)
Best Showrunner
- Alok Sharma for Little Singham (Winner)
Young Animator of the Year
- Kartik Mahajan – Phool Dei (Winner)
Personality of the year
- Veerendra Patil (winner)
Contribution to the Animation industry
- Toonz Media Group (winner)
Best Indie Studio
- Studio Eeksaurus (Winner)
Studio of the Year
- Assemblage Entertainment
- Powerkids Entertainment (Winner)
- Zebu Animation Studio
- philm CGI
The AM Summit and Ann Awards 2024 proudly partnered with AMD as the knowledge partner and were co-powered by Hungama, 88 Pictures, and ElevenLabs. Maxon served as the networking partner, while the associate partners included Autodesk and Zebu Animation Studios. PowerKids Entertainment was the lanyard and badges partner. The event was further supported by country partners JETRO and MDEC, along with Kerala IT and the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (CDIT) as the state partners.
Industry partners included Huion, Micro Star International (MSI), Reliance Animation, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Rhymes, Wackytoon Studio, Women in Cloud, TVPaint, Tron School of Animation, and XP-Pen. Bright Outdoor Media served as the outdoor partner, with Asifa India as the community partner, MESC (Media and Entertainment Skills Council) as the skill partner, and DigiCon6 Asia as the festival partner. The event execution was handled by ITV 2.0.