KPop Demon Hunters has emerged as one of the most-nominated films at the 53rd Annie Awards, with 10 total nominations. The nominations tie it with Pixar’s Elio for the highest number of feature-film nods this year.
‘KPOP DEMON HUNTERS’ has been nominated for 10 awards at the Annie Awards
• Best Picture
• Best FX
• Best Music
• Best Writing
• Best Editorial
• Best Direction
• Best Voice Acting
• Best Character Design
• Best Production Design
• Best Character Animation pic.twitter.com/JiVWqhhkCc— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 5, 2026
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The Annie Awards, presented annually by ASIFA-Hollywood, honor creative and technical achievements in animation across film, television, and other formats. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for February 21, 2026, at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.
Award Nominations
Among the categories in which KPop Demon Hunters is recognized are several of the most prominent in animation awards for feature-length animated film. It received nominations for Best Animated Feature, Best Direction – Feature, and Best Music – Feature, as well as nominations in key technical and artistic categories.
The film’s nomination for Best Animated Feature places it alongside Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, The Bad Guys 2, and Zootopia 2 in the top film category.
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
In addition to major film recognition, the nominations for KPop Demon Hunters span creative and technical disciplines. The film received nominations in categories such as Character Animation – Feature, Character Design – Feature, Editorial – Feature, and Production Design – Feature.
The Best Direction – Feature nomination reflects acknowledgment of the film’s directing team, and its listing in Best Voice Acting – Feature recognizes performances in the film.
While the Annie Awards cover numerous categories, the nominations this year highlight a mix of studio and independent work. Alongside KPop Demon Hunters and Elio leading feature-film nominations, television and short productions received substantial recognition. For example, Win or Lose received six nominations in TV/Media categories.
A screenshot from the trailer to KPop Demon Hunters – YouTube, Sony Pictures Animation
The Annie Awards encompass 37 competitive categories, including feature film, independent feature, short subjects, special production, and individual achievement honors. In addition to competitive awards, juried honors recognize lifetime contributions and other significant accomplishments in the animation field.
Other Nominations
The nominations arrive amid KPop Demon Hunters’ broader presence in the awards season. The film won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden” at the 31st Critics Choice Awards in early January 2026, held in Santa Monica, California.
Homepage of The Art of KPop Demon Hunters website – theartofkpopdemonhunters.com
In other recent recognition, the film has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards for its music, with nominations including Song of the Year for “Golden” and additional songwriting honors.
The Annie nomination list reflects industry recognition from peers and specialists in animation crafts. Voting for competitive categories is conducted by members of ASIFA-Hollywood and related professional groups. Winners will be announced at the live ceremony in February.
Do you hope KPop Demon Hunters will at the Annie Awards this year? Let us know your top picks in the comments below.
