Variety honors new animators and celebrates Nick Park, Ramsey Naito, and 25 years of SpongeBob

Celebrating the magic of animation: Variety’s 10 animators to watch

A night of stars and stories

Hollywood’s glittering lights shone a little brighter on July 10th as Variety’s 10 Animators to Watch event, presented by Nickelodeon, took center stage at The Aster. This annual celebration not only highlights the creative minds shaping the future of animation but also honors the legacy of those who have already left an indelible mark on the industry.

Honoring the visionaries

The evening began with a warm introduction by Variety Senior Awards Editor Clayton Davis, who welcomed Josh Cooley, the director of “Toy Story 4” and the upcoming “Transformers One.” Cooley had the honor of presenting the inaugural Executive Impact in Animation award to Ramsey Naito, President of Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation.

Cooley praised Naito’s unique approach to animation, emphasizing her commitment to creative freedom and her ability to foster distinct visual worlds. “Her no house style approach allows creators to build distinct immersive visual worlds and take creative swings so we can all tell inspiring, meaningful, and creative stories,” Cooley said.

Naito, in her acceptance speech, expressed her deep love for animation, highlighting its limitless possibilities and its power to connect people across borders. “Art for me is empowering, it’s exciting, it’s acceptance, new ground, inspiration, it’s revolution,” she said. “It’s my culture. Art has always connected me to people and worlds, and later in life to animation. Which was the best surprise of all.”

The legacy of SpongeBob SquarePants

The event also marked the 25th anniversary of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” one of the longest-running animated series in history. The voice cast of the beloved show, including Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy Cheeks), and Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), were present to celebrate this milestone. A cake recreation of SpongeBob’s iconic pineapple home added a whimsical touch to the festivities.

Introducing the 2024 class of animators to watch

Variety Senior Focus Editor Todd Gilchrist took the stage to honor the 2024 class of 10 Animators to Watch. This year’s honorees include:

Echo Wu: Showrunner of “Jentry Chau vs The Underworld”
Emonee Larussa: Graphic artist, founder, and CEO of Pamanama Studios LLC
Katy Fishell: Animator of “Sex Is Weird”
Keiko Murayama: Character art director of “Inside Out 2”
Lisha Tan: Creative director and director at The Mill
Searit Huluf: Director and writer of “Self”
Sunmin Inn: Art director of “Ultraman: Rising”
Ashley Boddy: Head of story for “That Christmas”
Heidi Jo Gilbert: Head of story for “The Wild Robot”
Jason Scheier: Production designer for “Transformers One”

Brad Bird and the legacy of Nick Park

The evening’s highlight was undoubtedly the presentation of the Creative Impact in Animation award to Nick Park, the creator of “Wallace & Gromit.” Brad Bird, the director and writer of “The Incredibles,” took to the stage to honor Park’s contributions to the world of animation.

Bird reminisced about his first encounter with Park’s work, citing the 1989 film “Creature Comforts” as his “gateway drug” to the director’s unique style. “The Wallace & Gromit films were endlessly inventive and wildly entertaining and super British in all the best ways,” Bird said. “[They’re] animation at its best.”

Although Park was not present at the event, he sent a heartfelt pre-recorded message, expressing his gratitude and reflecting on the collaborative nature of filmmaking. “Filmmaking, as you know, is not really about one person: it’s such a collaborative process,” Park said. “And I’ve been lucky enough to work with and learn from so many creative people, the best really in their field.”

A night to remember

The Variety 10 Animators to Watch event was a testament to the power of animation to inspire, connect, and entertain. As the industry continues to evolve, the contributions of these talented individuals will undoubtedly shape the future of storytelling in ways we can only begin to imagine.

For those eager to dive deeper into the world of animation, here are some trailers and information sheets for the mentioned projects:

As we look forward to these upcoming projects, we are reminded of the limitless potential of animation to bring stories to life in the most imaginative and impactful ways.