Despite Disney’s recent announcement that it would not be supporting the upcoming annual Annie Awards, the International Animated Film Society is progressing as normal with their call for entries for the 38th ceremony, to be held February 5, 2011, at UCLA’s Royce Hall in LA. Full details can be read here:

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announces its ‘Call for Entries’ for the 38th Annual Annie Awards. The Annie Award is recognized by the entertainment industry as the highest honor given by the animation community. The 38th Annual Annie Awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, February 5, 2011, at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Los Angeles.

Honoring excellence in the field of animation, the Annie Awards will be presented in 26 categories including best animated feature, home entertainment, television production, television commercial, short subject, video game, as well as individual achievements. Entries submitted for consideration will be from productions that were released in the United States between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Details on how to enter may be found at annieawards.org.

The deadline to receive submissions and materials is Friday, October 15, 2010 by 5 p.m. The deadline to join ASIFA-Hollywood or to renew membership in order to participate in the Annie Award voting is also Friday, October 15, 2010. Membership information can be found at asifa-hollywood.org.

ASIFA-Hollywood has also added two new Annie Award categories to recognize the achievements of character animation and effects animation in live action productions. “With so much great character and effects animation being created for live action productions, ASIFA-Hollywood felt that it was appropriate to create these Annie Award categories in order to recognize to the artists responsible for creating this special kind animation.” said Antran Manoogian, president of ASIFA-Hollywood. Also new this year will be the acceptance of Television Commercials and Short Subjects that were released anywhere in the world.

Created in 1972 by veteran voice talent June Foray, the Annie Awards have grown in scope and stature for the past three decades, and is considered the highest and most prestigious honor given in animation by the animation industry. Today ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, animation film preservation, special events, classes and screenings.

For more information on ASIFA-Hollywood, please visit asifa-hollywood.org. For more information on the Annie Awards, please visit annieawards.org.