‘Samurai Jack’ Artists Sweep Juried Animation Emmys

The Television Academy has announced the juried award winners for the 69th Emmy Awards for Animation, Motion Design and Interactive Programming. The honors will be presented at the Creative Arts Awards ceremony on Saturday, September 9.

Creatives from Cartoon Network Studios swept the Individual Achievement in Animation category with four of the five spots going to artist on Adult Swim’s Samurai Jack — the rogue standout was a nod to Wander Over Yonder. Google Spotlight Stories’ VR short Pearl took the Interactive Programming prize.

Samurai Jack “XCIII” • Adult Swim • Cartoon Network Studios: Bryan Andrews, Storyboard Artist

Samurai Jack “XCIII” • Adult Swim • Cartoon Network Studios: Scott Wills, Production Designer

Samurai Jack “XCII” • Adult Swim • Cartoon Network Studios: Craig Kellman, Character Designer

Samurai Jack “XCV” • Adult Swim • Cartoon Network Studios: Lou Romano, Background Designer

Wander Over Yonder “The End of the Galaxy: • Disney XD • Disney Television Animation: Justin Nichols, Character Animator

Beyond Magic • ABC • Buck: Orion Tait, Executive Creative Director; Thomas Schmid, Creative Director; Daniel Oeffinger, Creative Director; William Trebutien, Lead Animator,

13th • Netflix • Forward Movement LLC and Kandoo Films: Angus Wall, Co-Creative Director; Leanne Dare, Co-Creative Director; Lynn Cho, Designer; Dan Meehan, Animator; Ekin Akalin, Animator.

PEARL • Google Spotlight Stories and Evil Eye Pictures: Patrick Osborne, Director David Eisenmann, Producer; Karen Dufilho, Executive Producer.

Juried categories require all entrants to be screened by a panel of professionals in the appropriate peer group with the possibility of one, more than one, or no entry being awarded an Emmy. As a consequence, there are no nominees but instead a one-step evaluation and voting procedure. Deliberations include open discussions of each entrant’s work with a thorough review of the merits of awarding the Emmy. After each deliberation, the jury considers the question, “Is this entry worthy of an Emmy award – yea or nay?” Only those with unanimous approval win.

The 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, executive-produced by Bob Bain, will be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles beginning at 5 p.m.PT each evening. FXX will broadcast the awards on Saturday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.