‘Big Hero 6′ Sweeps at the 13th Annual VES Awards 

Disney’s “BIg Hero 6″ dominated the VES Awards tonight.

was the big winner tonight at the 13th annual VES Awards, which recognize outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation throughout the entertainment industry. The Disney film won five awards, one for every category in which it was nominated, including the top prize for animation in an animated feature.

Every single other animated feature was shut out of the honors, including Laika’s

is especially surprising considering that the film was nearly shut out of ASIFA-Hollywood’s Annie Awards last weekend,

winning just a single award for animated effects. I don’t want to start a debate about which film had better animation or which organization got it right, but it’s simply surprising to me that two organizations comprised of industry professionals could have such dramatically conflicting views on what constitutes quality animation. How do the voters in each of these organizations judge animated films that leads to such divergent appraisals of skill?

Otherwise, it was a night dominated by ape projects. The top award for vfx in a live-action film was won by WETA for its work on

it was one of three awards given to the film. On the commercial side, a piece for Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) featuring a CGI orangutan named Maya won three awards.

also won three prizes, including the visual effects honor for a vfx-driven live-action broadcast program.

If anything, the VES Awards played out almost like an exact repeat of last year when Disney’s

swept all the animation categories, while a commercial with a chimp and

The full list of winners is below. Congratulations to all!

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program

American Horror Story; Freak Show; Edward Mordrake, Part 2

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal/Live Action Motion Media Project

X-Men: Days of Future Past; Kitchen Scene

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

X-Men: Days of Future Past; Quicksilver Pentagon Kitchen

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program