British Academy Games Award for Animation

Last updated
British Academy Games Award for Animation
Awarded forThe best animation in a video game.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented by British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Currently held by God of War Ragnarök
Website www.bafta.org/games

The British Academy Video Games Award for Animation is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor to "the highest level of excellence in bringing a game to life," considering elements such as "player control, non-player characters, ambient/environmental animation, facial animation and cinematics". The category also considers the style, fluidity and responsiveness of the character. [1]

Contents

History

The category was first presented to Soulcalibur II at the 1st British Academy Games Awards in 2004 under the name Animation or Intro. The following year, it received its current name but was subsequently discontinued. The category was revived at the 16th British Academy Games Awards in 2019. [2] As developers, six studios have received two nominations in the category, though only Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog have achieved any wins. For publishers, Sony Interactive Entertainment hold the record for most nominations, with nine, and also have the most wins in the category, with three.

The 2023 winner of the award is God of War Ragnarök by Santa Monica Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years are listed as per BAFTA convention, and generally correspond to the year of game release in the United Kingdom.

Table key
Indicates the winner
Animation or Intro
YearGameRecipient(s)Developer(s)Publisher(s)Ref.
2002/03
(1st)
Soulcalibur II Project Soul Namco [3]
Big Mutha Truckers Eutechnyx Empire Interactive
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Rockstar North Rockstar Games
Primal SCE Studio Cambridge Sony Computer Entertainment
Tekken 4 Namco
Viewtiful Joe Capcom
Animation
YearGameRecipient(s)Developer(s)Publisher(s)Ref.
2003/04
(2nd)
Half-Life 2 Valve [4]
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rockstar North Rockstar Games
Halo 2 Bungie Microsoft Game Studios
Jak 3 Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
Killzone Guerrilla Games
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege Capcom
2019

(16th)

Luigi's Mansion 3 Next Level Games Nintendo [5] [6]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward Activision
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice FromSoftware
Control Remedy Entertainment 505 Games
Death Stranding Kojima Productions Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sayonara Wild Hearts Simogo Annapurna Interactive
2020

(17th)

The Last of Us Part II Naughty Dog Sony Interactive Entertainment [7] [8]
Doom Eternal id Software Bethesda Softworks
Final Fantasy VII Remake Square Enix
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ori and the Will of the Wisps Moon Studios Xbox Game Studios
Spiritfarer Thunder Lotus Kowloon Nights
2021

(18th)

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment [9] [10]
Call of Duty: Vanguard Sledgehammer Games Activision
It Takes Two Hazelight Studios Electronic Arts
Kena: Bridge of Spirits Hunter SchmidtEmber Lab
Life Is Strange: True Colors Deck Nine Square Enix
Psychonauts 2 Double Fine Xbox Game Studios
2022

(19th)

God of War Ragnarök Bruno Velazquez, Erica Pinto, Mehdi Yssef Santa Monica Sony Interactive Entertainment [11] [12]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Mark Grigsby, Bruce Ferris, Khoa Le Infinity Ward Activision
Horizon Forbidden West Guerrilla Sony Interactive Entertainment
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga TT Games Warner Bros Interactive
Sifu SloclapSloclap & Kepler Interactive
Stray Jophray Mikolajczyk, Jean-Marie Vouillon, Simon Jacquart BlueTwelve Annapurna Interactive
2023

(20th)

Hi-Fi Rush Tango Gameworks Bethesda Softworks [13]
Alan Wake 2 Remedy Entertainment Epic Games
Hogwarts Legacy Avalanche Software Warner Bros. Games
Spider-Man 2 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo

Multiple nominations and wins

Developers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Insomniac Games 31
Naughty Dog 21
Capcom 20
Guerrilla Games 20
Infinity Ward 20
Rockstar North 20

Publishers

DeveloperNominationsWins
Sony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 103
Activision 40
Namco 21
Annapurna Interactive 20
Bethesda Softworks 20
Electronic Arts 20
Nintendo 20
Rockstar Games 20
Square Enix 20
Warner Bros. Games 20
Xbox Game Studios 20

Related Research Articles

The BAFTA Games Awards or British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honouring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry. First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

The British Academy Video Games Award for Best Game is an award presented annually at the British Academy Games Awards. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is honouring "the best game of the year, across all genres and platforms". The 1st British Academy Video Games Awards ceremony was held in 2004, with Infinity Ward and Activision's game Call of Duty receiving the award. The award was originally known as Game of the Year – The Year's Best Game for the 2004 ceremony.

John Paesano is an American composer working primarily in film, television, and video games. He is known for collaborating with director Wes Ball on the Maze Runner film trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, as well as composing for the Marvel Television series Daredevil and The Defenders. As a video game composer, he has contributed music to the acclaimed titles Detroit: Become Human and the three installments in the Marvel's Spider-Man series. Paesano won the BAFTA Games Award for Music, as well as the D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Debut Game is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor of the best first game from any studio or individual.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Game Design is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor of "the best game design that captivates and engages the player", including recognition of elements such as game mechanics, use of controls, level and world structure, and pacing.

The British Academy Games Award for Technical Achievement is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) as part of the British Academy Games Awards. It is given in honour of "the best innovation in gameplay or technology". The award was initially known as Innovation at the 3rd British Academy Games Awards ceremony, held in 2006, and was awarded to Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?, developed and published by Nintendo. The award was absent from ceremonies held in 2008 to 2010. before returning to the 8th ceremony held in 2011, under the name Game Innovation. For the 2020 awards, the category was renamed again for Technical Achievement as to encompass gameplay programming and visual engineering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards</span> Video game award ceremony

The 24th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards was the 24th edition of the D.I.C.E. Awards, an annual awards event that honored the best games in the video game industry during 2020. The awards were arranged by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), and were held on April 22, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually. Winners of the D.I.C.E. Awards are determined by ballot of industry experts and AIAS members. The show was hosted by Greg Miller, Jessica Chobot, and Kahlief Adams. The nominees were announced on January 26, 2021. It was originally scheduled for April 8.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Game Beyond Entertainment is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor of "games that deliver a transformational experience beyond pure entertainment".

The D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. It is given in honor of "the single game, without regard to system or delivery mechanism, voted by the membership of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences that best utilizes the chosen medium to entertain users". All active creative/technical, business, and affiliate members of the Academy are qualified to vote for this category.

The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award is "presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in designing a unified graphic look for an interactive title". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as an artist, animator or programmer are qualified to vote for this award.

The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award is "presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in bringing a character or characters to life. This award will consider the fluidity of movement, and interaction with the environment in addition to contextual realism ". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as an artist, animator or programmer are qualified to vote for this award.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Family is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor to "the best game experience for a family audience, whether played as individuals or as a group", the category is open for games with a PEGI age rating of 12 or under.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Evolving Game is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor to "the best game that displays excellence in ongoing developer support", this includes games that "receive ongoing content and updates".

The British Academy Video Games Award for Music is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given to recognize "excellence in composition for a game music score, through original music and/or creative use of licensed track". The award is given to the composers/development team, the developer and the publisher of the winning game.

The British Academy Video Games Award for Narrative is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given to recognize "excellence in the creation and delivery of the best story or narrative that captivates and engages the player". The award is given to the writers/development team, the developer and the publisher of the winning game. The award was first presented at the 3rd British Academy Games Awards under the name Screenplay. The following year it was renamed into Story and Character. From the 6th edition to the 12th, it was presented as Story. Since the 13th British Academy Games Awards, it has been presented with its current name.

The British Academy Video Games Award for New Intellectual Property is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor to "the best game which is not part of an established series and represents a new intellectual property".

The British Academy Video Games Award for Artistic Achievement is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given "for demonstrating exceptional visual art across all genres".

The British Academy Video Games Award for Audio Achievement is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given in honor to "excellence in the design and application of sound, dialogue and music to create an exceptional audio experience".

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) EE Game of the Year, formerly EE Mobile Game of the Year is an audience voted award presented annually at the British Academy Games Awards honouring "the best game of the year, as voted for by the public". The award is sponsored by the telecommunications company EE Limited and winners receive a special solid yellow BAFTA statuette as opposed to the standard golden statuettes given to the recipients of other categories.

The British Academy Children and Young People Award for is an award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is given to "games on any platform with a specific appeal to children and young people".

References

  1. "BAFTA Games Awards Rules and Guidelines 2022" (PDF). British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. Wales, Matt (September 9, 2019). "BAFTA announces new categories for 2020 video game awards, submissions now open". Eurogamer . Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. "Games in 2004". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  4. "Games in 2005". BAFTA Awards. British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  5. "2020 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. Powell, Steffan; Rahman-Jones, Imran (25 March 2021). "Bafta Games Awards 2021: Hades takes Best Game". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  7. Ankers, Adele (March 2, 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  8. Del Rosario, Alexandra (25 March 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards: Supergiant Games' 'Hades' Takes Home Top Prize – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  9. "2022 BAFTA Games Awards Winners". 3 March 2022.
  10. Julians, Joe (8 April 2022). "BAFTA Games Awards 2022: Full list of winners as Returnal wins Best Game". Radio Times . Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. Wood, Anthony (2 March 2023). "BAFTA Games Awards 2023 Nominations Announced". IGN . Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  12. "2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners". BAFTA Games Awards. 30 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. "2024 BAFTA Games Awards: The Winners". BAFTA Games Awards. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.