'Dragons 2' Secures its Oscar-by-Default Position

DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon 2 took home six Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Directing for writer-director Dean DeBlois. With the Golden Globe also in hand and the former frontrunner out of the way, it's looking more and more like the beloved franchise will get to bask in Oscar glory.

Speaking of that former frontrunner, Academy snubees Phil Lord and Chris Miller did get a consolation prize for Best Writing, as appropriate a place as any to honour The LEGO Movie's meta comedy stylings.

Among Dragons' remaining Oscar competition, The Boxtrolls won two richly deserved trophies (for its immaculate production design and Ben Kinsgley's inimitable performance), while Big Hero 6 took home only one (albeit a hard-earned one for it cool animated effects).

But Disney can take solace in that fact that their Best Animated Short Oscar contender Feast won its correlative category here. The crowd-pleasing toon is indeed a formidable threat for the Academy Award.

Sadly, GKIDS offerings Song of the Sea and Princess Kaguya were too modest to impress the organization. See all the winners after the cut.

Best Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Directing in an Animated Feature Production
Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon 2
Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, The LEGO Movie
Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
Sir Ben Kingsley, The Boxtrolls
Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
The Boxtrolls
Character Animation in an Animated Feature Production
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Character Animation in a Live Action Production
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Best Animated Short Subject
Feast
Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
Edge of Tomorrow
Animated Effects in an Animated Production
Big Hero 6

Music in an Animated Feature Production

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
The Book of Life
Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
How to Train Your Dragon 2