Cars,Over The Hedge, Happy Feet, Monster Houseand Open Season will contest bestanimated feature in the upcoming 34th Annual Annie Awards.

Pixar'sCars leads the pack with ninenominations, while DreamWorks's Over The Hedge has seven. DreamWorks is the most recognised studio with17 nods.

TheAnnie Awards are regarded as a key indicator in the Oscar race, with the winnerof the best animated feature award going on to win the Academy Award ever yearsince the Annies' inception.

Winnerswill be announced at the awards ceremony in Glendale, California, on Feb 11,2007.

Thefollowing special juried awards honouring career achievement and exceptionalcontributions to animation will also be awarded:

TheJune Foray Award (significant or benevolent impact on animation) will bepresented to Stephen Worth

TheWinsor McCay Award (career achievement) will go to Bill Plympton, GenndyTartakovski, and Andreas Deja.

Certificateof Merit will go to Bill Matthews, Michael Phallic, Mark Deckter, and EricGraff.