^{Credit: The Simpsons (Fox), Arcane (Netflix), Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)}

 

The nominations for the 77th Primetime Emmys have been announced. As expected, Outstanding Animated Program includes four past winners: Arcane, Bob’s Burgers, Love, Death + Robots, and The Simpsons. Some expected that the final spot might go to Invincible. I was always skeptical of this, as the fan favorite missed for its past two seasons despite enormous buzz. Back in June, I toyed with the idea of Smiling Friends getting nominated, although that was admittedly wishful thinking. On Gold Derby, I ultimately predicted another Adult Swim series, Common Side Effects, which had 100/1 odds. Common Side Effects overcame those odds, getting nominated for its first season episode, “Cliff’s Edge.”

^{Credit: Gold Derby}

Although viewed as an underdog, Common Side Effects didn’t come out of nowhere. Co-creator Joseph Bennett got nominated last year for Scavengers Reign, which was seen as a surprise given its abrupt cancellation. Common Side Effects has a few other big names attached, such as Greg Daniels and Mike Judge (King of the Hill). Beyond the talent involved, Common Side Effects carries a timely social commentary concerning Big Pharma. Yet, that commentary doesn’t overshadow its comedy, creativity, or immensely relatable characters.

While Invincible missed in Outstanding Animated Program for a third season in a row, Steven Yeun got nominated for voicing the titular hero. The other Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance nominees include Julie Andrews for Bridgerton, Hank Azaria for The Simpsons, Maya Rudolph for Big Mouth, Alan Tudyk for Andor, and Jeffrey Wright for What If...?. This year also introduced a new category, Outstanding Sound Editing for an Animated Program. The nominees are Arcane, Love, Death + Robots, Secret Level, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and What If…?. Outside of the animation-specific categories, Kamasi Washington got into Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for Shinichirō Watanabe’s Lazarus, a rare feat for an anime.

The recipients for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation will be announced at a later date. For now, here are all of the animated-related nominees:

Outstanding Animated Program:

Arcane: “The Dirt Under Your Nails”

Christian Linke, Executive Producer/Written by

Alex Yee, Executive Producer/Written by

Marc Merrill, Executive Producer

Brandon Beck, Executive Producer

Shauna Spenley, Executive Producer

Brian Wright, Executive Producer

Melinda Wunsch Dilger, Executive Producer

Hervé Dupont, Executive Producer

Ken Basin, Executive Producer

Jérôme Combe, Executive Producer

Pascal Charrue, Executive Producer/Supervising Director

Arnauld Delord, Executive Producer/Supervising Director/Directed by

Christine Ponzevera, Co-Executive Producer

Amanda Overton, Co-Executive Producer

Bart Maunoury, Directed by

Amanda Wyatt, Voice Director

Bob's Burgers: “They Slug Horses, Don't They?”

Loren Bouchard, Executive Producer

Nora Smith, Executive Producer

Janelle Momary-Neely, Executive Producer

Dan Fybel, Executive Producer

Rich Rinaldi, Executive Producer

Jon Schroeder, Executive Producer

Steven Davis, Executive Producer

Scott Jacobson, Executive Producer

Holly Schlesinger, Executive Producer

Jameel Saleem, Co-Executive Producer

Lindsey Stoddart, Co-Executive Producer

Katie Crown, Supervising Producer

Brett Coker, Animation Executive Producer

Bernard Derriman, Producer/Directed by

Tony Gennaro, Supervising Director

Simon Chong, Supervising Director

Common Side Effects: “Cliff’s Edge”

Joe Bennett, Executive Producer

Steve Hely, Executive Producer

Mike Judge, Executive Producer

Greg Daniels, Executive Producer

Dustin Davis, Executive Producer

James Merrill, Executive Producer

Sean Buckelew, Executive Producer

Kelly Crews, Executive Producer

Suzanna Makkos, Executive Producer

Dave King, Co-Executive Producer

Dan Schofield, Supervising Producer

Max Minor, Producer

Susan Shi, Producer

Paige Boudreaux, Producer

Jonathan Roig, Producer

Susan Shi, Producer

Sophie Kriegel, Written by

Vincent Tsui, Directed by

Benjy Brooke, Supervising Director

Love, Death + Robots: “Spider Rose”

David Fincher, Executive Producer

Tim Miller, Executive Producer

Jennifer Miller, Executive Producer

Joshua Donen, Executive Producer

Al Shier, Executive Producer

Victoria Howard, Supervising Producer

Samantha Brainerd, Senior Producer

Meg Darcy, Producer

Joe Abercrombie, Adapted Script by

Todd Wilbur, Animation Director

Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Directed by

The Simpsons: “Bart's Birthday”

James L. Brooks, Executive Producer

Matt Groening, Executive Producer

Matt Selman, Executive Producer

Al Jean, Executive Producer

John Frink, Executive Producer

Michael Price, Co-Executive Producer

Tim Long, Co-Executive Producer

Rob LaZebnik, Co-Executive Producer

Brian Kelley, Co-Executive Producer

Jeff Westbrook, Co-Executive Producer

Dan Vebber, Co-Executive Producer

Ryan Koh, Co-Executive Producer

Christine Nangle, Co-Executive Producer

Cesar Mazariegos, Supervising Producer

Richard K. Chung, Producer

Tom Klein, Animation Producer

Jessica Conrad, Written by

Rob Oliver, Directed by

Mike B. Anderson, Supervising Director

Dane Romley, Assistant Director

Carlton Batten, Lead Animation Timer

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown for Bridgerton: “Into the Light”

Hank Azaria as Moe Szyslak for The Simpsons: “Abe League of Their Moe:”

Maya Rudolph as Connie the Hormone Monstress for Big Mouth: “Why Do We Go Through Puberty?”

Alan Tudyk as K-2SO for Andor: “Who Else Knows?”

Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher for What If...?: “What If...1872?”

Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson / Invincible for Invincible: “What Have I Done?“

Outstanding Sound Editing For An Animated Program

Arcane: “The Dirt Under Your Nails”

Brad Beaumont, MPSE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor

Eliot Connors, MPSE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor

Stephen P. Robinson, Sound Editor

Janet “PJ” Pascual, Foley Editor

Dan O'Connell, Foley Artist

John Cucci, Foley Artist

Love, Death + Robots: “400 Boys”

Bradley North, MPSE, Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer

Craig Henighan, Sound Effects Editor

Matt Manselle, Foley Editor

Matt Telsey, Foley Editor

Brian Straub, MPSE, Foley Artist

Secret Level: “Warhammer 40,000: They Shall Know No Fear”

Matt Yocum, MPSE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor

Bradley North, MPSE, Co-Supervising Sound Editor

Nolan McNaughton, MPSE, Sound Designer

Ryan Sullivan, MPSE, Sound Designer

Joseph Fraioli, MPSE, Sound Designer

Christopher Battaglia, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor

Harry Cohen, MPSE, Sound Effects Editor

Matt Manselle, Foley Editor

Matt Tesley, Foley Editor

Brian Straub, MPSE, Foley Artist

Star Trek: Lower Decks: “The New Next Generation”

James Lucero, Supervising Sound Editor

Drew Guy, Dialogue Editor

Konrad Piñon, Dialogue Editor

James Singleton, Sound Editor

John Wynn, Sound Editor

Amber Funk, Music Editor

Michael Britt, Foley Artist

What If...?: “What If...1872?”

Mac Smith, Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer

Vanessa Lapato, Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor

Alyssa Nevarez, Sound Effects Editor

Steve Bissinger, Sound Effects Editor

Derek McGinley, Foley Editor

Anele Onyekwere, Supervising Music Editor

Carl Sealove, Music Editor

Andrea Stelter Gard, Foley Artist

Sean England, Foley Artist

Outstanding Special Visual Effects In a Season or A Movie

Andor

Mohen Leo, Visual Effects Supervisor

TJ Falls, Visual Effects Producer

Luke Murphy, Special Effects Supervisor

Neal Scanlan, Special Creature Effects by

Scott Pritchard, ILM Visual Effects Supervisor

Joseph Kasparian, Hybride Visual Effects Supervisor

Sue Rowe, Scanline Visual Effects Supervisor

Paolo D'Arco, In-House VFX Supervisor

Jean-Clément Soret, Digital Colourist

Dune: Prophecy

Terron Pratt, Visual Effects Supervisor

Michael Enriquez, Visual Effects Supervisor

Brennan Prevatt, Additional Visual Effects Supervisor

Martyn Culpitt, Visual Effects Supervisor (Image Engine)

Philip Engstrom, Visual Effects Supervisor (Important Looking Pirates)

Peter Lames, Visual Effects Supervisor (Accenture Song VFX)

Julien Hery, Visual Effects Supervisor (Rodeo FX)

Vincent Poitras, Visual Effects Supervisor (Raynault VFX)

Jed Glassford, On-Set Visual Effects Supervisor

House of the Dragon

Daði Einarsson, Visual Effects Supervisor (HBO Production)

Lev Kolobov, Associate Visual Effects Supervisor (HBO Production)

Thomas Horton, Visual Effects Producer (HBO Production)

Mike Dawson, Special Effects Supervisor (HBO Production)

Sven Martin, Visual Effects Supervisor (Pixomondo)

Fausto Tejeda, Associate Visual Effects Supervisor (Pixomondo)

Wayne Taz Stables, Visual Effects Supervisor (Wētā FX)

Marcus Goodwin, Visual Effects Producer (Wētā FX)

Martin Pelletier, Visual Effects Supervisor (Rodeo FX)

The Last of Us

Alex Wang, Overall Visual Effects Supervisor

Fiona Campbell Westgate, Overall Visual Effects Producer

Jed Glassford, 2nd-Unit Visual Effects Supervisor

Joel Whist, Production SFX Supervisor

Stephen James, Visual Effects Supervisor (DNEG)

Nick Epstein, Visual Effects Supervisor (Wētā FX)

Dennis Yoo, Animation Supervisor (Wētā FX)

Philip Engström, Visual Effects Supervisor (ILP)

Andreas Giesen, Visual Effects Supervisor (RISE FX)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Jason Smith, Senior VFX Supervisor

Tim Keene, VFX Producer

Ann Podlozny, VFX Producer

James Yeoman, VFX Co-Producer

Daniele Bigi, VFX Supervisor (ILM)

Greg Butler, VFX Supervisor (DNEG)

Ara Khanikian, VFX Supervisor (Rodeo FX)

Laurens Ehrmann, VFX Supervisor (The Yard)

Ryan Conder, SFX Supervisor

Outstanding Special Visual Effects In a Single Episode

Black Mirror: “USS Callister: Into Infinity”

James MacLachlan, VFX Supervisor

Josie Henwood, VFX Producer

Kubra Tanyel, VFX Production Manager

David Schneider, Senior DFX Supervisor

Tallulah Baker, VFX Producer

Jane Paton, 2D Supervisor

Jonathan Caruana, VFX Supervisor

Filip Latal, VFX Supervisor

Jamie Wood, VFX Supervisor

The Penguin: “Bliss”

Johnny Han, Overall VFX Supervisor

Michelle Rose, Overall VFX Producer

Alexandre Prod’homme, On-Set VFX Supervisor

Erin Sullivan, VFX Editor

Goran Pavles, Vendor VFX Supervisor

Emanuel Fuchs, Vendor VFX Supervisor

Ed Bruce, Vendor VFX Supervisor

Nathaniel Larouche, Vendor VFX Supervisor

Adrien Saint Girons, Vendor VFX Supervisor

The Residence: “The Fall of the House of Usher”

Seth Hill, VFX Supervisor

Tesa Kubicek, VFX Producer

John Nelson, VFX Supervisor

Ryan Urban, VFX Supervisor

Phillip Moses, VFX Supervisor

Brandon Nelson, Creative Director

Spencer Hecox, Compositing Supervisor

Gabriel Vargas, CG Supervisor

Burke Roane, Animation Supervisor

Severance: “Hello, Ms. Cobel”

Eric Leven, Production Visual Effects Supervisor

Sean Findley, Production Visual Effects Producer

Shawn Hillier, ILM Visual Effects Associate Supervisor

Radost Ridlen, ILM Visual Effects Associate Supervisor

Martin Kolejak, ILM Environments Lead

Brian Holligan, ILM Producer

Alex Lemke, ESE VFX Supervisor

Michael Huber, ESE VFX Supervisor

Djuna Wahlrab, On-Set VFX Supervisor 

The Umbrella Academy: “End of the Beginning”

Everett Burrell, Overall VFX Supervisor

Sabrina Arnold, VFX Producer

Sophie Vertigan, Overall Special Effects Supervisor

Laurent Spillemaecker, VFX Supervisor

Gabriel Beauvais, CG Supervisor

Maria Saade, VFX Producer

Pier-Olivier Allard, Lead Animator

Ryan Freer, Supervising VFX Supervisor

Jeff Campbell, VFX Supervisor

Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music

Lazarus: Kamasi Washington

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Benjamin Ree, Director

Ingvil Giske, Producer

Outstanding Narrator

Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Octopus!: “Part 1”

Outstanding Commercial

The Boy & The Octopus

Outstanding Emerging Media Program

Impulse: Playing With Reality - META

The Lion King at The Hollywood Bowl also got three nominations for Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, and Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special.

Winners for the 77th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be announced between September 6 and 7, 2025. The Primetime Emmys ceremony, which animation isn’t invited to, takes place on September 14, 2025.

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1 and 2. Available Now!