^{Credit: Community (NBC), Phineas and Ferb (Disney Channel), Archer (FX), Wisdom Teeth (Don Hertzfeldt)}

Doing research for my book, Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows, I came across numerous valuable research materials. Among the most fascinating finds were several Primetime Emmy submission ballots for Outstanding Animated Program. When voting for the Primetime Emmys is underway, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) posts the submission sheets online for everyone to see. Once voting is closed and the nominations are announced, the submission sheets disappear from the ATAS website. Few have bothered to preserve these submission forms. After all, who cares what got submitted for Emmy consideration if it didn’t get nominated? Awards junkies like me, that’s who.

Outstanding Animated Program is an especially interesting category. Rather than submit an entire season to the Primetime Emmys, animated shows enter a single episode from the past year. These submissions are a reflection of what the showrunners believed was their best foot forward. Whether or not it resulted in a nomination or win, it’s worth considering every submission. That’s what we’re going to do in this ongoing series, Where’s My Emmy?, break down the animated shows that were submitted for Emmy consideration, yet didn’t get nominated. A special thank you to Julie Shore of the Television Academy for helping me track down this submission sheet from the 2010-2011 eligibility cycle.

Outstanding Animated Program:

^{Credit: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)}

The Nominees Were…

The Cleveland Show: "Murray Christmas"

Futurama: "The Late Philip J. Fry" (Winner)

Robot Chicken: "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III"

The Simpsons: "Angry Dad: The Movie"

South Park: "Crack Baby Athletic Association"

The Nominees Weren’t…

Although The Ricky Gervais Show got in the previous year, it couldn’t repeat with the Season 2 episode “Future.” Voters dropped Ricky Gervais to make way for The Cleveland Show for “Murray Christmas." Widely regarded as the weakest of Seth MacFarlane’s animated sitcoms, Cleveland was a curious nominee, especially when there was a better MacFarlane production right there: American Dad! for “There Will Be Bad Blood.” Other worthier alternatives included Archer for “Placebo Effect,” one of the spy comedy’s more emotional outings, and Bob’s Burgers for “Sheesh! Cab, Bob?.” Archer eventually won for “The Figgis Agency.” Bob’s Burgers would get nominated every year moving forward, winning twice. 

It’s especially disappointing that the Phineas and Ferb special, “Summer Belongs to You,” went overlooked here. When I interviewed co-creator Dan Povenmire, he told me that he initially thought “Summer Belongs to You” stood a good shot at a nomination. Then he remembered that the Emmys had discontinued the “More Than One Hour” Animated Program category. Povenmire knew a show primarily marketed to kids would have a harder time competing against adult-oriented sitcoms. He sadly wasn’t wrong. At least Phineas and Ferb got two Individual Achievement Emmys that year for Jill Daniels’ and Brian Woods’ background work on “Wizard of Odd.” 

Likewise, character animator Drew Hodges received an Emmy for his work on the Claymation satire “Community: Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas.” Yet, this stop-motion episode of the otherwise live-action show couldn’t get a competitive nomination. Community creator Dan Harmon had better luck in this category down the line with Rick and Morty. I hate to dwell, but in what world was “Murray Christmas” a better holiday special than “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas?” Kung Fu Panda Holiday also went overlooked along with DreamWorks’ other offering, Scared Shrekless.

While Robot Chicken got nominated, several other Cartoon Network and Adult Swim shows failed to make the grade: Batman: The Brave and the Bold for “The Battle of the Superheroes!,” Ben 10: Ultimate Alien for “Moonstruck,” The Boondocks for “Mr. Medicinal,” Dan Vs. for "Technology," Firebreather, Generator Rex for “Operation: Wingman,” Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated for “The Legend of Alice May,” Star Wars: The Clone Wars for “Wookiee Hunt,” Sym-Bionic Titan for “Lessons in Love,” The Looney Tunes Show for “Monster Talent”/ “A Zipline in the Sand,” The Venture Bros. for “Operation: P.R.O.M.,” and Young Justice for “Infiltrator.” Firebreather still got two Individual Achievement Emmys for production designer Barry E. Jackson and director Peter Chung of Æon Flux fame. Philip Bourassa was also recognized for his character designs on the Young Justice episode, "Independence Day."

Rounding out the submissions were the short-lived Neighbors From Hell for “Screw the EPA” and Ugly Americans for “Kill, Mark… Kill.” As for the nominees, The Simpsons for "Angry Dad: The Movie" and South Park for "Crack Baby Athletic Association" were two other highlights. Still, in a perfect world, “Summer Belongs to You” and “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” would’ve been in the mix as well. At least "The Late Philip J. Fry" made for a welcome winner, returning Futurama to the Emmys after its cancellation a few years earlier. 

Outstanding Short Form Animated Program:

^{Credit: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS)}

The Nominees Were…

Adventure Time: "It Came from the Nightosphere"

Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa (Winner)

Regular Show: "Mordecai and the Rigbys"

Robot Chicken: "Robot Chicken's DP Christmas Special"

SpongeBob SquarePants: "That Sinking Feeling"

The Nominees Weren’t…

Most of the submissions this year came from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. While three of their shows got nominated, there wasn’t room Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 for “Intervention,” Mad for “The Buzz Identity/Two and a Half-Man,” The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack for “Candy Colleague,” Mary Shelley's Frankenhole for “Humanitas,” Mongo Wrestling Alliance for “Behold the Mongo Wrestling Alliance,” and Squidbillies for “American: Why I Love Her.” There might’ve been vote-splitting among the Cartoon Network bloc, as the winner was Disney’s Prep & Landing for “Operation Secret Santa.” Disney also submitted Fish Hooks for “Bea Stays in the Picture” and Mater's Tall Tales for “Heavy Metal Mater.” 

Although 30 Rock was always an Emmy favorite, this didn’t extend to the online animated exclusive, “Jack Donaghy, Executive Superhero.” Lilac Wine was another online production, produced for DrMartens.com. Performed by the Cinematic Orchestra, this animated music video was recognized for Vanessa Marzaroli’s production design. Finally, there was Showtime Short Stories for “Wisdom Teeth.” This was actually a short film from Don Hertzfeldt, who you might know from Oscar-nominated productions like Rejected and World of Tomorrow. That’s right, Don Hertzfeldt came this close to being nominated against Adventure Time, Regular Show, and SpongeBob. 

Eligible Animated Shows That Weren’t Submitted:

Once again, Family Guy attempted to break back into the Outstanding Comedy Series race. It missed out in that category again while forgoing its eligibility in Outstanding Animated Program. Had Family Guy been in play, I imagine the producers would’ve submitted “Road to the North Pole,” which did get a nomination for the song “Christmastime Is Killing Us.” Maybe that’s why the Animation Peer Group nominated ”Murray Christmas.” The good Seth MacFarlane Christmas special was MIA, so they settled for the other one. 

Check out more Emmy ballots for Outstanding Animated Program below:

2006-07 Outstanding Animated Program Submission Ballot

2007-08 Outstanding Animated Program Submission Ballot

2008-09 Outstanding Animated Program Submission Ballot

Still Searching For 2009-10 Ballot! 

2024-25 Outstanding Animated Program Submission Ballot

2025-26 Outstanding Animated Program Submission Ballot

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!