2026 BAFTA Animated and Visual Effects Nominees Officially Announced

“Elio,” “Little Amélie” and “Zootropolis 2” Nominated for BAFTA Awards
2026 BAFTA Animated and Visual Effects Nominees Officially Announced

London, January 2026 — The nominees for the 2026 EE British Academy Film Awards have been officially announced today, with particularly intense competition in the animation and visual effects categories. This year’s awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 22, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, hosted by acclaimed actor Alan Cumming.

Best Animated Feature Film: Three Strong Contenders with Distinctive Styles
Only three films have been nominated in the animated feature category this year, showcasing a diversity of creative approaches:

“Elio” (Disney/Pixar): Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina, and Mary Alice Drumm, the film follows a boy’s extraordinary journey after being unexpectedly chosen as Earth’s interstellar ambassador.

“Little Amélie” (also titled The Character of Rain): Directed by French filmmaker Maïlys Vallade, the film poetically depicts the emotional bond between a young girl and raindrops.

“Zootropolis 2” (Disney): The original creative team of Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Yvett Merino returns to continue the captivating story of the animal metropolis.

Notably, longlisted films such as Arco, The Bad Guys 2, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle did not advance to the final round.

Children’s & Family Film: A Blend of Animated and Live-Action Excellence
This category presents a diverse narrative landscape:

Animated works Arco and Zootropolis 2

Live-action films Lilo & Stitch and the Indian production Boong
Highly anticipated titles such as Elio and How to Train Your Dragon from the longlist did not progress to the final stage.

Special Visual Effects: A Showdown of Technical Mastery
The five nominated films represent the pinnacle of contemporary cinematic visual effects:

Avatar: Fire and Ash (Industrial Light & Magic)

F1 (meticulous racing visual effects)

Frankenstein (Gothic aesthetic reinterpretation)

How to Train Your Dragon (dreamlike creature design)

The Lost Bus (disaster scene construction)
Previously anticipated blockbusters such as Jurassic World Rebirth and Mickey 17 remained on the longlist.

British Short Animation: Emerging Creative Forces
The nominated works demonstrate the vitality of British animation:

Cardboard (J.P. Vine)

Solstice (Luke Angus)

Two Black Boys in Paradise (Baz Sells)
These films stood out among competitors such as Brain Space and Death’s Peak.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip stated, “This year’s nominated works not only showcase technical achievements but also reflect the emotional power of cinematic art transcending genres and age boundaries. We look forward to celebrating these outstanding creations at the awards ceremony.”

Of particular note, Frankenstein received nominations in both Production Design and Special Visual Effects, while Hamnet earned dual nominations for Best Film and Outstanding British Film, highlighting the strong performance of British productions.

The complete list of nominees has been published on the official BAFTA website (bafta.org/awards/film), and the awards ceremony will be broadcast globally via the BBC.