‘Tangles’ Wins Grand Jury Prize at Animation Is Film 2026; ‘Iron Boy’ Takes Two Awards: Animation Is Film Festival wrapped up its four-day run at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood and the Academy Museum’s David Geffen Theater, celebrating bold and diverse storytelling from across the globe. The 2026 edition of the Animation Is Film Festival has announced its award winners, celebrating outstanding achievements in animated feature films and short films. Leah Nelson’s Tangles won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Feature, while Louis Clichy’s Iron Boy secured two honours, including the Audience Award and the Fumi Kitahara Special Jury Prize.
The ninth edition of the festival took place from October 16 to 19 in Los Angeles, California, with screenings at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood and the David Geffen Theater at the Academy Museum. The event showcased nine feature films and 18 short films in competition, alongside filmmaker conversations, special screenings and studio presentations.
‘Tangles’ Wins Top Feature Film Honour
The Grand Jury Prize went to Tangles, directed by Leah Nelson and adapted from Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel. The film explores a family’s experience as its mother develops dementia, delivering an intimate story about family relationships, memory and caregiving.
The jury praised the film’s fluid 2D animation, monochromatic visual style and sensitive storytelling. It also recognised the filmmakers’ commitment to the source material, which addresses a painful personal experience with honesty, warmth and emotional depth.
Set partly against the backdrop of 1990s San Francisco, Tangles demonstrates how animation can explore complex subjects that resonate with audiences of different ages and backgrounds.
‘Iron Boy’ Wins Audience and Special Jury Awards
Louis Clichy’s Iron Boy emerged as another major winner, receiving both the Audience Award and the Fumi Kitahara Special Jury Prize.
The film was recognised for its distinctive visual approach, combining watercolor-inspired imagery with Chinese ink-brush aesthetics. Its narrative draws inspiration from Clichy’s childhood memories of growing up in rural France.
The story explores a young boy’s experience of physical disability and his complicated relationship with his father. The jury praised the film’s expressive visuals and emotionally nuanced portrayal of family relationships, noting its ability to communicate complex feelings without relying on sentimentality.
The double victory further highlights the film’s appeal to both festival jurors and audiences.
‘Paper Trail’ Wins Grand Jury Prize for Shorts
In the short-film competition, Paper Trail, directed by Don Hertzfeldt, received the Grand Jury Prize.
The film was celebrated for its distinctive visual language and unconventional approach to storytelling and cinematic form. The jury praised its originality and emotional impact, highlighting its ability to leave a lasting impression.
Hertzfeldt is known for his distinctive independent animation style, and Paper Trail continues that tradition by demonstrating how short-form animation can deliver powerful storytelling through inventive visual techniques.
‘Please’ Earns Special Jury Prize
Anna Mantzaris’ Please received the Special Jury Prize for short films.
The jury recognised the film’s carefully crafted felt-puppet stop-motion animation, expressive characters and balance of humour and tenderness. Its exploration of human longing and the desire for connection stood out among the festival’s short-film selections.
The award highlights the continued importance of stop-motion animation as a creative medium capable of combining detailed craftsmanship with emotionally engaging narratives.
Complete List of Animation Is Film 2026 Winners
- Grand Jury Prize – Feature Film: Tangles — Leah Nelson
- Fumi Kitahara Special Jury Prize: Iron Boy — Louis Clichy
- Audience Award – Feature Film: Iron Boy — Louis Clichy
- Grand Jury Prize – Shorts: Paper Trail — Don Hertzfeldt
- Special Jury Prize – Shorts: Please — Anna Mantzaris
Animation Beyond Entertainment
The 2026 winners demonstrate the breadth of contemporary animation, from emotionally complex feature films to experimental shorts and handcrafted stop-motion productions.
The festival also featured special presentations of projects including Knights of Guinevere, a screening of Laika’s Wildwood, a behind-the-scenes presentation of Disney’s Hexed, and a work-in-progress showcase of Clara and the Below.
Festival director Matt Kaszanek emphasised the importance of recognising animation as a broad cinematic medium encompassing drama, comedy, musicals, horror, documentary filmmaking and experimental storytelling.
With its latest edition, Animation Is Film continues to champion animated cinema as an art form that can address serious social issues, explore personal experiences and push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
The 2026 awards reinforce the growing creative diversity of the global animation industry and the role of international festivals in bringing distinctive animated works to wider audiences.
