The official rules for the 2nd Annual Animation Source Choice Awards are as follows:
Section I: Eligible Films
For Best Picture, Best Director, Best Animation, Fan Favorite, Best Score: Any film
classified as “animated” released the previous year, from January 1 through December
31, in any theater worldwide. This can include films of any language, and includes but is
not limited to: hand-drawn (2D) animation, computer-generated imagery (CGI)
animation, stop-motion animation, motion-capture animation, and silhouette animation.
For Best Original Screenplay: The films eligible must have a screenplay readily available for
public view by January 31 of the following year. Exceptions to this include those films
whose screenplays are copyright protected, in which case the screenplay must be at least
well-known. Films whose screenplays were written by more than four people are exempt
from this category.
For Best Sequel Screenplay: Same as before, except the films eligible are those which are successors to previous theatrical-released films. Reboots are elligible for the Original Screenplay category.
For Best Voice Actor, Best Voice Actress: Generally, those eligible must have played
title or lead characters in their respective films, though exceptions apply. Any film may
receive any number of nominations for each category.
For Best Sequel: The films eligible must be a sequel, prequel, spin-off or rip-off of a
previously released film. This category can also include direct-to-video films.
For Film Most Likely to Receive a Sequel: The films eligible must be an original film,
with no previous films being made that includes the characters from that film. Exceptions
apply, such as re-boots.
For Best Song: The songs eligible for this category must be released with the film
associated with the song, and must be made in conjunction with the movie. It cannot have
received a previous release outside of the movie’s soundtrack or score.
For Best Animated Video Game: To be eligible for this category, the video game must be
classified as “animated” per current Annie Awards rules. These can be original or based
off another animated media.
For Best Animated TV Series: Television series must be classified as “animated”, and
have its network premiere between October 10 of two years ago and December 31 of the
previous year.
For Best Non-Theatrical Film: Those films eligible must be classified as “animated” and
have been released in its entirety in a media other than theater between January 1 and
December 31 of the previous year. This includes video release, network premiere, and
instant streaming.
For Best Foreign-Release Film: Those eligible must have seen a theatrical release outside
of the United States between January 1 and December 31 of the previous. If there are less
than four films released in a different language, a fourth may be nominated if it was in
English but never saw an American release. These films are also eligible for other
categories.
Section II: Voting
Any current member of Animation Source can vote once for any category they choose. It
does not matter how long they have been active, or how long it has been since they have
been active. If they have an account on Animation Source, they can vote.
Multiple-account voting is not allowed. If it is found out that numerous accounts were
used to vote, all votes will be discounted from those accounts.
Preliminary voting will take place from January 1 through January 15 of the year hosting
the current Animation Source Choice Awards. After the shortlist is announced, final
voting will take place between January 16 and January 31.
The only member of Animation Source who cannot vote is the judge, who will tally the
votes. If requested, a second judge will be allowed to make sure that the first judge
counted votes unbiasedly.
The method of voting is this: the member must PM the judge with their vote. They can
vote only one time per category, but not all votes have to be sent in at once; if the
member wants to send in a vote for one category and then another category later, this is
allowed. Private Messages are the only form of voting; no emails, no mentioning on a
shoutbox, etc.
Section III: Dates
January 1, 2013: Eligible films announced for each category. Members can begin voting
for a shortlist for each category.
January 15, 2013: Preliminary voting ends. Judge counts up votes and creates a shortlist.
January 16, 2013: Nominees announced. Members can start voting for the final pick.
January 31, 2013: Voting ends. Judge counts up final votes and creates winners list.
February 1, 2013: Winners announced on Animation Source.