D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation

Annual award presented by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation is an award presented annually by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during the D.I.C.E. Awards. This award is "presented to the individual or team whose work represents the highest level of achievement in bringing a character or characters to life. This award will consider the fluidity of movement, and interaction with the environment in addition to contextual realism (look and feel)".[1] Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as an artist, animator or programmer are qualified to vote for this award.[2]

Quick Facts Country, Presented by ...
D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
First award1998
Currently held byAstro Bot
Websitewww.interactive.org
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The award's most recent winner is Astro Bot, developed by Team Asobi and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Animation & Art Direction

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The Academy originally offered Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics at the first two annual awards ceremonies.[3][4] This would be separated into the categories of Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Outstanding Achievement in Animation at the third annual awards ceremony.[5][6] Since the categories separated, roughly half of the finalists and winners for "Animation" and "Art Direction" were the same game within its respective release year. The games that had won both awards for "Animation" and "Art Direction" were:

The games that won the "Animation" award but were not finalists in the "Art Direction" category were:

2022 was the only year that the "Animation" and "Art Direction" categories had the same five finalists and winner. 2025 was the only year that the two categories did not have any of the same finalists.

Winners and nominees

1990s

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Indicates the winner

2000s

More information Year, Game ...
Year Game Developer(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
2000
(4th)
Final Fantasy IX SquareSoft Square Electronic Arts [12][13]
Dead or Alive 2 Team Ninja Tecmo
Rayman 2: The Great Escape Ubi Pictures Ubisoft
Space Channel 5 Sega AM9 Sega
Tekken Tag Tournament Namco Namco
2001
(5th)
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee Oddworld Inhabitants Microsoft Game Studios [14][15]
[16][17]
Black & White Lionhead Studios Electronic Arts
Dead or Alive 3 Team Ninja Tecmo
Super Smash Bros. Melee HAL Laboratory Nintendo
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 Neversoft Activision
2002
(6th)
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus Sucker Punch Productions Sony Computer Entertainment [18][19]
Final Fantasy X SquareSoft Square Electronic Arts
Kingdom Hearts
The Mark of Kri San Diego Studio Sony Computer Entertainment
Ratchet & Clank Insomniac Games
2003
(7th)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft [20][21]
[22][23]
Beyond Good & Evil Ubi Pictures, Ubisoft Milan Ubisoft
Jak II Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando Insomniac Games
Soulcalibur II Namco Namco
2004
(8th)
Half-Life 2 Valve Vivendi Universal Games [24][25]
Jak 3 Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal Insomniac Games Sony Computer Entertainment
Sly 2: Band of Thieves Sucker Punch Productions
2005
(9th)
God of War Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment [26][27]
[28][29]
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath Oddworld Inhabitants Microsoft Game Studios
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Rise of the Kasai BottleRocket Entertainment Sony Computer Entertainment
Shadow of the Colossus Japan Studio
2006
(10th)
Gears of War Epic Games Microsoft Game Studios [30][31]
Daxter Ready at Dawn Sony Computer Entertainment
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy Traveller's Tales LucasArts
Rayman Raving Rabbids Ubisoft Montpellier Ubisoft
Fight Night Round 3 EA Chicago Electronic Arts
2007
(11th)
Assassin's Creed Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft [32][33]
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward Activision
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction Insomniac Games Sony Computer Entertainment
Team Fortress 2 Valve Valve, Electronic Arts
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment
2008
(12th)
Prince of Persia Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft [34][35]
Castle Crashers The Behemoth Microsoft Game Studios
Gears of War 2 Epic Games
Left 4 Dead Valve South Valve
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Kojima Productions Konami
2009
(13th)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment [36][37][38]
Assassin's Creed II Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Batman: Arkham Asylum Rocksteady Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Infinity Ward Activision
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Insomniac Games Sony Computer Entertainment
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2010s

More information Year, Game ...
Year Game Developer(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
2010
(14th)
God of War III Santa Monica Studio Sony Computer Entertainment [39][40][41]
Call of Duty: Black Ops Treyarch Activision
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Ninja Theory Namco Bandai Games
Red Dead Redemption Rockstar San Diego Rockstar Games
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
2011
(15th)
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment [42][43][44]
Assassin's Creed: Revelations Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Batman: Arkham City Rocksteady Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
L.A. Noire Team Bondi Rockstar Games
Rayman Origins Ubisoft Montpellier Ubisoft
2012
(16th)
Assassin's Creed III Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft [45][46]
Far Cry 3 Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Hitman: Absolution IO Interactive Square Enix Europe
Mark of the Ninja Klei Entertainment Microsoft Studios
Uncharted: Golden Abyss Bend Studio Sony Computer Entertainment
2013
(17th)
The Last of Us Naughty Dog Sony Computer Entertainment [47][48]
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Beyond: Two Souls Quantic Dream Sony Computer Entertainment
Puppeteer Japan Studio
Rayman Fiesta Run Ubisoft Casablanca Ubisoft
2014
(18th)
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Monolith Productions Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment [49][50]
Assassin's Creed Unity Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Infamous Second Son Sucker Punch Productions Sony Computer Entertainment
Sunset Overdrive Insomniac Games Microsoft Studios
Titanfall Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts
2015
(19th)
Ori and the Blind Forest Moon Studios Microsoft Studios [51][52]
Assassin's Creed Syndicate Ubisoft Quebec Ubisoft
Batman: Arkham Knight Rocksteady Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Rise of the Tomb Raider Crystal Dynamics Square Enix Europe
The Order: 1886 Ready at Dawn Sony Computer Entertainment
2016
(20th)
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Naughty Dog Sony Interactive Entertainment [53][54]
Inside Playdead Playdead
The Last Guardian Japan Studio, GenDesign Sony Interactive Entertainment
Overwatch Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment
Street Fighter V Capcom, Dimps Capcom
2017
(21st)
Cuphead Studio MDHR Studio MDHR [55][56]
For Honor Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Ninja Theory Ninja Theory
Horizon Zero Dawn Guerrilla Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Naughty Dog
2018
(22nd)
Marvel's Spider-Man Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment [57][58]
God of War Santa Monica Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment
Gris Nomada Studio Devolver Digital
Moss Polyarc Polyarc
Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar Games Rockstar Games
2019
(23rd)
Luigi's Mansion 3 Next Level Games Nintendo [59][60]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward Activision
Days Gone Bend Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment
Death Stranding Kojima Productions
Devil May Cry 5 Capcom Capcom
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2020s

More information Year, Game ...
Year Game Developer(s) Publisher(s) Ref.
2020
(24th)
The Last of Us Part II Naughty Dog Sony Interactive Entertainment [61][62]
Final Fantasy VII Remake Square Enix Square Enix
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ori and the Will of the Wisps Moon Studios Xbox Game Studios
Spiritfarer Thunder Lotus Games Thunder Lotus Games
2021
(25th)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment [63][64]
Call of Duty: Vanguard Sledgehammer Games Activision
Deathloop Arkane Studios Bethesda Softworks
Kena: Bridge of Spirits Ember Lab Ember Lab
Resident Evil Village Capcom Capcom
2022
(26th)
God of War Ragnarök Santa Monica Studio Sony Interactive Entertainment [65][66][67]
Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course Studio MDHR Studio MDHR
Elden Ring FromSoftware Bandai Namco Entertainment
Horizon Forbidden West Guerrilla Games Sony Interactive Entertainment
Moss: Book II Polyarc Polyarc
2023
(27th)
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Insomniac Games Sony Interactive Entertainment [68][69][70]
Final Fantasy XVI Square Enix Square Enix
Hi-Fi Rush Tango Gameworks Bethesda Softworks
Mortal Kombat 1 NetherRealm Studios Warner Bros. Games
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo EPD Nintendo
2024
(28th)
Astro Bot Team Asobi Sony Interactive Entertainment [71][72][73]
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Treyarch Activision
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Square Enix Square Enix
Neva Nomada Studio Devolver Digital
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Saber Interactive Focus Entertainment
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Multiple nominations and wins

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Developers and publishers

Sony has published the most nominees and winners. Sony has the distinction of publishing the most nominees within a year (three) on four separate occasions (during the awards ceremony in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2014). Sony has two winning streaks for publishing the category winners (2010 to 2012, and 2021 to 2025). Activision has published the most nominees without a single winner.

Sony's development subsidiary Naughty Dog has developed the most winners in this category. Ubisoft Montreal has developed the most nominees, and is one of two developers with back-to-back wins, with the other being SquareSoft. Ubisoft Montpellier, formerly known as "Ubi Pictures", has developed the most nominees without a single winner.

More information Developer, Nominations ...
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Franchises

Assassin's Creed and Final Fantasy have been the most nominated franchises, while Uncharted and God of War have been the most award-winning franchises. Final Fantasy is the only franchise to have back-to-back wins. Call of Duty is the most nominated franchise that has never won.

More information Franchises, Nominations ...
Franchises
Franchises Nominations Wins
Uncharted 6 3
God of War 4 3
Assassin's Creed 7 2
Final Fantasy 7 2
Prince of Persia 4 2
Marvel's Spider-Man 3 2
The Last of Us 2 2
Ratchet & Clank 6 1
Oddworld 3 1
Cuphead 2 1
Gears of War 2 1
Half-Life 2 1
Mario[b] 2 1
Ori 2 1
Sly Cooper 2 1
Call of Duty 6 0
Rayman 4 0
Batman: Arkham 3 0
Jak and Daxter 3 0
Dead of Alive 2 0
Horizon 2 0
Moss 2 0
Red Dead 2 0
Spyro 2 0
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Notes

  1. Presented as Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics.

References

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