Ron Clements & John Musker to Receive the ADG 'William Cameron Menzies' Award for Championing the Art of Animation

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ron Clements and John Musker, the Oscar®-nominated Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmaking partners behind such animated features as Moana and The Princess and The Frog, will receive the William Cameron Menzies Award from the Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) at the 22^nd Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards on Jan. 27 in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood and Highland. The award recognizes their innovative artistic work on numerous legendary Disney animated movies. Today's announcement was made by ADG Council Chair Marcia Hinds ADG and Awards Producers Thomas Walsh ADG and Thomas Wilkins ADG.

"Both Clements and Musker's love of animation have brought us legendary worlds of imagination," said ADG President Nelson Coates. "The ADG is thrilled to honor their efforts, talents and achievements as they continue to blaze creative trails in animation and to be leaders in Disney's artistic evolution over the decades. They are masters of their craft and part of the technical innovations in the art form."

The ADG's spotlight of the duo's animation achievements is particularly significant this year. The guild will debut its new award category "Excellence in Production Design for an Animated Feature Film" in recognition of the growing importance of animated features.

Clements and Musker have worked together as directors on a number of Walt Disney Animation Studios features and were nominated for two Academy Awards® for the Best Animated Feature Film of the Year for Moana (2017) and The Princess and the Frog (2010). They have received numerous awards and nominations from other organizations for these and their additional celebrated classics including Hercules (1997), Aladdin (1992), The Little Mermaid (1989) and The Great Mouse Detective (1986). Both men began their Disney careers in the 70's as assistant animators on shorts – Clements with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974) and Musker with The Small One (1978).

As previously announced, Kathleen Kennedy, the Oscar-nominated producer and President of Lucasfilm, will be honored with the 2018 "Cinematic Imagery Award." Matthew Loeb, IATSE International President, will be presented with the ADG Leadership Award. Sir Ken Adam, the Oscar-winning Production Designer behind the James Bond franchise, and Tyrus Wong, award-winning Illustrator of Bambi fame, will be inducted into ADG's Hall of Fame. Lifetime Achievement Awards will also be presented to Production Designer Norm Newberry, Scenic Artist John Moffitt, Set Designer James J. Murakami and Senior Illustrator Martin Kline.

Producers of this year's ADG Awards (#ADGawards) are Production Designers Thomas A. Walsh ADG and Thomas Wilkins ADG. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 4, 2018. Final online balloting will be held Jan. 8-25, and winners will be announced at the dinner ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 27.  ADG Awards are open only to productions when made within the U.S. by producer's signatory to the IATSE agreement. Foreign entries are acceptable without restrictions.

The ADG Awards is proud to be sponsored by Design Vanguard Level: Shutterstock; Platinum Level: Astek Wallcovering; Silver Level: JC Backings, Bridgeman Images; Media Sponsors: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and SHOOT.

For ADG Awards inquiries, contact Debbie Patton, ADG Awards & Events Director, 818.762.9995, [email protected].

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ABOUT THE WILLIAM CAMERON MENZIES AWARD: The William Cameron Menzies Award occasionally honors industry recipients, selected by the Art Directors Council Chair and members, who have demonstrated such excellence in visual arts and entertainment to merit special acknowledgement. The award is named after William Cameron Menzies, the first Art Director to be bestowed with the title of Production Designer. He had the singular distinction of receiving the first-ever Oscar® for Art Direction for The Dove (1927) as well as the first-ever Oscar for Production Design in Gone With the Wind (1939), among his numerous other awards. The William Cameron Menzies Award is bestowed on a discretionary basis. Acclaimed TCM host Robert Osborne was the first recipient of the award when it debuted in 2015.

ABOUT THE ART DIRECTORS GUILD: The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,500 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers, Model Makers and Previs Artists. Established in 1937, the ADG's ongoing activities include a Film Society, an annual Awards Banquet, a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, figure drawing and other creative workshops and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. The Guild's Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org. Connect with the Art Directors Guild and #ADGawards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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SOURCE Art Directors Guild (IATSE, Local 800)