ASIFA-Hollywood announced today the launch of its newest grant program, The Will Ryan Excellence in Humor Award, that encourages and recognizes emerging and talented individuals for their contributions to further the innovative future of animation with an emphasis on humor. 

This award is named for Will Ryan, humorist, author, animator, script writer, producer, actor, voice actor, singer, composer and musician, and past president of ASIFA-Hollywood with over 50 films and TV shows to his credit. With his signature cowboy hat, Will’s talents and contributions go far beyond his short lifetime, as he remains a well-respected and much loved member of the animation community. 

Will was nominated for the prestigious Annie Award in 1997 for Best Song in an Animated Production: Elmo Aardvard, Outer Space Detective! The Elmo Aardvark Song. As a philanthropist and committed artist, Will desired to ‘pay it forward’ by creating the Will Ryan Trust with his wife, Nancy Niparko. 

“Will’s contributions to animation and his songs were a reflection of his every-day spirit of finding humor in daily life,” said Nancy. “Instead of self-promoting, he was most proud of facilitating the careers of talented mid-career professional colleagues in whatever program he was working on. Will always identified himself as being in animation. It is no surprise that he directed his legacy to ASIFA, intending to support individuals in unique promising animation endeavors, which will make people laugh.”

“This generous gift truly couldn’t have come at a more meaningful time as the animation industry has been facing real challenges, and so many artists are feeling the weight of that struggle,” said ASIFA-Hollywood Executive Director Aubry Mintz. “Thanks to the kindness of the Will Ryan family, we’re able to offer this award as both financial support and a heartfelt acknowledgment of the creativity and dedication behind this work.”

Applicants may apply for this award annually, which is funded by a generous $60,000 gift from Will’s family. For more information on Will Ryan, this award, eligibility requirements and selection criteria, please visit: https://staging.asifa-hollywood.org/programs/will-ryan-award/

ASIFA-Hollywood is the world’s foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a wide range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, Animation Educators’ Forum (AEF), film preservation, open-source support, special events, screenings and the annual Annie Awards.