ASIFA-Hollywood Launches Will Ryan Excellence In Humor Award

ASIFA-Hollywood has launched the Will Ryan Excellence in Humor Award, a new annual grant program that supports emerging artists whose work pushes animation forward through comedy.

Details about the initiative will be unveiled at the 53rd Annie Awards on February 21, organized by ASIFA.

Named for the late multi-hyphenate Will Ryan, the award honors a career that spanned writing, voice acting, music, and animation, with credits on more than 50 film and television productions. Ryan, a past president of ASIFA-Hollywood and a 1997 Annie nominee for best song for “The Elmo Aardvark Song” from Elmo Aardvark, Outer Space Detective, was known as much for mentoring peers as for his own output.

Before emerging as a mentor and industry advocate, Ryan built a wide-ranging career as a performer, songwriter, and voice actor. He collaborated extensively with Disney, voicing characters including Willie the Giant and Peg-Leg Pete in Mickey’s Christmas Carol and Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, and later brought Petrie to life in The Land Before Time. His credits also spanned series such as DuckTales, The Smurfs, and Garfield and Friends, as well as a prolific output of songs written for animation and television.

Funded by a $60,000 gift from Ryan’s family, the grant reflects his long-stated desire to “pay it forward.” According to the organization, applicants will be able to apply annually, with the program aimed at artists pursuing distinctive, laughter-driven projects.

Ryan’s wife, Nancy Niparko, said:

Will’s contributions to animation and his songs were a reflection of his everyday spirit of finding humor in daily life. 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.

ASIFA-Hollywood executive director Aubry Mitz added:

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. 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.

The award will be open to applicants annually. More info on the award, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria is available here.