Wacom Receives Prestigious Ub Iwerks Award at the 53rd Annie Awards for Animation Excellence

Wacom has officially been honored with the Ub Iwerks Award at the 53rd Annie Awards, marking a significant milestone in its history. This award recognizes Wacom’s long-standing contribution to the animation industry through its pioneering digital pen technologies and its deep-rooted connection with the global creative community.

Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, the Ub Iwerks Award is reserved for technical advancements that have fundamentally shaped the art of animation. Named after the legendary Ub Iwerks, the award celebrates those who bridge the gap between traditional artistry and modern digital production.

For decades, Wacom’s tools—from Cintiq displays to Intuos Pro tablets—have been the backbone of animation studios worldwide. Whether in storyboarding, 2D/3D animation, or compositing, Wacom has enabled artists to maintain the soul of hand-drawn expression within a digital environment.

“Wacom has become an industry standard... it is nearly impossible to find a studio or production that does not rely on their tools,” noted Aubry Mintz, Executive Director of ASIFA-Hollywood.

Nobu Ide, President and CEO of Wacom, expressed deep gratitude: “This recognition belongs to the entire creative ecosystem. We’ve evolved alongside the animation community for decades, and we remain committed to empowering the next generation of creators.”

As an official partner, Softprom continues to provide professional Wacom solutions to studios and individual artists, ensuring they have access to the award-winning tools that define the future of animation.