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)". Creative/technical Academy members with expertise as an artist, animator or programmer are qualified to vote for this award.
The award's most recent winner is South of Midnight, developed by Compulsion Games and published by Xbox Game Studios.
Animation & Art Direction
The Academy originally offered Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics at the first two annual awards ceremonies. This would be separated into the categories of Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Outstanding Achievement in Animation at the third annual awards ceremony. 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:
Final Fantasy VIII Final Fantasy IX Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus Half-Life 2 Gears of War Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception The Last of Us Ori and the Blind Forest Cuphead Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart God of War Ragnarök
The games that won the "Animation" award but were not finalists in the "Art Direction" category were:
Assassin's Creed III Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Luigi's Mansion 3 Astro Bot South of Midnight
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 + Table keyIndicates the winner YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)1997/1998 (1st) Riven: The Sequel to MystCyan WorldsRed Orb EntertainmentBlade RunnerWestwood StudiosVirgin InteractiveFinal Fantasy VIISquareSoftSony Computer EntertainmentGoldenEye 007RareNintendoOddworld: Abe's OddyseeOddworld InhabitantsGT InteractiveThe Curse of Monkey IslandLucasArtsLucasArts1998/1999 (2nd) Banjo-KazooieRareNintendoGrim FandangoLucasArtsLucasArtsHalf-LifeValveSierra On-LineSpyro the DragonInsomniac GamesSony Computer Entertainment1999/2000 (3rd) Final Fantasy VIIISquareSoftSquare Electronic ArtsAge of Empires II: The Age of KingsEnsemble StudiosMicrosoft GamesDisney's Villains' RevengeDisney InteractiveDisney InteractiveSpyro 2: Ripto's Rage!Insomniac GamesSony Computer Entertainment
2000s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2000 (4th) Final Fantasy IXSquareSoftSquare Electronic ArtsDead or Alive 2Team NinjaTecmoRayman 2: The Great EscapeUbi PicturesUbisoftSpace Channel 5Sega AM9SegaTekken Tag TournamentNamcoNamco2001 (5th) Oddworld: Munch's OddyseeOddworld InhabitantsMicrosoft Game StudiosBlack & WhiteLionhead StudiosElectronic ArtsDead or Alive 3Team NinjaTecmoSuper Smash Bros. MeleeHAL LaboratoryNintendoTony Hawk's Pro Skater 3NeversoftActivision2002 (6th) Sly Cooper and the Thievius RaccoonusSucker Punch ProductionsSony Computer Entertainment Final Fantasy XSquareSoftSquare Electronic ArtsKingdom HeartsThe Mark of KriSan Diego StudioSony Computer EntertainmentRatchet & ClankInsomniac Games2003 (7th) Prince of Persia: The Sands of TimeUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBeyond Good & EvilUbisoft MontpellierUbisoftJak IINaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentRatchet & Clank: Going CommandoInsomniac GamesSoulcalibur IINamcoNamco2004 (8th) Half-Life 2ValveVivendi Universal GamesJak 3Naughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentPrince of Persia: Warrior WithinUbisoft MontrealUbisoftRatchet & Clank: Up Your ArsenalInsomniac GamesSony Computer EntertainmentSly 2: Band of ThievesSucker Punch Productions2005 (9th) God of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentOddworld: Stranger's WrathOddworld InhabitantsMicrosoft Game StudiosPrince of Persia: The Two ThronesUbisoft MontrealUbisoftRise of the KasaiBottleRocket EntertainmentSony Computer EntertainmentShadow of the ColossusJapan Studio2006 (10th) Gears of WarEpic GamesMicrosoft Game StudiosDaxterReady at DawnSony Computer EntertainmentFight Night Round 3EA ChicagoElectronic ArtsLego Star Wars II: The Original TrilogyTraveller's TalesLucasArtsRayman Raving RabbidsUbisoft MontpellierUbisoft2007 (11th) Assassin's CreedUbisoft MontrealUbisoftCall of Duty 4: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionRatchet & Clank Future: Tools of DestructionInsomniac GamesSony Computer EntertainmentTeam Fortress 2ValveValve, Electronic ArtsUncharted: Drake's FortuneNaughty DogSony Computer Entertainment2008 (12th) Prince of PersiaUbisoft MontrealUbisoftCastle CrashersThe BehemothMicrosoft Game StudiosGears of War 2Epic GamesLeft 4 DeadValve SouthValveMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsKojima ProductionsKonami2009 (13th) Uncharted 2: Among ThievesNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBatman: Arkham AsylumRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Infinity WardActivisionRatchet & Clank Future: A Crack in TimeInsomniac GamesSony Computer Entertainment
2010s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2010 (14th) God of War IIISanta Monica StudioSony Computer EntertainmentCall of Duty: Black OpsTreyarchActivisionEnslaved: Odyssey to the WestNinja TheoryNamco Bandai GamesRed Dead RedemptionRockstar San DiegoRockstar GamesTom Clancy's Splinter Cell: ConvictionUbisoft MontrealUbisoft2011 (15th) Uncharted 3: Drake's DeceptionNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed: RevelationsUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBatman: Arkham CityRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentL.A. NoireTeam BondiRockstar GamesRayman OriginsUbisoft MontpellierUbisoft2012 (16th) Assassin's Creed IIIUbisoft MontrealUbisoftFar Cry 3Ubisoft MontrealUbisoftHitman: AbsolutionIO InteractiveSquare Enix EuropeMark of the NinjaKlei EntertainmentMicrosoft StudiosUncharted: Golden AbyssBend StudioSony Computer Entertainment2013 (17th) The Last of UsNaughty DogSony Computer EntertainmentAssassin's Creed IV: Black FlagUbisoft MontrealUbisoftBeyond: Two SoulsQuantic DreamSony Computer EntertainmentPuppeteerJapan StudioRayman Fiesta RunUbisoft CasablancaUbisoft2014 (18th) Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorMonolith ProductionsWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentAssassin's Creed UnityUbisoft MontrealUbisoftInfamous Second SonSucker Punch ProductionsSony Computer EntertainmentSunset OverdriveInsomniac GamesMicrosoft StudiosTitanfallRespawn EntertainmentElectronic Arts2015 (19th) Ori and the Blind ForestMoon StudiosMicrosoft StudiosAssassin's Creed SyndicateUbisoft QuebecUbisoftBatman: Arkham KnightRocksteady StudiosWarner Bros. Interactive EntertainmentRise of the Tomb RaiderCrystal DynamicsSquare Enix EuropeThe Order: 1886Ready at DawnSony Computer Entertainment2016 (20th) Uncharted 4: A Thief's EndNaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentInsidePlaydeadPlaydeadThe Last GuardianJapan Studio, GenDesignSony Interactive EntertainmentOverwatchBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentStreet Fighter VCapcom, DimpsCapcom2017 (21st) CupheadStudio MDHRStudio MDHRFor HonorUbisoft MontrealUbisoftHellblade: Senua's SacrificeNinja TheoryNinja TheoryHorizon Zero DawnGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentUncharted: The Lost LegacyNaughty Dog2018 (22nd) Marvel's Spider-ManInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentGod of WarSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentGrisNomada StudioDevolver DigitalMossPolyarcPolyarcRed Dead Redemption 2Rockstar GamesRockstar Games2019 (23rd) Luigi's Mansion 3Next Level GamesNintendoCall of Duty: Modern WarfareInfinity WardActivisionDays GoneBend StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentDeath StrandingKojima ProductionsDevil May Cry 5CapcomCapcom
2020s YearGameDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)2020 (24th) The Last of Us Part IINaughty DogSony Interactive EntertainmentFinal Fantasy VII RemakeSquare EnixSquare EnixMarvel's Spider-Man: Miles MoralesInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentOri and the Will of the WispsMoon StudiosXbox Game StudiosSpiritfarerThunder Lotus GamesThunder Lotus Games2021 (25th) Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartInsomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentCall of Duty: VanguardSledgehammer GamesActivisionDeathloopArkane StudiosBethesda SoftworksKena: Bridge of SpiritsEmber LabEmber LabResident Evil VillageCapcomCapcom2022 (26th) God of War RagnarökSanta Monica StudioSony Interactive EntertainmentCuphead - The Delicious Last CourseStudio MDHRStudio MDHRElden RingFromSoftwareBandai Namco EntertainmentHorizon Forbidden WestGuerrilla GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentMoss: Book IIPolyarcPolyarc2023 (27th) Marvel's Spider-Man 2Insomniac GamesSony Interactive EntertainmentFinal Fantasy XVISquare EnixSquare EnixHi-Fi RushTango GameworksBethesda SoftworksMortal Kombat 1NetherRealm StudiosWarner Bros. GamesSuper Mario Bros. WonderNintendo EPDNintendo2024 (28th) Astro BotTeam AsobiSony Interactive EntertainmentCall of Duty: Black Ops 6TreyarchActivisionFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth Square Enix Square EnixNevaNomada StudioDevolver DigitalWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Saber InteractiveFocus Entertainment2025 (29th) South of MidnightCompulsion GamesXbox Game StudiosDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach Kojima Productions Sony Interactive EntertainmentGhost of Yōtei Sucker Punch ProductionsMonster Hunter Wilds Capcom CapcomThe Midnight Walk MoonHood Fast Travel Games
Multiple nominations and wins 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. Both Ubisoft Montpellier, formerly known as "Ubi Pictures", and Capcom have developed the most nominees without a single winner.
+ Developer Nominations WinsNaughty Dog 9 5Ubisoft Montreal 13 4Insomniac Games 12 3Santa Monica Studio 4 3SquareSoft/Square Enix 8 2Sucker Punch Productions 4 1Oddworld Inhabitants 3 1Valve 3 1Epic Games 2 1Moon Studios 2 1Rare 2 1Studio MDHR 2 1 Capcom 4 0Ubi Pictures/Ubisoft Montpellier 4 0Infinity Ward 3 0Japan Studio 3 0Kojima Productions 3 0Rocksteady Studios 3 0Bend Studio 2 0Guerrilla Games 2 0LucasArts 2 0Namco 2 0Ninja Theory 2 0Nomada Studio 2 0Polyarc 2 0Ready at Dawn 2 0Team Ninja 2 0Treyarch 2 0
+ Publishers Publisher Nominations WinsSony Computer/Interactive Entertainment 44 13Ubisoft 19 4Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios 11 4Electronic Arts 8 2SquareSoft/Square Enix 7 2Nintendo 5 2Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Warner Bros. Games 5 1Studio MDHR 2 1Activision 7 0Capcom 4 0Namco/Bandai Namco Games/Entertainment 4 0Valve 4 0LucasArts 3 0Rockstar Games 3 0Bethesda Softworks 2 0Devolver Digital 2 0Polyarc 2 0Square Enix Europe 2 0Tecmo 2 0
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.