2024 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Animated Program

Marcus Jones
·3-min read
ConsiderThis
ConsiderThis

We will update this article throughout the season, along with all our predictions, so make sure to keep checking IndieWire for the latest news from the 2024 Emmys race. The nomination round of voting takes place from June 13 to June 24, with the official Emmy nominations announced Wednesday, July 17. Afterwards, final voting commences on August 15 and ends the night of August 26. The 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, September 15, and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.

Click on for more of our previous thoughts on what to expect at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards.

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The State of the Race

Outstanding Animated Program tends to be one of the most dynamic Emmy categories despite the fact that there are a handful of shows regularly nominated. The last two seasons really exemplify this, where “The Simpsons,” America’s longest running scripted primetime TV series, won the Emmy in January, but the year before that Netflix earned its first category win for “Arcane: League of Legends” Season 1.

So, yes, voters are still likely to honor the familiar, nominating “The Simpsons” and/or “Bob’s Burgers,” some of the last remaining Fox series making an impact post Disney-Fox Studios merger, and recent two-time winner “Rick and Morty” on Adult Swim. But this TV season has premiered way too many impressive new animated series for them to ignore.

Chief among those contenders that have only aired one season is Netflix series “Blue Eye Samurai.” The anime inspired action show helmed by Amber Noizumi and Oscar nominee Michael Green swept the Annie Awards earlier this year, which was the same key indicator that “Arcane” was headed toward a history-making win.

Elsewhere is “X-Men ‘97,” which has made multiple critics award lists, nominated against live action dramas. Disney+ scored a nomination for the first season of “What If,” giving the streaming service its first nomination in the category. That show has its second season up for consideration, but again, “X-Men ‘97” has gotten a greater response than almost any Disney+ show before it. There is a chance it is even the frontrunner.

One wild card in the race is the series “Scavengers Reign,” which was a Max series that became a cult favorite shortly after its release last fall, but did not gain an audience big enough to warrant a Season 2 renewal. Weirdly, the show’s cancelation may have been a blessing in disguise, as the series was added to Netflix just in time for Emmy voting, and has gained a far bigger audience, meaning it might have built enough momentum to receive an Outstanding Animated Program nomination, which would most likely convince Netflix to revive the series.

Speaking of Netflix, they have another major contender in “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” which reunited the cast of the Edgar Wright film as voice actors on the show. But again, a lot of those older series just have their flags so permanently staked in the ground of the category, so it would be hard for more than a couple new shows to get in, especially when considering something like past winner “Archer” is also in the mix for its final season, and even that show being nominated is a longshot.

Predicted Nominees:
“Blue Eye Samurai” (Netflix)
“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox)
“Rick and Morty” (Adult Swim)
“The Simpsons” (Fox)
“X-Men ’97” (Disney+)

Contenders:
“Archer” (FXX)
“Scavengers Reign” (Max)
“Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” (Netflix)

Also Consider This:
“Carol & The End Of The World” (Netflix)
“Harley Quinn” (Max)
“Hazbin Hotel” (Prime Video)

More Category Predictions:
Outstanding Talk Series
Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

View IndieWire’s full set of predictions for the 76th Emmy Awards.

Last Year’s Winner: “The Simpsons”
Still Eligible: Yes.
Hot Streak: “The Simpsons” is far and away the most awarded show in the category’s history with 12 wins (second is “South Park” with five), so another win would further its record. Should a Netflix series win though, it would make Netflix the first streaming service to win the category twice. For any other streaming service, it would be its first ever win for Outstanding Animated Program.
Notable Ineligible Series: “South Park” (Season 27 is not eligible); “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal” (Season 2 is not eligible); “Arcane: League of Legends” (Season 2 is not eligible); “Human Resources” (Season 2 is not eligible); “Entergalactic” (Season 2 is not eligible)

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