The 2008 British Animation Awards have been launched, with a new prize for Best Character Voice Performance added to the line-up.

The new category celebrates talented artists lending their voices to animated work, and will be sponsored by The Sound Company.

Held every two years, the awards cover the entire UK animation scene from student work to commercials, children's entertainment, short and experimental art films, music videos, script-writing and craftsmanship.

Past winners since the awards began in 1996 have included The Corpse Bride by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton, Angry Kid by Aardman Animations, and Peppa Pig: Mummy Pig at Work by Astley Baker Davies/Contender Entertainment Group.

Entries for the awards open this week. The deadline for student work is October 31 and all other category entries need to be received by November 30.