Wet Light Systems Deploys IP66 Low-Voltage Candelabra Platform at 53rd Annie Awards for Animation Design
The Liam 4-Light Pendant from Wet Light Systems™ adorns the winners and presenters garden at the 53rd Annual Annie Awards held at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Los Angeles, CA — February 21, 2026 — Wet Light Systems demonstrated its low-voltage lamp and socket platform at the 53rd Annual Annie Awards, held at UCLA’s Royce Hall and honoring excellence in animation for 2025. The event welcomed more than 1,200 attendees from across the global animation and film community.
Los Angeles–based Maxine Banks Events curated the event’s décor, ambience and dining experience, part of which centered around a mature Ficus tree within a high-traffic outdoor gathering space. The design challenge was clear: Maxine wanted to illuminate the tree with suspended decorative chandeliers without introducing extension cords or cables that could be trip hazards and visually disruptive.
Outdoor temporary installations for public events are governed by strict electrical and safety requirements, including National Electrical Code (NEC) provisions for temporary power distribution, wet-location wiring methods, GFCI protection, and flexible cord usage. In a high-traffic environment such as the Annie Awards, traditional 120V decorative chandeliers would typically require heavy-gauge extension cabling, weather-protected junction points, ground-fault protection, and careful routing to prevent trip hazards and maintain code compliance.
Wet Light Systems’ low-voltage architecture significantly reduced this infrastructure footprint. Operating within the NEC framework for low-voltage lighting systems, the chandeliers were able to be deployed using remote or battery-based Class 2 power sources, minimizing exposed cabling and eliminating the need for overhead line-voltage distribution within the tree canopy.
Equally critical was environmental protection. Each lamp-and-socket assembly is engineered to an IP66 rating, providing dust-tight construction and resistance to powerful water exposure. Rather than relying on secondary weather enclosures or protective domes, the sealing integrity is integrated directly into the modular lamp platform. This approach ensures wet-location performance while maintaining the refined proportions expected of decorative luminaires.
“For safety reasons, with so much foot traffic directly affecting this area, laying heavy extension cables was not an option,” said Maxine Banks. “Those unsightly cables would also have significantly reduced the beauty of the space. When Steve Selak provided an alternative with his Wet Light battery powered chandeliers, I knew that was the way to go. Without the cords we would have had to run up the tree and tried to hide, all the attendees saw were chandeliers in the trees. We had so many wonderful comments on how beautiful the tree looked.”
Multiple four-light matte black 12VDC candelabra pendant chandeliers were suspended in a staggered pattern from the tree’s canopy, creating a refined candlelit atmosphere. Operating independently from traditional power distribution, the battery-powered system allowed the luminaires to appear as though they were floating within the branches for a clean, minimal, and visually uninterrupted aesthetic.
The result was an intimate, cinematic environment: warm 2700K incandescent-like illumination, high color rendering, and a layered glow that complemented both the architectural setting and the evening’s formal ambiance.
By minimizing the need for extension cords, reducing ground-level power runs, and integrating environmental sealing directly into the fixture, Wet Light Systems enabled a safer installation in a high-traffic hospitality environment while preserving the visual integrity of the landscape. The system’s modular lamp and socket architecture offers a new approach to outdoor lighting - one that prioritizes flexibility, serviceability, and aesthetic freedom.
The Annie Awards installation demonstrates how low-voltage decorative lighting can expand creative possibilities across hospitality, residential, and architectural applications. From garden receptions to courtyard dining spaces and residential estates, the platform allows designers to introduce suspended decorative light in locations previously constrained by wiring logistics and water protection.
Wet Light Systems continues to develop its low-voltage IP66 certified socket and lamp light source platform for exterior and severe weather environments, providing designers with new tools to create atmosphere without compromise.
About Wet Light Systems
Wet Light Systems is a patented modular lamp and socket platform designed for exterior and severe weather environments. The system provides low-voltage lighting solutions that balance performance, environmental protection, and design flexibility across water exposed applications where light is needed.
About Maxine Banks Events
Maxine Banks Events is an event production firm known for crafting elevated environments for award ceremonies, private gatherings, and high-profile events. Based in West Los Angeles, Maxine Banks has been providing award-winning cuisine, design, and event production for over 30 years and works with the best vendors in the industry to create flawless experiences.