Oscar nominees named this morning for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short share their reactions to the great news.
Following this morning’s announcement of the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards (set for March 2), filmmakers involved with all 10 nominated animated films – for Best Animation Feature and Best Animated Short - have been writing and phoning in with their reactions.
Let’s have a look at how some of the industry’s leading artists are taking the great news…
Nominees for Best Animated Feature
Flow (also nominated for Best International Feature for Latvia)
When we started working on this film, we never could have imagined that it would lead to this. A Latvian film has never before been nominated and for a small independent film to be recognized in the Best Animated Feature category is unbelievable.
For over five years, myself and a small group of young and passionate creators worked on telling this story about an anxious cat surviving in an unforgiving landscape — a cat who learns that friendship comes when you trust those around you.
I want to emphasize that this film was made using completely free tools that anyone can access. I learned filmmaking by watching YouTube videos and experimenting on my own. I am so proud of this film and what it means for the next generation of animators.
-- Gints Zilbalodis, director
Thank you to the Academy for this tremendous honor. Over the past few weeks, we've had the opportunity to attend screenings and various talks and events for our film, and it's been a real inspiration to hear from audiences about how Inside Out 2 has affected them. People have shared stories about their own struggles with anxiety, or how the film inspired their child to better accept themselves, or from teachers who show the film in classrooms to incite discussions about emotions. Honestly, it makes us tear up hearing these things. We'd hoped to make a film that would entertain people and have a meaningful impact on the world, and what we've been hearing makes us feel like maybe we came close to doing just that. And a nomination like this? It's incredibly important as it underscores just how much the film did resonate. Thank you.
-- Kelsey Mann, director and Mark Nielsen, producer
As an indie auteur, when I won an Academy Award 22 years ago, I would have never thought I’d get nominated for another one. My producer Liz Kearney and I are tickled pink to get this far and be acknowledged for our years of hard work. On behalf of all our artists, animators, technicians, producers and partners, we are honored to be nominated, especially amongst such sublime and well-crafted nominees that span the full spectrum of the medium.
-- Adam Elliot, director
Wallace & Grommit: Vengeance Most Fowl
We are immensely honored that our film has been nominated for an Academy Award, and it is especially meaningful to receive this recognition from our peers around the world. This nomination is a testament to the enduring love for Wallace & Gromit, as well as the incredible talent and hard work of our entire team, in the UK and beyond.
-- Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, directors
The Wild Robot (also nominated for Best Original Score and Best Sound – director Chris Sanders joins Hayao Miyazaki and Pete Docter as the only three directors who have been nominated four times for Best Animated Feature).
It's been a challenging few weeks processing a wide range of emotions. Today's recognition from the Academy means more that I could ever express - and not just to myself, but to our entire The Wild Robot family. This acknowledgement belongs to our cast and crew, whose ingenuity and artistry created the gentle miracle that made it to the screen. As impressed as I was to watch them break every rule about how we make these movies, I am even more humbled to see the way they have all supported each other and their communities in the wake of recent events. The grace, kindness, and quiet strength that created The Wild Robot was not a momentary thing. It’s just the way each and every one of them carries themselves as a matter of course. They will prevail again, I know it. On their behalf, I thank every member of the Academy from the bottom of my heart.
-- Chris Sanders, writer-director
Thank you to the Academy for this tremendous recognition, particularly among such a diverse and sophisticated array of films. Everyone on The Wild Robot team shared a powerful connection to this project and to us it represented the life’s work of our respective careers in expanding the narrative and visual boundaries of the art of animation. The world continues to need stories which promote kindness and community, and we are deeply grateful for the Academy’s response to our film.
-- Jeff Hermann, producer
I am profoundly humbled by the Academy’s decision to nominate my original score for The Wild Robot. Writing original music for movies has been my dream since I was a little kid, and I have been lucky to dedicate my life to that special alchemy of image, sound and music. Chris Sanders’s amazing vision and the generous, open canvas of The Wild Robot provided me the space to let my musical spirit soar.
I am just returning home to L.A. with my daughter and wife (who’s expecting!). This morning’s nomination and outpouring of love from the audience has been a source of great strength and reassurance during what has been a supremely challenging year for our city.
-- Kris Bowers, composer
Beautiful Men
We are more than happy and touched by the choice to give Beautiful Men a place next to four other gorgeous tales. Our goal was to show a journey of opening up to tenderness. It's wonderful to see that others find it as relevant and worth telling as we do.
-- Nicolas Keppens, director and Brecht Van Elslande, producer
In the Shadow of the Cypress
To be recognized by the Academy with an Oscar nomination is an immense honor. This profound acknowledgment of our more than six-year journey, undertaken amidst the challenges of severe sanctions and economic crises, serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. We embarked on this project with a singular goal: to give voice to the untold stories of Iranian PTSD veterans through a film brimming with love, hope, and artistic integrity. This nomination validates our dream of sharing this poignant work with a global audience.
We understand that this is not the end, but a beginning. It reinforces our responsibility as filmmakers to continue creating meaningful and impactful stories. Our dream of producing our first feature-length animated film burns brighter than ever, and this recognition provides invaluable momentum towards that goal.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Academy, to our extraordinary team whose unwavering dedication brought this vision to life, to our beloved families, especially to our mothers whose unwavering love and support have been the foundation of our journey, and to everyone who embraced In the Shadow of the Cypress with their heartfelt encouragement.
-- Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, directors and producers
Magic Candies
It is an incredible honor, and I can hardly believe it. First, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supported this nomination, and to all those involved in organizing the Academy Awards. First, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this nomination possible and to all those involved in organizing the Academy Awards.
I also want to extend my highest praise to all the crew and cast of Magic Candies. I also wish to commend the remarkable efforts of the entire cast and crew of Magic Candies. Their sincere and tenacious efforts brought the world of this film to life in such a vivid way. Their unwavering commitment and creativity brought this story to life in such a vivid and compelling way.
What touches me the most is that so many people from around the world have connected with this story. What moves me the most is how this story has resonated with so many people around the world. I am filled with immense gratitude to everyone who has watched Magic Candies, and even those who have yet to see it. To everyone who has watched Magic Candies—and even those who have yet to discover it—I am profoundly grateful. Thank you so much.
-- Daisuke Nishio, director
Thank you so much to the Academy members and everyone involved for the nomination of Magic Candies. I believe this nomination is a recognition of the sincere dedication of every member of our team, who worked tirelessly to convey the charm of the original book through animation while delving deeply into what is truly important in filmmaking.
This nomination is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire team, who worked tirelessly to bring the charm of the original book to life through animation while delving deeply into what is truly important in filmmaking. We sincerely hope that this film will continue to reach and be loved by people all over the world. We hope this film continues to resonate with audiences and be cherished by people around the world.
-- Takashi Washio, producer
Wander to Wonder
AAAGGGHHH! OVER THE MOON! We worked on this film for 8 years, and there were so many times I thought we’d never finish it. For it to now be heading to the Oscars is a mind-boggling experience! I’m so glad it resonates with so many people, because although it’s absurd and dark, it’s ultimately about very human and real emotions.
A heartfelt thank you to the Academy and everyone who has already watched and shared their reflections on the film—your support means the world to us! Huge congratulations to the incredible team that worked on the film!
-- Nina Gantz, director and producer
Yuck!
A thousand thanks to the members of the Academy for this nomination! It's just amazing! Yuck! is a film about the birth of feelings and the fear of other people's gaze, all from a child's point of view. It's a film about childhood, but it's not just for kids! I wanted to make a film that would bring generations together to share a moment of cinema.
-- Loïc Espuche, director and Juliette Marquet, director
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
