The Academy reveals the frontrunners in the Animated Short Film and Visual Effects categories for the upcoming awards.
Animated Short Film Category
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlist for the Animated Short Film category for the 97th Academy Awards. Fifteen films have advanced from a pool of eighty-eight qualified entries. Academy members from the Animation Branch and Short Films Branch participated in the preliminary voting round. To vote in the nominations round, members must view all 15 shortlisted films.
The shortlisted films are:
| Title | Directors | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| Au Revoir Mon Monde | Astrid Novais, Florian Maurice, Quentin Devred, Maxime Foltzer, Estelle Bonnardel, Baptiste Duchamps | As the world nears its end, a man stuck in a fish costume races against the clock towards a mysterious tower. |
| A Bear Named Wojtek | Iain Gardner | Displaced by World War II, a troop of Polish soldiers find an inseparable bond with an orphaned brown bear that they name Wojtek. |
| Beautiful Men | Nicolas Keppens | Three balding brothers travel to Istanbul to get a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair. |
| Bottle George | Dice Tsutsumi | A stop-motion animated short film about the darkness of addiction and the strength of family. |
| A Crab in the Pool | Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel | In a run-down neighborhood, Zoe and her little brother Theo are left to fend for themselves. |
These films showcase a diverse range of storytelling and animation techniques, reflecting the global talent contributing to the art form.
Visual Effects Category
In the Visual Effects category, ten films have been shortlisted, highlighting the year’s most impressive achievements in visual effects artistry.
The shortlisted films are:
| Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|
| The Creator | A futuristic tale exploring the complexities of artificial intelligence and human relationships. |
| Godzilla Minus One | The iconic monster returns in a narrative set in post-war Japan, blending traditional kaiju action with modern effects. |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | The intergalactic team’s latest adventure, featuring cutting-edge visual effects to bring cosmic landscapes to life. |
These selections underscore the integral role of visual effects in modern filmmaking, enhancing storytelling through technological innovation.
The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be announced on January 17, 2025, with the ceremony scheduled for March 2, 2025.
Which of these animated shorts and visual effects achievements are you most excited about? Share your thoughts and predictions for the upcoming Oscars!
