As Oscar season approaches, we'd like to thank the Academy for bringing these history-making animated films to our attention

Words Mika Geronimo
Photos courtesy Paramount Pictures
February 22, 2024

Despite the ceremony's illustrious, almost century-old history, would you believe that the Academy Awards' Best Animated Feature category was only introduced in 2001?

Since then, it has honored countless beloved films in the past two decades, with a good portion of the category winners admittedly still hailing from established studios. But, hefty names aside, there are quite a few trailblazers that come along, reminding us of just how dynamic and impactful the medium can be.

With the 97th Academy Awards on the horizon, let’s take a look back at four exceptional animated films that have made history both in the medium and the industry at large.

Spirited Away (2001)

This breathtaking fantasy film stands as the first (and only) hand-drawn, non-English language film to have won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Visionary director Hayao Miyazaki’s latest project, The Boy and The Heron, is vying to be the second at this year’s Oscars. Apart from serving as most moviegoers’ introduction to the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away has maintained a longstanding following over the years. With its timeless story and memorable characters, Spirited Away is the kind of film that grows with you, becoming more nuanced with every rewatch.

Anomalisa (2015)

Much like his other works, the comedy-drama film Anomalisa is not exempt from Charlie Kaufman’s unique brand of surrealism. The filmmaker’s first venture into animation was also the first R-rated finalist in the Best Animated Feature category. But make no mistake, Anomalisa is more than its mature content. Adapted from Kaufman’s play of the same name, it is equal parts honest and unnerving. Whether it’s the realistic puppets or the nightmarish sequences, the film succeeds in prompting audiences to reflect on their contentment with life’s mundanity,

Loving Vincent (2017)

This experimental, biographical depiction of Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh’s life made history as the 'world’s first fully-painted feature film.' Comprising a team of 125 skilled painters, the film's whopping 65,000 frames were each created with individual oil paintings on canvas, immersing audiences not only in Van Gogh’s psyche but also in his seminal art style. Polish-British director duo DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman have since followed up the success of Loving Vincent with The Peasants (2023), their second fully-painted feature.

Flee (2021)

While animation knows no bounds in realizing one’s imagination, there remains untapped potential in utilizing the medium to share real stories by real people. Merging documentary with animation, Flee" is a visual memoir that chronicles the life of Afghanistan-born Amin Nawabi and his journey as a refugee in Denmark. This impressive film was aptly recognized at the 94th Academy Awards, making it the first to be nominated for Best Documentary Feature, Best International Feature Film, and Best Animated Feature.