The first Academy Awards were handed out on May 16, 1929, not long after the advent of “talkies.” By 1930, enthusiasm for the ceremonies was so great that a Los Angeles radio station did a live, one-hour broadcast, and the Awards have enjoyed broadcast coverage ever since.

The number and types of awards have grown and changed over the years to keep up with the development of the motion picture industry. Awards of Merit—Oscars®—are presented in each (or in subdivisions) of the following categories: acting, animation, art direction, cinematography, costume design, directing, documentary film, film editing, foreign language film, make-up, music, best picture, short film, sound, visual effects and writing. In an age when awards shows seem as common as nightly news programs, the Academy Awards are unique because the judges—the approximately 6,000 Academy members—are the top filmmakers from around the world. The question, “Who gets the Oscar?” is decided by a true jury of peers.

The awards process provides a wonderful opportunity to teach your students about the many craft areas and the many communications techniques that play a part in creating a motion picture. Filmmaking is by nature a collaborative process, with each creative area supporting and being supported by the others. Because our space is limited, this kit focuses on just one of those areas—animation.

Selecting Films For Student Viewing
Students may select the films they wish to view for the following activities, or you may wish to suggest films that are appropriate.

The following feature films have won Academy Awards for animation, are available on videotape and may be appropriate for your students: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938), Fantasia (1941), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Toy Story (1995), Shrek (2001), and Spirited Away (2002).

Other animated features that have been nominated for Academy Awards include: Beauty and the Beast (1991), Ice Age (2002), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), Lilo & Stitch (2002), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), and Treasure Planet (2002).

Academy Award-winning short films available on DVD and videotape include: Walking (1968), The Crunch Bird (1971), Closed Mondays (1974), The Street (1968), The Sand Castle (1977), Crac! (1981), The Man Who Planted Trees (1987), Creature Comforts (1990), and A Close Shave (1995).

Additional animated films that may be suitable for your students include: Alice in Wonderland (1951), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Iron Giant (1999), The Nightmare before Christmas (1993), Princess Mononoke (1997) and Chicken Run (2000); and the short films Neighbours (1952), Mindscape (1976), Pas de Deux (1985) and Luxo Jr. (1986).