Oscars 2023: GloRRRy For India and the Animation Fraternity

We were genuinely engaged in the outcome of the short film Oscar event this year and were anxious to learn who would take home the prize. We tracked the progress from the shortlists to the nominations, offered our own voter’s guide, looked at the trends, and made predictions. We even found a moment to catch up with a few past winners for an illuminating conversation about their Oscar experience.

Finally, the wait has come to an end. So without further ado, here are the 95th Academy Award winners for Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Animated Feature.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE BY PETER BAYNTON & CHARLIE MACKESY

An enchanting story “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” with a star-studded voice cast and opulent hand-drawn animation, won Apple its first animated short Oscar. Based on the book by Charlie Mackesy, this heartwarming, classically animated movie tells a tale of generosity, friendship, courage, and hope for audiences of all ages. The fascinating adventure follows the unusual fellow travelers of a child, a mole, a fox, and a horse—who are all on the same quest to find their way home.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

“The Elephant Whisperers” emerged as the winner at the 95th Academy Awards making it a maiden victory for India in the Documentary Short Subject category. A couple from south India named Bomman and Bellie dedicate their entire lives to raising Raghu, an orphaned baby elephant, creating a unique family in the process.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

“Animation is cinema. Animation is not a genre. Animation is ready to be taken to the next step. Keep animation in the conversation.” Says Guillermo del Toro as ‘Pinocchio’ Wins Animated Feature Oscar.

The victory gave Netflix its first Oscar in the category while making del Toro the first director to win best picture, director, and animated feature.

Del Toro receives his third Oscar for the stop-motion version of Carlo Collodi’s famous book. He previously won the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for his 2017 film The Shape of Water. Using visual imagery influenced by Gris Grimly’s artwork, Pinocchio reinvented the well-known story of a wooden puppet brought to life. The toy kid is enlisted into the military since the tale unfolds in pre-World War 2 fascist Italy. In the film, which also stars Ewan McGregor as Sebastian J. Cricket and David Bradley as Geppetto, Gregory Mann voices Pinocchio.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

In the Best Song category, Naatu Naatu from SS Rajamouli’s RRR won the Oscar. Naatu Naatu beat a slate of heavy-weight competitors – Lady Gaga’s Hold My Hand from Top Gun: Maverick, Rihanna’s Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, This Is A Life from Everything Everywhere All At Once, and Applause from Tell It Like A Woman. The first Indian song to win this coveted prize was Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire in 2009 in the same category. This is the second Indian song to accomplish so.

Prayan Animation is proud of all the Oscar champions and extends its best wishes to the entire animation community to keep growing by leaps and bounds.