Pixar is no stranger at the Oscars. The studio has been a mainstay at the Academy Awards since it started to release animated shorts in the 1980s. Pixar’s roots were recognized once again at the 89th Annual Academy Awards, as Piper, the stunningly beautiful short from director Alan Barillaro, was nominated in the Animated Short Film category. Not only did it earn the nomination – it took home the big prize. [Read more…]
‘Monsters University’ Snubbed By Academy, Joins ‘Cars 2’ As Only Pixar Films Not To Receive Oscar Nomination
This past weekend, the Golden Globes were handed out, but Monsters University was nowhere to be found as the Hollywood Foreign Press failed to nominate the Pixar film for Best Animated Film. The Globes have been known to be a controversial awards show, though, with many calling it out for its questionable nominees and winners. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (or simply, the Academy), while not exempt from making controversial decisions, is more respected in the industry for the Oscars are still the precipice of awards season. The Oscar nominations were announced this morning, and Pixar will have to miss the Oscar parties as well as Monsters University was completely shut out.
Disney/Pixar Pushes ‘Monsters University’ For Awards Consideration In Poster Ad
Around this time of year, the marketing department at studios ramp up to remind voters to consider their films when votes are cast for awards. Full-page spreads are taken out in trades such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, ads cover film websites and blogs, and posters are unleashed into the wild. Disney/Pixar has released the first such ad, known as a “For Your Consideration” (FYC) ad, for Monsters University. Take a look at the poster after the break!
The Pixar Perspective on Awards
What is the price of a decreasing amount of prestige? This is the question that may be worth asking most of all right now if you’re a fan of Pixar Animation Studios. As Samad pointed out on the Pixar Times home page, when the Golden Globe nominations were announced this past Thursday morning, Monsters University was not included among the nominees for Best Animated Feature. There is, to be sure, a necessary discussion to be had, not only about how seriously people do or should take the Golden Globes, as well as why, this year, they only nominated three films for Best Animated Feature. (On the latter point, Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, the exquisite and mature The Wind Rises, was nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film, but not Best Animated Feature, inexplicably. Also, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hands out the Golden Globes, has a rule stating that if fewer than 12, but more than 7, animated features qualify in a given year, there can only be three Best Animated Feature nominees. As there were only 10 wide-release animated features this year, that must explain the small number of nominees, but just barely.)
Pixar Faces A Challenging Road This Awards Season
It’s the most controversial time of the year. Awards season is officially underway, with various organizations beginning to announce nominations and even winners for what they consider to be the year’s best films. Where awards shows go, controversy follows closely behind, as bold choices are often made for which films, filmmakers, and actors are celebrated. On Monday, the Los Angeles branch of Association Internationale du Film d’Animation, also known as ASIFA-Hollywood, released their list of nominees for the Annie Awards, an event that many consider to be the biggest night for film and television animation. Pixar’s Monsters University and Toy Story OF TERROR! landed a combined 17 nominations. Find more details about what is in store for Pixar this awards season after the break!
‘Monsters University’ Submitted, ‘The Blue Umbrella’ Fails To Advance In Race For Academy Awards
As the calendar turns to November, the awards race begins to heat up in Hollywood. Although the most notable of the awards shows, the Academy Awards, does not take place until March 2014, every studio aims to stay in front of the pack, especially as the holiday season is often stacked with films looking to capture the attention of critics and awards voters. Monsters University will be competing with Disney Animation’s Frozen to receive nominations in the Animated Film category, both of which the Academy stated have been submitted by Disney for contention. However, the Academy has also announced that Pixar’s 2013 short, The Blue Umbrella, did not make the shortlist of animation shorts advancing to the next stage and will not be competing for an Oscar.
Watch: Animated Shorts Oscar Panel Hosted by Brad Bird
Last night the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences hosted its annual discussion with the filmmakers of the Oscar nominated animated short films. Incredibles and Ratatouille director Brad Bird hosted the event, which spotlighted shorts Dimanche (Sunday), The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Pixar’s La Luna, A Morning Stroll, and Wild Life. Clips from all the shorts were presented, followed by an extensive conversation between Bird and the filmmakers. Watch the entire panel after the jump! [Read more…]
Watch: Trailers For Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts
The difficulty with evaluating the Oscar nominated shorts is that many of the short films are not widely released. Pixar has been screening shorts worldwide with its feature films, but many of the other studios’ films tend to evade Oscar viewers. Five animated shorts have been nominated for an Academy Award this year: Dimanche, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Pixar’s La Luna, A Morning Stroll, and Wild Life. Check out plot synopses, clips and trailers from all the nominees after the jump! [Read more…]
Academy Alters Best Picture Rules. What Does Change Mean For Pixar Films?
Early this morning, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences issued a press release detailing a new process for choosing Best Picture nominees. Recently, the Academy increased the number of films that could be nominated in the category from five to 10. It was widely seen as a response to The Dark Knight not receiving a nomination the previous year. During this brief two-year era of 10 nominees, Disney/Pixar’s feature films were nominated each year (Up and Toy Story 3). Now, the Academy has altered the rules once again, stating that there will now be “anywhere between five and 10 nominees in the category.” What does that mean for Pixar? Read on to find out! [Read more…]
Toy Story 3’s Big Night At The Academy Awards
Going into the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, Toy Story 3 had been nominated for five Oscars, while Day & Night was up for one. After a broadcast that lasted a bit longer than three hours, the smoke cleared and Toy Story 3 emerged a winner. The film did not walk away with the Best Picture award, but did come away with two more golden statuettes that can now be placed in Pixar Animation Studios’ ever-growing trophy case. [Read more…]
