Before the sun began to rise on the West Coast, the coveted Academy Award nominations were announced with Pixar Animation Studios being honored in two different categories — Bao: Animated Short and Incredibles 2: Animated Feature. This past year was fantastic for animation with many films pushing the bounds with style and story — both Pixar films included.
Outside of the recent nominations, we were also thrilled to learn that Pixar’s own Ed Catmull will be honored with a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award Plaque during the Scientific and Technical Awards presentation (February 9, 2019). This special recognition will be given to Ed Catmull for the original concept, and to Tony DeRose and Jos Stam for their pioneering advancement of the underlying science of subdivision surfaces as 3D geometric modeling primitives.
Their creation of essential geometric operations and sustained research on the fundamental mathematics of subdivision surfaces helped transform the way digital artists represent 3D geometry throughout the motion picture industry. You may recall this past fall (October 2018), Ed Catmull announced his retirement from Pixar Animation Studios by the end of 2018 — though he will remain in an advisory role through July 2019.
History of Pixar Wins & Nominations at the Academy Awards
FEATURE FILMS
Toy Story | • Original Score: Randy Newman – Nominated • Original Song: “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated • Special Achievement Award: John Lasseter – Won |
A Bug’s Life | • Original Score: Randy Newman – Nominated |
Toy Story 2 | • Original Song: “When She Loved Me” – Nominated |
Monsters, Inc. | • Animated Feature Film – Nominated (Shrek, Won) • Original Score: Randy Newman – Nominated • Original Song: “If I Didn’t Have You” – Won • Sound Editing – Nominated |
Finding Nemo | • Animated Feature Film: Andrew Stanton – Won • Original Score: Thomas Newman – Nominated • Sound Editing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
The Incredibles | • Animated Feature Film: Brad Bird – Won • Sound Editing: Michael Silvers & Randy Thom – Won • Sound Mixing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
Cars | • Animated Feature Film – Nominated (Happy Feet, Won) • Original Song: “Our Town” – Nominated |
Ratatouille | • Animated Feature Film: Brad Bird – Won • Original Score: Michael Giacchino – Nominated • Sound Editing – Nominated • Sound Mixing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
WALL•E | • Animated Feature Film: Andrew Stanton – Won • Original Score – Nominated • Original Song: “Down to Earth” – Nominated • Sound Editing – Nominated Best Sound Mixing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
Up | • Animated Feature Film: Pete Docter – Won • Best Picture – Nominated • Original Score: Michael Giacchino – Won • Sound Editing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
Toy Story 3 | • Animated Feature Film: Lee Unkrich – Won • Best Picture – Nominated • Original Song: “We Belong Together” – Won • Sound Editing – Nominated • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
Cars 2 | No Academy Award nominations |
Brave | • Animated Feature Film: Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman – Won |
Monsters University | No Academy Award nominations |
Inside Out | • Animated Feature Film: Pete Docter & Jonas Rivera – Won • Original Screenplay – Nominated |
The Good Dinosaur | No Academy Award nominations |
Finding Dory | No Academy Award nominations |
Cars 3 | No Academy Award nominations |
Coco | • Animated Feature Film: Lee Unkrich – Won • Original Song: “Remember Me” – Won |
Incredibles 2 | • Animated Feature Film – Nominated |
SHORT FILMS
Luxo, Jr. | Nominated (A Greek Tragedy, Won) |
Tin Toy | John Lasseter & William (Bill) Reeves – Won |
Geri’s Game | Jan Pinkava – Won |
For The Birds | Ralph Eggleston – Won |
Mike’s New Car | Nominated (The ChubbChubbs!, Won) |
Boundin’ | Nominated (Harvie Krumpet, Won) |
One Man Band | Nominated (The Moon & The Son: An Imagined Conversation, Won) |
Lifted | Nominated (The Danish Poet, Won) |
Presto | Nominated (La Maison en Petits Cubes, Won) |
Day & Night | Nominated (The Lost Thing, Won) |
La Luna | Nominated (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Won) |
Sanjay’s Super Team | Nominated (Bear Story, Won) |
Piper | Alan Barillaro – Won |
LOU | Nominated (Dear Basketball, Won) |
Bao | Nominated |
We couldn’t be happier that director Domee Shi and the entire Bao team received a nomination recognizing their hard work for such a beautiful short film. Be sure to share your thoughts with other Pixar fans in the Pixar Post Forum or leave a comment below — what are your predictions for the 91st Academy Awards?