Any devotee of animation would be aware that anime has faced historically unfavorable treatment at the Academy Awards. Not only do anime productions from studios other than Studio Ghibli seldom receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature, but even when they do, these nominations are often overlooked in favor of Disney, Pixar, and other prominent Western animation studios. This is the case even when the films nominated from other studios are frequently perceived as weaker compared to Studio Ghibli’s productions.
It’s consistently been disheartening that anime hasn’t received the respect it deserves at the Oscars. However, there’s now a glimmer of hope for a shift in this trend. With the 98th Academy Awards taking place next year, it’s been announced that the voting process will undergo a significant transformation. This change, specifically, increases anime’s chances of being recognized at the Oscars more than ever before, starting from the 98th Academy Awards onward. While it might not be a walk in the park, this development is certainly something every anime enthusiast can get excited about.
How The Academy Awards’ New Voting Rules Help Anime At The Oscars
Why The Oscars’ New Rule Is Great For Anime
Starting with the 98th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now requires all Oscar voters to watch every film in the category they’re voting for. Previously, while voters were encouraged to watch every nominated film, it was not explicitly a rule except for the Best International Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature categories. For other categories, people could vote based on whatever they had seen, even if they hadn’t watched everything.
From my vantage point, the recent rule modification is poised to significantly transform the entire system, and undeniably, none will experience a more profound shift than the Best Animated Feature category. Historically, voters have been criticized for leaning towards Disney, Pixar, and other prominent Western studios without due consideration of lesser-known animation powerhouses, particularly anime. However, this new rule at the Oscars compels voters to engage with anime films and offer them a fair evaluation. Even those choosing not to participate implies that only dedicated enthusiasts of anime will cast their votes, which in itself is a positive development.
The Academy Awards’ New Rules Don’t Guarantee An Anime Win Anytime Soon
Why Things Might Still Aren’t Perfect For Anime At The Oscars
The modification in Academy Awards rules for anime is indeed promising, but it doesn’t automatically ensure anime will experience a surge in success. To begin with, one significant hurdle for anime at the Oscars has been their frequent omission from nominations, because many high-quality anime films are associated with shows that most people are unfamiliar with. Consequently, it’s not surprising that they seldom receive nominations.
With the Oscar rule changes, anime still may not make it to the nomination stage as long as people remain highly selective towards them, and this trend is unlikely to shift in the near future.
The main challenge lies in altering people’s voting patterns regarding the Academy Awards, particularly for Best Animated Feature. Regardless of requiring viewers to watch every nominated anime film along with Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks productions, they might still opt for these familiar names or dislike the chosen anime film. The revised voting procedure is commendable, but it won’t boost anime nominations unless voters start showing more enthusiasm towards it.
The Academy Awards Have Gotten Better For Anime, Even Before The Rule Change
Anime Already Had A Renewed Chance At The Oscars
It’s possible that the revised rules for the Academy Awards may not be as beneficial for anime as some people believe, but luckily, they don’t necessarily need to be. Although Disney has been a consistent winner in the Best Animated Feature category, recent winners such as Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Flow (2024), and The Boy and the Heron have managed to dethrone Disney, with Inside Out 2 even being overshadowed by Flow. Interestingly, the Academy Awards had already been showing a growing inclination towards less mainstream animated films prior to the rule change, which means anime is currently in a favorable position for success, regardless of the new rules.
It’s truly fascinating to ponder over these thoughts. A mere decade ago, anything outside of Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks was often overlooked by voters. However, the landscape of animation has significantly shifted, and now people are more open to giving underdog studios, including anime studios, a fair chance and recognizing their work appropriately. Whether this change will boost anime specifically is yet to be determined, but for anime enthusiasts, the Academy Awards have never been more promising than they are now.
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2025-04-26 20:18