Academy Splits Animated Features & Shorts into Their Own Branch; Sets Animation Nominees Panels

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) voted Monday, Feb. 26 to separate the existing “Short Films and Feature Animation Branch” into two new groups: the “Animation Branch” (animated features and animated shorts) and the “Short Films Branch” (live-action and documentary shorts). The move reflects the ever-growing scope of animated film production and artistic achievement.

The Academy has now sprung 19 branches, while the Board of Governors will remain at 55 members.

“As both the Academy’s shorts and animation communities have grown, and to ensure they continue to thrive, the need for two individual branches became increasingly apparent,” said Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch governors Bonnie Arnold, Jinko Gotoh and Marlon West. “We’re excited about the future of these two branches and thank our fellow governors for their support.”

The Animation Branch comprises about 700 AMPAS members working across every part of the animation industry. The newly established branch will have two governor representatives on the Board of Governors, and will oversee the Animated Feature Film and Animated Short Film categories for the Academy Awards.

The Short Films Branch includes 200-plus members,  represented by one governor and overseeing the live-action and nonfiction shorts Oscars. The branch was created as the Short Subjects Branch in 1941, later renamed the Short Films Branch in 1974 and then the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch in 1995, although the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was not established until 2001.

In further Academy news, AMPAS is putting on its annual pre-Oscars Nominee Programs, with a double-header featuring the Animation category honorees this Saturday, March 2.

Nominee Programs: Animated Short Film
When: Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m.
Where: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater
Ticket price: $10

Filmmakers will introduce their nominated animated shorts, followed by screenings in our David Geffen Theater.

During the same day, head to the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby for a showcase of items from the nominated films, including concept sketches, character maquettes, and reference materials.

This years Animated Short Film nominees are Letter to a Pig (Director: Tal Kantor), Ninety-Five Senses (Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess), Our Uniform (Yegane Moghaddam), Pachyderme (Stéphanie Clément) and War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko (Dave Mullins).

Nominee Programs: Animated Feature Film
When: Saturday, March 2, 4 p.m.
Where: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater
Ticket price: $10

We welcome nominees for a panel in our David Geffen Theater. Hear from the filmmakers about the making of their films and their impact on the field of animation.

During the same day, head to the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby for a showcase of items from the nominated films, including concept sketches, character maquettes, and reference materials.

The 2024 Animated Feature nominees are: The Boy and the Heron (Director: Hayao Miyazaki; Studio Ghibli/GKIDS), Elemental (Peter Sohn; Pixar/Disney); Nimona (Nick Bruno, Troy Quane; Netflix), Robot Dreams (Pablo Berger; Arcadia/Neon) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson; Sony Pictures Animation).