Zootopia, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film about a mammal metropolis where “anyone can be anything,” is now an Oscar® winner. The film received the Academy Award® for best Animated Feature at the 89th Oscars®.
“Five years ago, we got this crazy idea of talking about humanity with talking animals in the hopes that when the film came out, it would make the world just a slightly better place,” Zootopia director Byron Howard said at last night’s ceremony. His fellow director, Rich Moore, continued, “And we are so grateful to the audiences all over the world who embraced this film with this story of tolerance being more powerful than fear of the other.” Howard, Moore and producer Clark Spencer accepted Zootopia’s Oscar at the Dolby Theatre last night.
This year’s Oscars brought Walt Disney Animation Studios a dual nomination in the Animated Feature category. Moana was nominated alongside Zootopia, and the film also received a nod for best Original Song, “How Far I’ll Go,” which composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and actress Auli‘i Cravalho (who voiced Moana in the film), performed live during the telecast.
The short Piper, from Pixar, took home the Oscar in the Short Film (Animated) category.
Three Disney releases—Doctor Strange, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and The Jungle Book—were recognized with nominations for their Visual Effects, with The Jungle Book and its stunning photorealistic animals and environments garnering the most votes among Academy voters.
In the Documentary (Feature) category, O.J.: Made in America, directed by Ezra Edelman and produced by Caroline Waterlow, received ESPN’s first Oscar.
Disney congratulates all of this year’s Oscar winners. To see the full list of winners, visit Oscar.com.