For many years, especially since the resurgence of feature length animation not only by Disney, but also by companies like Fox and Dreamworks, many industry people had lobbied the Academy for a single Oscar category for feature length animated films. The short film category was split into two to distingish between short animated films and short live action films, so they contended that since more and more animated films were being released, that it was not fair for animated films to compete on the same level as live action feature length films. Only one animated film has ever been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and that was Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, back in 1991. Of course, it had no serious shot at winning up against such heavy hitters like JFK, BUGSY, THE PRINCE OF TIDES, and the eventual winner, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. But it was a step forward.
So on September 26, animators' dreams came true when the Academy's Board of Governors created a new Academy Award category for feature-length animated films. It could be presented for the first time at the 74th Annual Academy Awards in March, 2002. The new award, to be called Best Animated Feature, will be triggered by the release of eight or more eligible films in a calendar year. If eight to fifteen animated features are released, a maximum of three films may be nominated. If sixteen or more are released, a maximum of five may be nominated. A recommendation on whether or not to activate the category in a given year will be made by the executive committee of the short films and feature animation branch, which will review all of the feature animation films released in Los Angeles County during the year to determine their eligibility. If eight or more are found to be eligible, the committee may choose to recommend to the board of governors that there be an animated feature award given for that year. If the governors accept the committee's recommendation, the nomination process will be set in motion.
