Frozen has proven to be immensely successful, as just yesterday the latest film from Disney Animation crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. However, the film has been a powerful force at awards shows as well, demonstrating the stretch of its hold on both awards voters, critics, and audiences. On the same day the film marked a great financial milestone, it was also honored by the Oscars, where it took home two trophies. After the break, watch the great acceptance speeches and get a peek at the ecstatic reaction of the film’s crew!
Sometimes when you watch a film, it is easy to forget that a large crew worked tirelessly to produce it. Hundreds of people collaborate on the complex undertaking, and sometimes no matter how hard they worked, the film may not impress audiences. Frozen has had no such misfortune, though, as it has instantly connected with millions, including both adults and children. The passion and determination of the film crew can be seen in every single frame, so given an opportunity to be celebrated, it was obviously an emotional experience for them.
In the Best Animated Feature category, there were five nominees:
Frozen was the expected winner and delivered. Accepting the prize were directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, and producer Peter Del Vecho:
This is the first time that a film from Walt Disney Animation Studios has earned the Best Animated Feature prize at the Oscars. The category was added to the awards in 2001, but it was sister studio Pixar that grabbed the spotlight for most of the past decade. It is great to see the Disney Animation team earn the win, after having to wait their turn for so long.
After the songs were all performed on the show (watch Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go” performance here), viewers were reminded of the five nominees:
“Let It Go” captured the Oscar (and fans around the world jumped with joy), which brought songwriters Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez to the stage. They gave a near-perfect acceptance speech, packed with humor and emotion – they wrote a rhyming speech, recited it on stage, and dedicated the win to their daughters. Watch the amazing speech below:
‘Get A Horse!’ and Disney Shorts
Absent from the winner’s circle was Get A Horse! which had been nominated for Best Animated Short, as the category was won by Mr. Hublot. Although director Lauren MacMullan did not get to be celebrated on-stage, the short has earned great recognition for its mixing of classic and new, its honoring of iconic Disney mascot Mickey Mouse, and the continued strength of the Shorts program at Disney Animation.
The Disney Animation Crew Celebrates
Given the sheer size of a film’s crew, most do not obviously get to attend the luxurious awards shows. Unsurprisingly, the Frozen film crew held an Oscars viewing party. After their film was named Best Animated Feature, the large group absolutely erupted with cheers. Watch their reaction, courtesy of Rebecca Thompson, technical director at the studio:
There is going to be much to celebrate at Walt Disney Animation Studios today. Parties will be held, praises and congratulatory gifts will be exchanged – given the number of people that the film has touched, it is all well-deserved.
