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The list for the 2025 Academy Awards nominations was recently released, and it has been the talk of the town since then. The Oscar 2025 list has many contentious perceptions, but the biggest one is that not a single 2024 anime film made it to the list. This was certainly heartbreaking for hardcore anime fans, considering the fact that anime has become a mainstream phenomenon.
While the anime art form is still underappreciated in many different places, 2024 changed it in a major way because of some great pieces of work that attracted a lot of attention. However, the fact that the Oscars 2025 are not nominating a single 2024 anime has a much deeper reason behind it that many anime fans fail to understand.
The main culprits behind this are Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai, who have been nominated for and even won Oscars in the past. They have set the standards so high that the recent works are not able to reach their level of dedication and talent no matter what they do.
The anime industry’s Oscar journey
In the past few decades, the anime industry has seen a major boom in popularity and recognition on a global level, and this recognition has also been seen in the Academy Awards. Many anime films have made it to the nomination list of the Academy Awards, but only two of them have managed to win the accolade.
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The first one wasSpirited Away, which was released in 2002. The movie was one of the first greatest creations by legendary directorHayao Miyazakiand Studio Ghibli. The second Academy Award was also won by Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, but it was after two decades. The Oscar was given toThe Boy and the Heron, which came out in 2023.
Miyazaki’s works are the gems of the anime world, as they often get worldwide recognition, and many of them have managed to make it to the list of the Academy Awards. Aside from Miyazaki, another director who has shown potential in reaching the Oscars isMakoto Shinkai.
Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai might have set the bar too high
2024 was a good year for anime series and movies, especially forTatsuki Fujimoto’sLook Back;the anime film was the highlight of the previous year, and it managed to sweep away all the love and appreciation from fans. Many were hopeful that the movie would definitely make it to the Oscars and might even win one.
However, the Academy Awards didn’t even giveLook Backa chance. This was a subtle hint that the Academy only chooses anime movies by legendary creators,and while Fujimoto is a big name, he might not be as big as Miyazaki and Shinkai. Also, it sets the movies made by the legendary directors as the pinnacle that other anime directors need to reach.
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It might not be as easy as it sounds, but one day or another, someone will have to break the records set by Miyazaki and Shinkai. Only then will the Academy understand the significance and growth of the anime industry and might give a chance to other seasoned anime directors.
Tarun Kohli
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2957
Tarun Kohli is the Senior Anime Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,900 published articles. He currently specializes in critiquing One Piece and other Shonen anime. A passionate fan of the genre, his love for thoughtful analysis reflects his genuine appreciation for the art of anime. His deep understanding of anime culture has earned recognition from industry figures such as Adi Shankar and the creators of Blood of Zeus.
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Hayao MiyazakiMakoto Shinkai
