Once again, the Look Back, an anime masterpiece that earned rave reviews and a slew of prestigious awards. The Academy's refusal to acknowledge it is baffling, especially when one looks at the films that did make it to the list. While the nominees are undoubtedly worthy in their own right, anime’s remarkable contributions to animation seem to have been overlooked.
The snub is more than just a missed opportunity for one film. It raises broader questions about the Oscars' bias toward mainstream Western animated films, leaving out some of the most groundbreaking and visually stunning works. Looking at the films nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2025 Oscars, it feels like there is a glaring absence without Look Back. This raises the question of why anime remains sidelined despite its ever-growing influence on the animation industry.
The Nominated Films Are Full of Familiar Faces and Stories
Why These Nominations Feel Predictable
The 2025 Oscar nominees for Best Animated Feature include Flow, Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, Memoir of a Snail, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Foul. Each of these films has its own merits, with some being sequels to beloved franchises, while others introduce new characters and stories. Inside Out 2, for example, is a continuation of Pixar’s beloved 2015 film that was extremely successful. Pixar’s proven track record makes its nomination unsurprising, but it does raise questions about whether original stories should be given more consideration.
In the Wake of Look Back, Tatsuki Fujimoto Has Another Anime Movie Ripe for the Making
Look Back was 2024's best anime film, and its author has written another manga that may be even better suited to appear on the big screen.
The Wild Robot and Memoir of a Snail are interesting new stories, with The Wild Robot telling the tale of a robot trying to survive and complete its tasks on a harsh and wild island, while Memoir of a Snail explores the life of a snail through a creative claymation lens. Meanwhile, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl brings the iconic British duo back for another adventure, blending humor and charming animation with its unique clay figures. Despite the innovation in these films, they still represent a traditional, often safe route in the animation world. The inclusion of these films leaves little room for the more experimental and boundary-pushing works that anime tends to offer.
The Missing Gem, Look Back, and Its Groundbreaking Success
Why Look Back Should Have Been Nominated for the Oscars
Among all the films that could have been nominated, Look Back stands out as one of the most influential and critically acclaimed anime films of 2024. Directed by Shunya Kato, Look Back not only captivated audiences with its stunning animation and heartbreaking story but also received many awards at prestigious film festivals. The film’s seamless blend of beautiful visuals with deep emotional undertones resonated with a global audience, yet the Oscars chose to snub it.
One of the reasons why Look Back was such a standout film was its ability to capture the essence of anime’s ability to tell deeply personal and often thought-provoking stories. While Western animated films often focus on broad appeal or comedic elements, Look Back deals with themes of loss, identity, and self-discovery. This kind of emotional depth is something that anime often does better than its Western counterparts, yet the Oscars repeatedly ignore it, perpetuating a narrow understanding of what animation is capable of. The Academy’s refusal to include Look Back in the nominations is a glaring oversight and reflects a deep-seated bias against anime.
Why Anime Continues to Be Ignored
The Systematic Exclusion of Anime at the Oscars
The omission of Look Back from the Oscar nominations is not the only anime-snubbing incident, but part of a larger pattern. The Oscars have consistently overlooked anime in favor of more traditional, Western-oriented films. This exclusion highlights a systemic problem within the Academy, one that often favors familiar names, studios, and franchises. Studio Ghibli, Makoto Shinkai, and other iconic names in anime have received recognition in the past, but it has always felt like an exception rather than a rule. As the world of animation continues to evolve, the Oscars’ narrow criteria for what constitutes "the best" animation seems increasingly out of touch.
Anime's growing influence globally cannot be ignored. In past years, films like Your Name, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, and Weathering With You have not only been commercial successes but have also pushed the boundaries of what animated films can achieve artistically. Yet, despite their success and the widespread acclaim they received, they have either been overlooked or relegated to minor categories at the Oscars. The fact that Look Back was a film that impressed critics and fans alike, and it was excluded from the Oscar race, shows a disconnect between the Academy and the current state of global animation.
The Need for Change and Accepting Anime's Influence
It Is Time for the Oscars to Open Up to Anime
As the animation industry continues to diversify and globalize, it is time for the Academy to acknowledge the massive contributions anime has made to the medium. Films like Look Back and others in the anime genre have redefined what animation can be, offering emotionally complex narratives and visually stunning sequences that rival the best in the business. It is no longer enough to simply nominate films based on their brand or commercial success, the Oscars need to open their doors to anime, which has proven time and time again that it deserves a place at the table.
Confident artist Fujino and reclusive Kyomoto bond over their shared ion for drawing manga. As they navigate the challenges of growing up and pursuing their artistic dreams, their friendship deepens. The story beautifully explores themes of creativity, dedication, and the impact of personal connections on their journey.
- Writers
- Tatsuki Fujimoto, Kiyotaka Oshiyama
- Main Genre
- Animation
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