On Tuesday, Feb. 8, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) revealed the nominations for the 94th Academy Awards. Among the nominees for Animated Feature Film are CalArtian-directed features Raya and the Last Dragon and The Mitchells vs. the Machines.
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ fantasy adventure Raya and the Last Dragon is directed by Don Hall (Film/Video 95) and Carlos López Estrada. Set in the fantastical world of Kumandra, in which humans and dragons had once lived in harmony, the story follows sharp-witted warrior Raya (Kelly Marie Tran). She sets out to find the last of the dragons who sacrificed themselves when an evil spirit overtook the land half a millennium prior. When the evil spirit returns in the present day, Raya meets the mythical dragon Sisu (Awkwafina), and they team up to save the world. Fellow CalArtian Dean Wellins (Film/Video 92) is also credited as one of the film’s writers.
Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines is an animated sci-fi comedy directed by Mike Rianda (Film/Video BFA 11) and co-directed by Jeff Rowe (Film/Video BFA 11); the duo also wrote the script. Fellow CalArtian Alex Hirsch (Film/Video BFA 07), who is credited among the voice cast, also served as a story consultant. The story follows the quirky Mitchell family, whose road trip is unexpectedly upended by a robot apocalypse. The uprising is led by an android army helmed by a Siri-esque AI antagonist known as PAL, positioning the Mitchells as the world’s last hope. Learning to overcome their differences, the Mitchells team up with a couple of friendly malfunctioning robots in order to save themselves and humanity.
Raya and the Dragon and The Mitchells vs. the Machines have been favorites this award season—both films were recently nominated for the Critics Choice and Annie Awards.
See the full list of 2022 Oscar nominees on the official AMPAS website.
The 94th Academy Awards will be held Sunday, March 27 at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center, and will be televised live on ABC at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.
As digital content and social media producer, Taya enjoys lifting up the stories and accomplishments of CalArts' students, alums, and faculty. She fancies herself a visual artist but is really more of an overzealous collector of art supplies.
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