“Oscars Shock! Latvia & Iran Make Animation History – Hollywood Left Stunned!”
The 2025 Academy Awards made history as independent animation took center stage! Latvia’s Flow won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, while Iran’s In the Shadow of the Cypress claimed Best Animated Short—both victories marking first-time wins for their respective countries.
Latvia’s Flow Takes the Crown
In a stunning upset, Flow, the mesmerizing dialogue-free feature by Gints Zilbalodis, emerged victorious, beating Hollywood giants like Inside Out 2, The Wild Robot, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. This breathtaking film, created using the free and open-source tool Blender, has taken the animation world by storm.
With over $20 million in global earnings, Flow is now the highest-grossing film in Latvian history. It also swept the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and César Awards, cementing its place as a global animation powerhouse.
A Heartfelt Speech & A Call for Unity
Accepting the award, Zilbalodis thanked his team, his parents, his pets (!), and even Blender for making this achievement possible. He ended on a touching note, saying:
“We are all in the same boat. We must overcome our differences and find ways to work together.”
Iran’s In the Shadow of the Cypress Wins Best Animated Short
Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani took home the Best Animated Short Oscar for In the Shadow of the Cypress, a deeply emotional 2D film about a former captain dealing with PTSD while raising his daughter by the sea. This marks Iran’s first-ever win in the category, following last year’s nomination for Our Uniform.
A Last-Minute Arrival & A Touching Dedication
The filmmakers faced major hurdles getting to the ceremony, receiving their U.S. visas just hours before the event. Their emotional acceptance speech reflected their journey:
“Until yesterday, we hadn’t even obtained our visa and were totally disappointed. And now, we’re standing here with this statuette in our hands.”
They dedicated the win to those still fighting their battles, with a special mention for fellow Iranians facing hardships.
More Big Wins & A Bittersweet Tribute
- The Best Visual Effects Oscar went to Dune: Part Two, honoring Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer.
- The ceremony also included an In Memoriam tribute to Fumi Kitahara, a beloved animation publicist who passed away at 56.
Final Thoughts: A Triumph for Independent Animation
For the second year in a row, an independent, non-Hollywood film has taken the Best Animated Feature Oscar—following last year’s win by The Boy and the Heron. This signals a growing appreciation for unique, global storytelling beyond mainstream studios.
With Flow and In the Shadow of the Cypress leading the way, this year’s Oscars have proven that animation is a universal language—one that transcends borders and brings the world together.
