Oscars 2024: NZ’s Wētā FX recognised as War is Over! wins Best Animated Short
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony is underway at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles – and New Zealand’s own Wētā FX has been recognised for its work on one award-winning film.
The award for Best Animated Short film was handed out earlier today by Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, with Pachyderm and Ninety-Five Senses among the nominations.
War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko accepted the win.
That name was Peter Jackson — and it turns out that the award-winning Kiwi director had a hand in the film, as its visual effects and animation were created by Aotearoa-based Wētā FX.
Wētā FX Executive VFX Producer David Conley said, “We are incredibly proud to have played a pivotal role in this meaningful and visually stunning short film. “For it to be recognised with an Academy Award speaks volumes to the filmmakers’ creative vision and leadership, and we could not be prouder to have worked alongside them to bring it to life.”
The win marked the first Oscar for filmmakers Brad Booker and Dave Mullins, who were joined on stage by executive producer Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. He took the opportunity to wish his mother a happy Mother’s Day, as the UK celebrates today.
The film is set to the the soundtrack of Lennon and Ono’s classic Christmas song Happy Xmas (War is Over), and follows two World War I soldiers playing a game of chess via carrier pigeon, though they’re fighting on opposite sides.
Watch the short film …. Here
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