Hey movie buffs! Feeling overwhelmed by all the big Oscar categories? Let's zoom in on a category that's always packed with creativity heart and visual wonders: Animated Short Films ! The 2025 nominees are here and let me tell you this year's batch is a wild ride. We have got everything from sweet stories about friendship to seriously weird puppet monsters and tales that will tug at your heartstrings. Ready to dive in?
From Japan to France and Beyond: A Look at the Diverse and Incredible 2025 Animated Short Nominees
This year's Oscar-nominated animated shorts are seriously diverse showcasing talents and stories from all over the globe. And get this unlike some years past there are no big studio names dominating the list. It's all about independent artists bringing their unique visions to life and it makes for a super interesting and varied collection of films.
Variety even called this year's program "fairly unique" highlighting the "broad-ranging survey of what independent artists are doing with the medium at the moment." So you know you're in for something special.
'Magic Candies': Sweet Treats and Talking to Your Couch? A Japanese Delight
First up we have 'Magic Candies' from Japanese director Daisuke Nishio. This one is made by Toei Animation the studio behind big anime hits like 'One Piece' and 'Dragon Ball' but it feels really personal. It's about a lonely kid named Dong-Dong who finds a bag of magical candies. Each candy lets him talk to something different – his couch his dog even his stressed-out dad! But the magic only lasts as long as the candy is in his mouth.
Variety describes it as having "humor and a hefty measure of well-earned sentimentality" though they note it can be a bit "spell it out" at times. Still it sounds like a charming and moving story especially for younger audiences but with a sweetness that anyone can enjoy.
'In the Shadow of the Cypress': War Trauma and Striking Visuals from Iran
Next we travel to Iran for 'In the Shadow of the Cypress' directed by Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi. This short tackles a tough topic: PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. It's about a young woman and her dad who is deeply affected by war. He is haunted by visions and struggles to connect with the present. The film tries to show how PTSD works in a way that viewers of all ages can understand.
Variety calls it "visually striking" in a 2D style with characters shaped like "tall candles". It is dialogue-free relying on symbolic imagery like a bombed-out boat to represent the father's trauma. It might be a little confusing to understand fully but it is definitely powerful and visually impressive.
'Yuck!': Kids and Kisses - A French Short That's Universally Relatable (and Hilarious)
For something completely different we have 'Yuck!' from French director Loïc Espuche. This one is all about kids and their totally understandable disgust at seeing adults kiss. If you have ever been a kid you get this right? The short is set at summer camp where kids are surrounded by kissing grown-ups and they observe it all like funny little scientists giggling from behind bushes.
The movie has a brilliant visual idea: when adults want to kiss their lips glow pink! It's a simple but super effective way to show this "incomprehensible desire to lock lips" as Variety puts it. But the short also gets a bit sweeter when the main character Léo starts to have confusing feelings for a girl named Lucie whose lips also start to glow. It's funny charming and full of surprises in just 13 minutes.
'Wander to Wonder': Puppet Monsters Gone Wild - Prepare for Bizarre and Dark Humor
Things get a bit weirder and darker with 'Wander to Wonder' directed by Nina Gantz. This stop-motion short is described as a twisted take on kids' TV shows like 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' but… way darker. It is about three puppet mascots from a kids' show who are orphaned when their human host dies. Then things go full 'Lord of the Flies' as they try to survive in the studio after food runs out and things get creepy.
Variety calls it "impressively dark" and "demented yet hip". It sounds like it pushes absurdity to the max with retro visuals and a really out-there concept. If you like your animation with a side of twisted humor and some seriously bizarre puppets this one might be for you but maybe not for the kids!
'Beautiful Men': Balding Brothers and a Hair Transplant Trip - A Surreal Stop-Motion Drama
Last but not least we have 'Beautiful Men' from Nicolas Keppens a stop-motion short that's described as more grounded but still surreal. It's about three Belgian brothers all going bald in middle age who decide to go to Istanbul for hair transplants. But they only booked one appointment by mistake. Awkward.
Variety says it has a "peculiar alienating feel" and takes tonal cues from Edward Hopper paintings and the movie 'Anomalisa'. Set during the pandemic with characters wearing masks it sounds like a poignant and strange look at masculinity aging and identity. Keppens usually does hand-drawn animation but using stop-motion for this one takes it to a "more soulful place" according to Variety.
Oscar Predictions and Must-Sees: Which Animated Short Will Take Home the Gold?
So which of these awesome shorts is going to win the Oscar? It's a tough call this year. Next Best Picture calls this category "undoubtedly the most difficult of the three categories to predict" for shorts. 'Wander to Wonder' won at both the Annie Awards and BAFTAs which are good indicators but its weirdness might be too much for some Oscar voters.
Salon suggests 'Instruments of a Beating Heart' as a "safest bet" because the Academy often loves a heartwarming short and this one is all about kids music and joy. They also highlight 'Incident' in the Documentary Short category but that is a different race.
Ultimately you should try to watch them all yourself and decide your favorite! They are all unique powerful and show just how amazing Animated Short Films can be. Keep an eye out for screenings or online releases and get ready to be amazed.
2025 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films - Quick Guide:
- Beautiful Men: Stop-motion drama about three balding brothers seeking hair transplants in Istanbul. (Belgium)
- In the Shadow of the Cypress: Hand-drawn animation about a young girl and her war-traumatized father. (Iran)
- Magic Candies: CGI short about a boy who can talk to objects with magical candies. (Japan)
- Wander to Wonder: Darkly comedic stop-motion about orphaned puppet mascots in a decaying TV studio. (UK)
- Yuck!: Charming 2D short about kids' hilarious reactions to adults kissing. (France)