Polish Animations in Oscar Run

Two Polish animeted films: Zaczarowany fortepian (The Magic Piano) by Martin Clapp and Paths of Hate by Damian Nenow, have been shortlisted for Academy Award nominations for Best Short Animated Film. Both films were co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Zaczarowany fortepian (The Magic Piano)

The Magic Piano, a 3D puppet animation, tells the story of two children in Warsaw – one day they find an old grand piano that transforms into a magic flying vehicle. Anna and her cousin Chip Chip use the mysterious machine to travel across Europe in order to find Anna’s father in London. The Magic Piano is the animated part of Latająca maszyna (The Flying Machine), a 3D feature film for young audiences, also co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Paths of Hate

Paths of Hate is an animated films that depicts a spectacular and thrilling danse macabre in the skies, performed by two fighter pilots. The appealing, comic-book visual style and high attention to detail, combined with fierce guitar riffs and dynamic 3D animation in impressive, cloud-covered mountain scenery, results in an amazing show that expresses the human tendency to submit to hate. Paths of Hate has received multiple awards at international film festivals.

Ten Shortlisted Films

Other shortlisted films include such animated projects as Dimanche by Patrick Doyon, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat by Matthew O’Callaghan, La Luna by Enrico Casarosa, Luminaris by Juan Pablo Zaramell, A Morning Stroll by Grant Orchard, Specky Four-Eyes by Jean-Claude Rozec, and Wild Life by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Stilby.

Final List: January 24

The ten shortlisted animated films will be reviewed; a selection committee will choose three to five best pictures, which will then be nominated for the Academy Award. The final list of nominated pictures will be published on January 24, 2012. The 84th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on February 26, 2012.

Paulina Bez

Translated by Karolina Kołtun