Academy Splits Short Films and Feature Animation Into Two Separate Branches

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that it will be creating two separate branches, splitting Animation and Short Films into their own.

The Animation Branch, one of the largest in the Academy, houses over 700 members and will have two representatives on the board of governors to oversee the group, who vote on the animated feature and animated short film Oscar categories.

The Short Films Branch is made up of more than 200 members in the field of live action narrative and nonfiction short film. This branch will have one governor representative, who will be elected for a term starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year and will oversee the live action short award.

“The Academy is dedicated to advancing and evolving with our growing global membership and with the film industry,” said Bill Kramer, Academy CEO and Janet Yang, Academy President in a statement. “As both the Academy’s shorts and animation communities have grown, and to ensure they continue to thrive, the need for two individual branches became increasingly apparent,” said Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch governors Bonnie Arnold, Jinko Gotoh and Marlon West. “We’re excited about the future of these two branches and thank our fellow governors for their support.”

“As both the Academy’s shorts and animation communities have grown, and to ensure they continue to thrive, the need for two individual branches became increasingly apparent,” said Academy Short Films and Feature Animation Branch governors Bonnie Arnold, Jinko Gotoh and Marlon West. “We’re excited about the future of these two branches and thank our fellow governors for their support.”

The Short Subjects Branch was initially created in 1941 and was renamed the Short Films Branch in 1974. In 1995, the branch was renamed the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch. The Animated Feature Film award category was established in 2001.

In March 2023, the Academy created the Production and Technology Branch, made up of technical and production positions covering all phases of filmmaking, from pre- to post-production. The Academy increases to 19 branches representing all facets of the film industry, the Board of Governors will remain at its current size of 55 members. Earlier this month, the Academy announced a new Oscars category for Best Casting, set to be introduced for films released in 2025. It’s the first new Oscar category since animated feature in 2001.