Disney's Best Animated Movie Dominance Is Officially Over

Surprisingly (or not, depending on how you look at it), Flow took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature this year, cementing Disney's losing streak in recent years. The Best Animated Feature category has historically been dominated by the biggest animation studios in Hollywood, which typically turn out animated (and generally good) family films with broad appeal. However, more experimental, mature, and independent animated films have been on the rise. Flow is an entirely silent film, clocking in at only an hour and a half, and an international feature distributed by Janus Films and UFO Distribution.

Flow's protagonist is a cat, who finds itself in the company of a group of various animals forced to depend on each other when their home is flooded. Flow was evidently one of the best animated movies of 2024, but its awards season run still saw it overcome tough odds. Kicking things off with its Golden Globe win, Flow never lost momentum and made it all the way to Best Animated Feature, despite many still predicting The Wild Robot. However, what is most significant about Flow is what it shares with the most recent winners.