I was introduced to animation as a kid. I grew up watching animated movies and shows
from Pixar, Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. For that reason, animation holds a
nostalgic fondness in my heart that has followed me beyond my childhood and into my
adulthood.

As I continue to watch animated films and series, I’ve noticed that people often believe
animation is strictly for kids. This is surprising to me, as I think we are in the golden age of
popular, adult-focused animated series like BoJack Horseman, Rick and Morty and Big
Mouth.

Since a lot of animated content is geared toward young people, animation is largely
viewed to be a kid’s genre. Because of this, animation is not taken seriously and doesn’t get
the respect it deserves, which means that a lot of animated content is underappreciated and
undervalued.

Before 2001, there wasn’t even an award for best animated feature at the Oscars, one of
the most prestigious film industry award shows in the world. This is absurd, considering that
the idea of animation long predates traditional cinema.

Despite being in existence for 94 years, the Academy Awards rarely gives animated films
best picture nominations, let alone wins.

It is upsetting that animation does not always get the recognition it deserves on the
biggest stage for film, especially given that artists often spend at least four years creating
and animating the characters, worlds and stories we love so much. As a result, animators
rarely get the chance to receive acknowledgement for their hard work and contribution to
entertainment.

Animation is a powerful and versatile form of storytelling that can tell a story in a way that
live action cannot. The medium nurtures creativity and innovation because within animation,
anything is possible.

So much compelling and innovative content comes from animation, such as the series
Avatar: The Last Airbender, which I and many others around the world love dearly.

The show excels in its storytelling, writing, world building and character development to
make for a compelling three-season story arc that is meaningful and flawless, and that
cannot be redone. A live-action remake was attempted in 2010, however, the movie failed
miserably in its storytelling. It lacked the many elements that made the Avatar series what it
was, and was constrained by the live action format.

This case further highlights the advantage that animation has as a creative medium, since
animation can imitate real life, but live action struggles to imitate animation.

There are many other series that are remarkable in the medium, in particular in anime, a
Japanese animation style that has seen its popularity dramatically increase since the
beginning of the pandemic.

In the world of animated movies, the possibilities are endless. Animation is filled with many
beloved and incredible films such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse or Pixar and Disney projects like Soul and Inside Out, as well as anime films like Your Name and Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.

These movies and television shows are all exceptional and deserving of praise for their
artistic merit and compelling narratives. They should be able to compete in all award
categories for television and film, and they deserve to be recognized.

All of this is to say that animation is for everyone, and should be appreciated and treated as a
legitimate form of storytelling.