© Baek Heena, Toei Animation
For nearly eight decades Toei Animation, the legendary Japanese studio behind iconic franchises like Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon has been a powerhouse in the world of animation. Now, the acclaimed studio has reached a new historic milestone with its first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film – joining the exclusive list of five alongside Yuck!, Beautiful Men, In the Shadow of the Cypress and Wander to Wonder. The film in question, Magic Candies, is a stunning adaptation of Heena Baek’s beloved Korean picture books, brought to life by producer Takashi Washio and veteran director Daisuke Nishio. Known for his work on Dragon Ball Z, Pretty Cure and Interstella 5555, Daisuke and his team have used their considerable talents to create a visually rich and emotionally resonant short. Magic Candies’ textured, lifelike animation style blurs the line between CGI and traditional claymation, creating a world...
For nearly eight decades Toei Animation, the legendary Japanese studio behind iconic franchises like Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon has been a powerhouse in the world of animation. Now, the acclaimed studio has reached a new historic milestone with its first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film – joining the exclusive list of five alongside Yuck!, Beautiful Men, In the Shadow of the Cypress and Wander to Wonder. The film in question, Magic Candies, is a stunning adaptation of Heena Baek’s beloved Korean picture books, brought to life by producer Takashi Washio and veteran director Daisuke Nishio. Known for his work on Dragon Ball Z, Pretty Cure and Interstella 5555, Daisuke and his team have used their considerable talents to create a visually rich and emotionally resonant short. Magic Candies’ textured, lifelike animation style blurs the line between CGI and traditional claymation, creating a world...
- 2/22/2025
- by MarBelle
- Directors Notes
Ahead of the Academy Awards, we’ve reviewed every short film in each category: Animation, Documentary, and Live Action. Below are the Best Animated Short nominees:
Beautiful Men | Belgium/France/Netherlands | 18 minutes
Three brothers. One appointment. A lot of fog. Welcome to Nicolas Keppens’ Beautiful Men, a comedic short set in Istanbul at a hotel mainly used for its proximity to a world-renowned hair-transplant center booked so far in advance that Steven’s (Tom Dewispelaere) mistake will ensure they’ve all wasted a ton of money. Because there’s no wiggle room for securing two more slots during their short trip. And since he took point and only found out his error upon arrival, it’s on him to break the news. How will they decide who gets to change their life?
While that question does ultimately get asked, however, the fact that this trio (rounded out by Peter De Graef...
Beautiful Men | Belgium/France/Netherlands | 18 minutes
Three brothers. One appointment. A lot of fog. Welcome to Nicolas Keppens’ Beautiful Men, a comedic short set in Istanbul at a hotel mainly used for its proximity to a world-renowned hair-transplant center booked so far in advance that Steven’s (Tom Dewispelaere) mistake will ensure they’ve all wasted a ton of money. Because there’s no wiggle room for securing two more slots during their short trip. And since he took point and only found out his error upon arrival, it’s on him to break the news. How will they decide who gets to change their life?
While that question does ultimately get asked, however, the fact that this trio (rounded out by Peter De Graef...
- 2/14/2025
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
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