Last night marked history when Brave won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. And not only because it’s Pixar’s seventh win in only 12 years or its 30th win overall. But this also was the first time a female director received Hollywood’s top prize for animation. Brenda Chapman, who originally helmed the story before being replaced, shared a co-directing credit with Mark Andrews, who wore a kilt to the ceremony.
It’s worth noting that Shrek, the first ever winner of this category was co-directed by Vicky Jenson (Road to El Dorado), but the Academy gave the prize to the film’s producer back then. It’s always good to see the Academy finally recognizing female directors. Although Kathryn Bigelow won the Best Director award in 2009, she was snubbed this year. Hopefully, the trend of awarding women in the traditionally male-dominated categories continues.
It was announced not long ago that Jennifer Lee, who co-wrote Wreck-It-Ralph is co-directing Disney’s Frozen and that the upcoming sequel to Finding Nemo will be written by Victoria Strouse, which marks the first time a Pixar movie will be written solely by a woman. Let’s hope this kind of news becomes a usual thing in coming years!
Thanks to Cartoon Brew!