The nominations for the 95th Academy Awards are out! Just like any other award ceremony, there was plenty of joy when the most deserving projects and celebrities were chosen to be honored with a nomination. However, there were a few disappointed frowns as well, especially from the fans of Guillermo del Toro.
Guillermo del Toro brought the charm he is known for in Pinocchio. The movie focuses on the life of a very popular character from the childhoods of many. While Pinocchio’s story has been told a number of times, Guillermo del Toro put a spin on it which made it a bit different than other adaptations of the story. Now, while Pinocchio did bag a nomination at the Academy Awards, fans are a bit disappointed that the film didn’t get nominated for Best Picture.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Robbed at the Oscars?
Announced just yesterday (January 24), the nominations received a mixed reaction from the fans. Talking about the Best Picture category, the list includes All Quiet on the Western Front, Avatar: The Way of Water, The Banshees of Inisherin, Elvis, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fabelmans, Tar, Top Gun: Maverick, Triangle of Sadness, and Women Talking.
The list sure is extensive. However, fans are now coming for the Oscars as they believe a much deserving film is missing from the category – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Sure the film has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for the fans. This does go on to say that the Oscars have been fairly overlooking animated films. While they have their own categories, sometimes an animated film is well-deserving of a spot in the Best Picture category. Here’s what Twitter has to say.
Guillermo's Pinocchio was snubbed in Best Picture, because the Oscars don't pay any respect to animation outside of its category if they can help it.
Which many voting members actively say they never even watch when interviewed.
— Mathew Buck (@FB_BMB) January 24, 2023
I’m so happy Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is getting the best animated picture nomination. One of the best films ever made. Deserves every award it gets.
But man it should’ve been Nominated for Best Picture too. 😔 pic.twitter.com/dPwH6WkjOP
— Chris DeRose #NewDeal4Animation (@ScratchyDerose) January 24, 2023
I’m just sad that Top Gun got a nomination for best picture but the Guillermo Del Toro Pinocchio wasn’t.
— Ellie Anne Dote 🏳️⚧️ ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 (@EllieGirl77) January 25, 2023
I know GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO was a long shot for a Best Picture nomination, but to only land an Animated nomination is genuinely nuts.
— Adam Klay (@AKlay19) January 24, 2023
Guillermo Del Toro’s 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘰 was the best film of the entire year. The fact that isn’t nominated for Best Picture — and that he isn’t nominated for Best Director — is a structural failure. Brilliant, intricately constructed, so much more than an “animated” feature. pic.twitter.com/gWbXWTWfVw
— Wes 👨🏻☃️☕️ (@stachewaukee) January 24, 2023
To this date, only three animated films have had the chance to join the Best Picture category. Beauty and the Beast was nominated at the 64th Academy Awards, Up at 82nd, and Toy Story 3 at 83rd. The last nomination came more than a decade back in 2010. Even the Best International Feature Film category has only two animated movies in the list – Waltz with Bashir (81st) and Flee (91st). Do you think it’s a bit unfair?
The Team Reacts to the Nomination
After Pinocchio received the nomination at the 95th Oscars, del Toro talked to BBC about animation not being a genre for kids. The filmmaker stated that animation is responsible for giving some of the most “indelible images in the history of film.”
“We’ve been saying and we’re continuing to say that animation is not a genre for kids. It’s a medium for cinema, animation is film and I think we need to repeat it every year whoever has the chance to be at any podium, has to say it. And eventually I think little by little that battle must be won because animation has given us some of the most indelible images in the history of film and it deserves to be in the conversation with every other part of film-making.”
Del Toro also stated that he was excited, elated, and relieved after receiving the nomination, calling it the most nerve-wracking morning. He added that being a part of the conversation means a lot since it brings more audience toward the film.
Producers Corey Campodonico and Alex Bulkley also expressed their happiness about the nomination. Talking to Deadline, Bulkley called it a “surreal moment” stating that it was something to celebrate. Campodonico expressed how lucky they were to be under the mentorship of del Toro and Mark Gustafson. This was the first Oscar nomination for the animation studio, ShadowMachine.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is available to stream on Disney+.
Source: Twitter
