Animated Movies That Won Major Awards Outside the Animation Category

Animation has often been segregated into its own specific niche but many films have broken through that barrier to win general competitive awards. These movies proved their artistic merit by competing directly against live-action counterparts in fields like music and writing. The following titles secured prestigious trophies for achievements in sound and score or even special honors for their technical innovation. The industry has recognized these productions for their excellence beyond just the medium of animation.

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937)

Walt Disney gambled his studio on the production of the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history. The story follows a princess who flees her wicked stepmother and finds refuge with seven miners in a cottage. The Academy recognized the unique innovation of this film with a rare Honorary Award. Shirley Temple presented Disney with one standard Oscar statuette and seven miniature ones to represent the characters.

‘Pinocchio’ (1940)

Disney followed up his first success with this tale about a wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. The film received significant acclaim for its lush visuals and technical advancements in effects animation. It won Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for the track When You Wish Upon a Star. This marked the first time an animated feature won competitive Oscars in standard categories.

‘Dumbo’ (1941)

This heartfelt story centers on a young circus elephant who is ridiculed for his oversized ears until he discovers he can fly. The production was simpler and less expensive than its predecessors but resonated deeply with audiences and critics. It secured the Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. The film demonstrated that emotional storytelling could secure major accolades even with a more modest budget.

‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989)

Disney revitalized its animation department with this musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Ariel makes a dangerous deal with a sea witch to walk on land and find love with a human prince. The film secured Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Alan Menken and Howard Ashman received the songwriting statuette for the calypso-inspired track Under the Sea.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991)

A bookish young woman trades her freedom to save her father from a cursed prince living in an enchanted castle. This film became the first animated feature to ever receive a nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It won Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for the title track. The Golden Globes also honored it with the award for Best Motion Picture within the Musical or Comedy category.

‘Aladdin’ (1992)

A street urchin finds a magic lamp and tries to win the heart of a princess with the help of a comedic genie. The film was a massive commercial success and continued the studio’s dominance in musical categories. Alan Menken captured the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the film. The ballad A Whole New World also secured the Oscar for Best Original Song.

‘The Lion King’ (1994)

Simba must navigate tragedy and exile before returning to Pride Rock to claim his rightful place as king. The epic scale and emotional weight of the story drew comparisons to Shakespearean dramas. Hans Zimmer won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his African-influenced arrangements. Elton John and Tim Rice also took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for Can You Feel the Love Tonight.

‘Pocahontas’ (1995)

This romanticized historical drama focuses on the encounter between a Powhatan woman and the English settler John Smith. The animation team utilized a distinct artistic style with angular designs and complex color palettes. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. The sweeping ballad Colors of the Wind also earned the production the Oscar for Best Original Song.

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Pixar changed the landscape of filmmaking forever with the first fully computer-animated feature film. Woody and Buzz Lightyear navigate a rivalry that turns into a deep friendship while trying to return to their owner. The Academy honored director John Lasseter with a Special Achievement Oscar for his inspired leadership. This award recognized the development of the medium and the creation of a new cinematic art form.

‘The Prince of Egypt’ (1998)

DreamWorks adapted the Book of Exodus to tell the story of Moses and his journey to liberate the Hebrew people. The film featured a blend of traditional animation and computer-generated imagery to depict massive crowds and the parting of the Red Sea. Stephen Schwartz and Whitney Houston helped the film secure the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The winning track When You Believe became a global hit.

‘Tarzan’ (1999)

A human orphan raised by gorillas must choose between his jungle family and the civilized world when explorers arrive. The animators developed a new software called Deep Canvas to create 3D backgrounds that looked like traditional paintings. Phil Collins wrote and performed the songs which served as the narrative voice for the film. He won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for You’ll Be in My Heart.

‘Shrek’ (2001)

An ogre and a donkey embark on a quest to rescue a princess in this satire of traditional fairy tales. The film skewered Disney tropes and introduced a more irreverent tone to mainstream American animation. It won the very first Oscar for Best Animated Feature but also earned a major writing award overseas. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awarded it the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Hayao Miyazaki directed this masterpiece about a young girl trapped in a mysterious spirit world working in a bathhouse. The film is widely considered one of the greatest works of cinema in the twenty-first century. It won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival which is the highest prize awarded at the event. This victory was a historic moment as it tied with a live-action drama for the top honor.

‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001)

Two monsters employed at a scream-processing factory have their lives disrupted when a human child sneaks into their world. The film showcased breakthroughs in rendering fur and cloth textures through computer animation. Randy Newman finally won an Academy Award for Best Original Song after many previous nominations. The winning track If I Didn’t Have You emphasized the bond between the two main characters.

‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

A family of undercover superheroes tries to live a quiet suburban life until a new villain forces them back into action. Director Brad Bird brought an action-movie sensibility to the project with intense pacing and sophisticated framing. The film won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing. This win was significant because it placed the film ahead of live-action blockbusters in a technical category.

‘Waltz with Bashir’ (2008)

This documentary feature uses animation to explore the director’s suppressed memories of the 1982 Lebanon War. The visual style combines flash animation with classic graphic novel aesthetics to depict harrowing reality. It won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. This accolade highlighted how animation could be used effectively for serious adult non-fiction storytelling.

‘Up’ (2009)

An elderly widower ties thousands of balloons to his house to fly to South America and fulfill a promise to his late wife. The opening montage depicting the couple’s life together received universal acclaim for its emotional storytelling. Michael Giacchino won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his waltz-inspired composition. The film also received a rare Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.

‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)

Andy prepares for college and his toys mistakenly end up at a daycare center run by a tyrannical strawberry-scented bear. The film deals with themes of letting go and moving on with a maturity that resonated with adult audiences. Randy Newman won his second Academy Award for Best Original Song for this franchise. The track We Belong Together secured the win against other musical contenders.

‘Frozen’ (2013)

A princess sets off on a journey to find her estranged sister whose icy powers have trapped their kingdom in eternal winter. The film became a massive cultural phenomenon and one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The power ballad Let It Go became an instant classic and dominated music charts globally.

‘Soul’ (2020)

Joe Gardner seeks to reunite his soul with his body after a sudden accident disrupts his big jazz break. The film explores existential themes through a journey in the metaphysical realm known as the Great Before. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Score thanks to the collaborative work of Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste. The Golden Globes also awarded it Best Original Score along with its animated feature win.

Tell us which non-animation award win surprised you the most in the comments.