Mar 10, 2023

Five times a Disney animated character has won an Academy Award.

Disney animated characters are regular attendees at the Academy Awards, sometimes even attending “in person” to hand out prizes.

Their presence has sometimes livened up the Academy Awards ceremony. As when Disney-Pixar characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear announced that Disney-Pixar's “Inside Out” had won the 2016 award for Best Animated Feature Film.

And in 1988, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck had a slapstick affair when Mickey won Best Animated Short Film for Frederick Buck's “The Man Who Planted Trees,” an ethereal story about a shepherd who tries to restore forests in a barren valley It felt awkward and disproportionate when he announced that he was the winner.

Below is a review of the five times Disney's animated characters have won Academy Awards: four in the animated short category and one in the animated feature category.

Since 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, it would not be surprising to see one or more of the studio's animated actors at Sunday night's awards ceremony.

Category Animated Short Film 1988

Winner The Man Who Planted the Tree, Frederick Buck

Presenter Mickey Mouse, Tom Selleck

Category Animated Short Film 1992

Winner Manipulation - Daniel Grieves

Presenter Belle, The Beast, Chip

Short Animation: 1993

Winner: Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase - Joan C. Gratz)

Presenter: Snow White

Animated Short: 2003

Winner: Chub Chubs - Eric Armstrong

Presenter: Mickey Mouse, Jennifer Garner

Animated Feature: 2016

WINNER: Inside Out - Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera

Presenter Buzz Lightyear, Woody [39]