Shaun Tan wins Oscar for best animated short film

He was nominated with Andrew Ruhemann in the Animated Short Film category, for his work on The Lost Thing, which is narrated by fellow West Australian Tim Minchin.

Tan, 37, who is now based in Melbourne, worked as a director, writer, designer and artist on the 15- minute film which uses a mix of CGI and handpainted elements.

The artist, author and film-maker became the first graduate of The University of Western Australia to win an Oscar.

More Oscars coverage here

It was the winner of the Melbourne International Film Festival and won the animation award at the Sydney Film Festival, and picked up jury prizes at the Austin Film Festival and Palm Springs International Shortfest in the US.

His children's book The Lost Thing- which the film is based upon- and others including The Red Tree and The Arrival have won several awards including "Book of the Year" in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

Accepting his Oscar, Tan thanked "everybody who has supported us with such generosity and patience''.

"Wow, this is quite surreal," he said.

Turning the book into an animated film was a labour of love spanning nine years, according to the graduate who was awarded a BA with joint First Class Honours in English and Fine Arts in 1996.  Tim Minchin is also a UWA graduate.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson congratulated Mr Tan on his win.

“Shaun Tan is an outstanding and inspirational example of a UWA graduate who is achieving international excellence.  As we approach our centenary in 2013, UWA is very proud to count an Oscar winner among its graduates,” Prof Robson said.

The film is about a Melbourne boy who finds a strange creature on a beach, and decides to find a home for it in a world where everyone believes there are far more important things to worry about.

The Lost Thing also won first prize at Annecy, the world’s largest animation film festival and Best Short Animation at the 2010 Australian Film Industry awards.

Mr Tan began creating images for science fiction and horror stories in small-press magazines as a teenager, and has since become best known for illustrated books that deal with social, political and historical subjects through surreal, dream-like imagery.

Meanwhile, Jacki Weaver was beaten to the Best Supporting Actress award at this year's Academy Awards ceremony by Melissa Leo.

Fellow Australian Geoffrey Rush was beaten in the Best Supporting Actor category by Christian Bale in The Fighter.

THE WINNERS SO FAR

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa Leo, The Fighter

VISUAL EFFECTS
Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips, Alice in Wonderland

COSTUME DESIGN
Colleen Atwood, Alice in Wonderland

FOREIGN FILM  
In a Better World (Denmark)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR  
Christian Bale, The Fighter
 

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
The Lost Thing

ANIMATED FILM
Toy Story 3

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
David Seidler, The King's Speech 

MAKE-UP
The Wolfman

COSTUME DESIGN
Alice In Wonderland

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
God of Love

BEST FILM EDITING
The Social Network

ORIGINAL SONG
Randy Williams
We Belong Together
Toy Story 3

BEST DIRECTOR
Tom Hooper
The King's Speech

BEST ACTRESS
Natalie Portman
Black Swan

BEST ACTOR
Colin Firth
The King's Speech

BEST MOTION PICTURE
The King's Speech
 

---

Subscribe to our Email Newsletter