Disney is no stranger to Oscar nominations and wins and this year they have some big contenders. The nominees for the 90th Oscars were announced Tuesday and Disney’s 2017 releases earned 10 nominations in nine categories.
Disney•Pixar’s Coco and Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast garnering two nods each, while Star Wars: The Last Jedi was recognized in four categories. The awards will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 4, in a live broadcast hosted by Jimmy Kimmel beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Golden Globe winner Coco, Disney•Pixar’s stunning celebration of family, was nominated for best Animated Feature Film, and its signature ballad, “Remember Me,” is among the nominees for best Original Song. Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Oscar winners for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2013 film Frozen, wrote the music and lyrics.
“What began as research trips to Mexico to learn more about the celebration of Día de Muertos, became our story about family, traditions, and honoring our ancestors. The warmth and beauty of Mexico’s people and culture made Coco possible, and showed us the benefits of building bridges rather than walls,” said Coco’s director, Lee Unkrich, and producer, Darla K. Anderson. “We were also reminded to keep our loved ones in our minds and in our hearts—something we hope everyone remembers to do.”
Anderson-Lopez and Lopez shared their excitement after the news. “We are so grateful to our collaborators at Pixar for challenging us to write a song that could have so many meanings,” they said. “Although, in its most authentic form, ‘Remember Me’ is a very personal song about saying goodbye to those you love, while staying connected through music. We couldn’t be prouder of what these filmmakers have achieved in Coco, a film that has always strived to faithfully portray and celebrate Mexican culture—and we are grateful to the Academy for the recognition!”
Beauty and the Beast was nominated for its spectacular sets and costumes. Production Designer Sarah Greenwood and Set Decorator Katie Spencer were named in the Production Design category, and Jacqueline Durran is a nominee for Costume Design. Greenwood, Spencer and Durran are dual nominees, for Beauty and the Beast and for Darkest Hour. “It is a great honor to receive two nominations and for such different films,” Durran said. “Of course it is also a recognition of the work of a great costume team who bring the ideas to life, as well as a celebration of the creative collaboration between departments (with Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer also receiving two nominations).”
Greenwood echoed Durran’s enthusiastic reaction: “We loved making Beauty and the Beast… we had the most fantastic, talented and wonderful crews, without whom we would be nothing. Here’s to them, here’s to the Academy, and here’s to Disney, and most of all here’s to our fabulous amazing director, Bill Condon, who made Beauty and the Beast such a joy.”
John Williams, who composed the score for Star Wars: The Last Jedibreaks his own Oscar record with his nomination for best Original Score. This latest nod is Williams’ 51st—more than any other living person. “It was a privilege and a joy to be a part of Rian Johnson’s fabulous film, and I’m extremely grateful to the Academy for this recognition,” said Williams. Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s thrilling visuals netted a nomination in the Visual Effects category; and the film’s innovative sound was also recognized by the Academy for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing, giving the film a total of four nominations.
Marvel Studios’ intergalactic space adventure Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 received a nomination for its visual effects, and the delightful short Lou, which opened in front of Disney•Pixar’s Cars 3, was named in the Animated Short Film category. “As artists who struggled with the typical challenges of growing up and fitting in—thinking we were the only ones feeling like outsiders—this nomination is more meaningful than anyone could imagine,” said Dave Mullins, director of Lou and Dana Murray, producer. “This is dedicated to the Lous of the world, who use the power of kindness to change the world for the better, one JJ at a time. Thank you to the Academy, and to Disney and Pixar, and to the entire crew of LOU, without whom this film and this moment would never have happened.”
Here is the full list of nominations from Disney-released films.
Costume Design
Beauty and the Beast—Jacqueline Durran
Original Score
Star Wars: The Last Jedi—John Williams
Music (Original Song)
“Remember Me”—Disney•Pixar’s Coco
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Production Design
Beauty and the Beast—Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
Sound Editing
Star Wars: The Last Jedi—Ren Klyce, Matthew Wood
Sound Mixing
Star Wars: The Last Jedi—David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Stuart Wilson
Visual Effects
Star Wars: The Last Jedi—Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2—Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner and Dan Sudick
Animated Feature Film
Disney•Pixar’s Coco
Short Film (Animated)
Disney•Pixar’s Lou
