The 2026 Oscar-qualifying animated shorts slate is unusually international, spanning more than 50 countries and showcasing the most diverse field the category has ever seen. There are 113 films, compared to 2025’s 88. See all full list and where to watch them now.
Which Country Leads the Oscar Animated Shorts 2026 Race?
A tally of the full list of qualifying films shows France leading the charge.
France’s Growing Global Presence in Animation
France’s prominence this year reflects its long-term investment in animation. With public funding through the CNC, a deep-rooted culture of supporting auteur-driven storytelling, world-renowned animation schools, and an extensive network of co-production treaties. Combined with the global influence of the Annecy Animation Festival, these elements have turned France into one of the most attractive hubs for both domestic productions and international partnerships.
A Surge in International Co-Productions
One of the defining features of the 2026 qualifying slate is the unusually high number of cross-border projects. Roughly 45 to 50 percent of the films are co-productions involving more than one country, a sign of how essential collaboration has become in contemporary animation.
What Drives This Trend
Rising production costs make shared financing appealing, and working across borders opens access to multiple national film funds and tax incentives. Creative strengths also vary by region, which encourages teams to combine specialties such as European stop motion, French artistic 2D traditions, and North American digital pipelines. Co-productions also gain a strategic advantage during festival and awards qualification, since each partner country can help secure premieres, screenings, and promotional support. Together these factors have made international collaboration one of the most practical paths for animated shorts today.
All Oscar-Qualified Animated Short Films for the 2026 Season
The 12 Inch Pianist | US
Ahimsa | US
All Heart | US
Always & Forever | The Netherlands
As if Swallowed by Earth | France
Autokar (aka Bus) | Belgium-France-Poland
Balconies | Germany
Black Man, Black Man | US
Bound | US-Ukraine
Brown Morning | France
Budo | Sweden
The Burial of Natty Bumppo | US
Butterfly | France
Butterfly Kiss | Germany-Israel
Cafunè | Spain
Capybaras | France-Uruguay-Chile
Cardboard | UK
Criminal | US
David | China
Dembaya | Ireland
Detlev | Germany
Dull Spots of Greenish Colours | Germany
Earth Coal | France
The Eggregores’ Theory | Italy
Éiru | Ireland
The Eating of an Orange | UK-France
The Escort | US
Father Figure | Hong Kong
Filante | France
The Fling | Australia
flower_gan | UK
Forevergreen | US
Fracti | Romania-Switzerland
Free the Chickens | Slovakia-Czech Republic
GiGi | France
The Girl Who Cried Pearls | Canada
Glass House | France
Grit | Kuwait
Hairy Legs | Canada
Hands
Helen | Spain
Humantis | US
Hunting | Switzerland
Hurikán | Czech Republic
I Died in Irpin | Czech Republic-Slovakia-Ukraine
Inkwo for When the Starving Return | Canada
It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow | Portugal-Germany
Jesus 2 | US-Colombia
La Mancha Negra (The Black Stain) | Mexico
Larval | UK
Les Bêtes | US
Long Distance | France
Loop Line | India
Luz Diabla (Devil’s Beacon) | Argentinia-Canada
Martyr’s Guidebook | Poland
Moral Support | Germany-Croatia
Mother’s Child | The Netherlands
Murmuration | Belgium-Netherlands
My Brother, My Brother | Egypt-France-Germany
My Gut Brother | Argentinia-Mexico
My Homeland | Switzerland
A Night at the Rest Area | Japan
The Night Boots | France
No Vacancy | US
On Weary Wings Go By | Estonia-Lithuania
Ordinary Life | France-Japan
Ovary-Acting | Norway-Sweden-UK
Overture | Czech Republic
Paradise Man (ii) | US
Patterns | Germany
Pietra | Portugal
Playing God | Italy-France
Póg mo Pigeon | Ireland
Pow! | US
Psychonauts | Croatia
The Puppet and the Whale | France-Italy
The Quinta’s Ghost | Spain
Radix | Germany
Retirement Plan | Ireland
Saudade, Perhaps | Portugal
Scars We Love | France
Shadows | Jordan-France
Shimmer | Mexico
The Shyness of Trees | France
Sisowath Quay | France
Skroll | The Netherlands
Snow Bear | US
Solstice | UK
The Song of Drifters | US
A Sparrow’s Song | Germany
Sparrows | Belgium-France
Speed Reader | Spain
The Story of Sergio | Italy
Surf Soup® Buttons | US
T-ZERO | Portugal-Hungary
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 – Lost in New Jersey | US
The Three Sisters | Cyprus
Tiddler | UK
Transferable | Canada
Trash | France
Two Black Boys in Paradise | UK
Two Ships | US-Portugal
Um | Canada
Versa | US
A Very Twisted Tale | France
Voyage of the Red Rabbit | US
Walk in the Light | US
A Walk Into The Afterlife | Luxembourg
Wednesdays with Gramps | US
Whale 52 | US
The Wide Eyed Girl and the Long Legged Boy | Portugal
Winter in March | Estonia-Armenia-France
The Wolf | Canada
