Online memes erupt as Disney loses ‘Best Animated Feature Film’ at Oscars 3 times in a row

In a surprising twist, Disney has lost the 'Best Animated Feature Film' category at the Oscars for the third year in a row, and social media is having a field day. Once a seemingly unbeatable powerhouse, the iconic studio's dominance has taken a hit, leading fans to gleefully share their thoughts online. One user tweeted,

“Fun Fact: this is the first time in history Disney didn’t win the Best Animated Feature Film 3 TIMES IN A ROW”,

highlighting just how monumental this moment is.

Another chimed in with a simple yet savage observation,

“And it will soon be 4."

As the animated Oscars baton keeps slipping through Disney’s fingers, the internet can’t help but rub salt in the wound.

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Three years, zero wins—Disney’s Oscars losing streak sparks hilarious reactions online

Twitter has been flooded with memes and reactions to Disney’s Oscars losing streak, and the fans aren’t holding back. One user pointed out how wild it is that Disney’s streak came to an end:

“Didn’t even realize Disney’s streak got ended like that, wild.”

Others weren’t so sympathetic, with one tweet bluntly stating,

“That’s cuz Disney keeps on pumping out MID,” a humorous yet biting critique of the studio’s recent output.

The GIF game was strong, too, with one fan posting a meme featuring Pinocchio, captioned,

“I haven’t seen that puppet one. I’ve only seen him in Shrek,” referencing Disney’s absence from the winner’s circle.

It wasn’t all negative, though. Some fans seemed to revel in Disney’s misfortune with positivity. One gleeful user tweeted,

“And we’ll keep manifesting it🥰,” while another shared a GIF of a girl saying

“The evil is defeated,” captioned with “as it should be.”

A humorous nod to how far Disney has fallen from grace came with a GIF of a basketball player scoring and failing to celebrate, paired with the comment,

“Gonna be four years when they announce and release Free Birds 2.”

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Disney's three-year losing streak and what's behind it

Disney's three-year losing streak at the Oscars is indicative of a larger pattern rather than a one-off event. The studio used to dominate the 'Best Animated Feature Film' category but hasn't won since 2023. Disney has been left behind in the last three years as the prize has gone to films that have been praised by critics and viewers for their creativity and passion.

For example, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, a masterwork of stop-motion animation that won people over with its darker, more adult themes, rose to fame in 2023. With its breathtaking animation and complex plot, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse stunned audiences the next year. The most recent winner was Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, which wowed the Oscars with its low-budget, whimsical appeal, quite a contrast from Disney's extravagant offerings.

But why has Disney’s star power dimmed in the animated feature world? For one, there’s a growing sentiment that Disney has been leaning heavily on its established franchises and pumping out sequels and reboots. Many fans feel that the studio’s recent offerings lack the originality and emotional depth that characterized its earlier hits like Frozen or Moana. Instead of innovation, some believe Disney has fallen into a comfort zone of safe, formulaic storytelling.

The emergence of other animation companies that are taking greater artistic chances may also be a contributing element. A24, Sony Pictures Animation, and independent producers are producing animated films that push the boundaries of visuals and explore unconventional storylines. Disney's conventional strategy could be failing in a world where viewers have more options and higher expectations than ever before.

The fact that Disney's most recent films haven't struck as deep a chord with reviewers or viewers doesn't help either. Even if they were nonetheless box office successes, films like Strange World and Raya and the Last Dragon didn't make the kind of impact that would have won them Oscars. Other studios' more avant-garde, emotionally nuanced productions, meanwhile, are demonstrating that animation can be just as moving and revolutionary as live-action movies.