Animation Gets Oscar Recognition

The Motion Picture Academy has agreed to create a separate category for animated feature films, but the nominations would appear only when at least eight animated films are released during a year. The Academy has argued in the past that so few animated features are produced annually that all of them would receive a nomination if the category was instituted. Under the new rule, if 8-15 features are released in a year, three would be eligible for nominations. If 16 are released, five would be eligible.

Source: Internet Movie Database