How the Animated Movie Flow Beat the Big Studios?

The Animated Underdog That Stole the Spotlight
What Is Flow About?
How Flow Beat the Big Studios
The Magic of Blender: Animation for Everyone
A New Era for Independent Animation
What This Means for Aspiring Animators
Frequently Asked Questions

The Animated Underdog That Stole the Spotlight

Move over, Pixar and DreamWorks—there’s a new animation champion in town! In a shocking Oscar win, Flow, an independent film made with Blender, took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. And no, this wasn’t a billion-dollar production with Hollywood A-listers. It was a passion project from Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, proving that creativity, determination, and the right tools can make magic happen.

This isn’t just a win for Flow—it’s a victory for independent animators everywhere. It’s proof that animation isn’t just for massive studios. With tools like Blender, anyone with a story to tell can create something breathtaking. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of making your own animated masterpiece, now is the time!

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca.

What Is Flow About?

Imagine a world completely flooded, where the only survivors are a black cat and a ragtag group of animals, including a dog, a capybara, a ring-tailed lemur, and a secretary bird. No humans, no dialogue—just stunning visuals and pure storytelling.

Flow is a beautifully crafted film that tells its story through animation alone. Every scene looks like a moving painting, and every character expresses emotion through movement and expression rather than words. The result? A deeply immersive experience that proves animation is a universal language.

How Flow Beat the Big Studios

At the 97th Academy Awards, Flow went up against some serious heavyweights:

Inside Out 2 (Pixar) – A sequel to one of Pixar’s most beloved films.
The Wild Robot (DreamWorks) – A high-profile adaptation of a bestselling book.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Aardman) – A new adventure from one of animation’s most iconic duos.
Memoir of a Snail – A beautifully crafted stop-motion film.

Despite these massive competitors, Flow won. Why? Because it was unique. It was personal. It was visually stunning. And it was made using Blender, proving that animation isn’t about budgets—it’s about creativity and storytelling.

The Magic of Blender: Animation for Everyone

One of the most exciting things about Flow is that it was made using Blender, a free and open-source 3D animation software. Unlike the expensive tools used by major studios, Blender is available to anyone with a computer and a dream.

Director Gints Zilbalodis himself said, “Any kid now has tools that are used to make Academy Award-winning films.” That’s huge. It means that anyone—yes, even you—can start creating high-quality animations from home.

Blender’s capabilities include:

3D modeling – Create characters, environments, and props.
Animation tools – Bring your creations to life with smooth, expressive movements.
Rendering – Produce high-quality visuals using Blender’s EEVEE engine.

For aspiring animators, this win isn’t just inspiring—it’s life-changing. If Flow can win an Oscar using Blender, what’s stopping the next great film from coming from you?

A New Era for Independent Animation

For years, the animation industry has been dominated by giant studios with massive budgets. But Flow proves that the future belongs to independent creators. With tools like Blender and online education from places like VANAS Online Animation School, aspiring animators have more opportunities than ever.

This shift is already happening. In recent years, more independent films have won major awards, including:

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2023) – A dark, stop-motion reimagining of a classic story.
Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron (2024) – A deeply personal animated feature from the legendary Studio Ghibli.

Now, with Flow leading the charge, independent animation is getting the recognition it deserves.

What This Means for Aspiring Animators

If you love animation, Flow’s success should be a wake-up call: You don’t need a massive budget to make something incredible. All you need is dedication, creativity, and the right tools.

So, where do you start?

Learn the basics – Study animation principles, storytelling, and character design.
Use free tools – Get Blender and start experimenting with 3D modeling and animation.
Take online courses – Schools like VANAS offer training to help you master animation techniques.
Create your own projects – Start small, but keep creating. Every project gets you closer to your dream.
Share your work – Post on YouTube, TikTok, and social media. You never know who might see it!

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Flow about?

It’s a post-apocalyptic animated film about a black cat and other animals surviving in a flooded world. There’s no dialogue—just stunning visuals and emotion-filled storytelling.

Why is Flow’s Oscar win important?

It’s the first independent film made with Blender to win an Academy Award, proving that animation isn’t just for big studios anymore.

Who made Flow?

Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, who created the film with a small team using Blender.

What software was used to make Flow?

It was made entirely in Blender, a free 3D animation tool available to anyone.

How can I start making animation like Flow?

Download Blender, practice animation techniques, and consider taking courses at VANAS Online Animation School.

Will more independent films win Oscars in the future?

Absolutely! With powerful free tools like Blender, the animation industry is becoming more accessible to independent creators.

The success of Flow isn’t just a win for the film—it’s a win for all independent animators. If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own animated masterpiece, now is the time to start. Who knows? Maybe your film will be the next one to win an Oscar!