Oscars 2019: The history of dog movies at the Academy Awards

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HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 09: Actor Kevin Costner attends the premiere of Disney’s “McFarland, USA” at the El Capitan Theatre on February 9, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) /

Best Cinematography

Rebecca won the Black and White division for Best Cinematography of 1940. Lassie, Come Home was nominated in the Color division for 1943, and Mockingbird, Doctor Doolittle, Dances With Wolves and Roma were all nominated as well.

Best Costume Deisgn

Dances With Wolves also got a nomination for Best Costume Design, as did 102 Dalmatians in 2000. 102 Dalmatians was the little-known sequel to the live-action remake of the Disney animated classic based on Dode Smith’s novel. (Note to self, explain that franchise timeline…)

Best Film Editing

In Best Film Editing, Rebecca, Doctor Doolittle, and Babe were all nominated, and Dancing With Wolves won.

Also, it should be noted that Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was this category in 1976. Why does this need mentioning? Because while no actual dogs or dog-like creatures appear in any Star Wars movie, Chewbacca was inspired by George Lucas’ Malamute named Indiana, and in the 1987 Mel Brooks parody Spaceballs, the Chewie character Barf was half-dog.

Best Hairstyling and Makeup

In Best Hairstyling and Makeup, An American Werewolf in London won the first year it was awarded in 1981. Also winning was 2010’s The Wolfman, which has a lot of big names for a movie you’ve never heard of – Benecio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving.

Wonder was nominated in 2017; a key scene in both the movie and RJ Palacio’s novel is the death of Auggie’s dog Daisy.

Best Original Score

Best Original Score has a lot of dog movies (real or generously-defined) among its nominees: Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Doctor Doolittle, Annie, Toy Story, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Adventures of Tintin and Isle of Dogs were all nominated, while The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, Dances With Wolves, The Lion King and Up all won their respective years.

Best Original Song

Best Original Song also has a lot of good candidates from our pawspective. “Over the Rainbow” (The Wizard of Oz), “Talk to the Animals,” (Doctor Doolittle), “Under the Sea” (The Little Mermaid) and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” (The Lion King) all won their years.

“I Feel Love” (Benji), “The Day I Fell in Love” (Beethoven’s 2nd), “Circle of Life” (The Lion King), “Hakuna Matata” (also The Lion King), “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Toy Story), “When She Loved Me” (Toy Story 2), “We Belong Together” (Toy Story 3) and “Remember Me” (Coco) were all nominated.

Best Production Design

Best Production Design goes to the best interior design in film. To Kill a Mockingbird won, while Rebecca, Doctor Doolittle, Dances With Wolves, Into the Woods and Roma all have been nominated.

Best Sound Editing

Best Sound Editing is probably laughable to dogs, considering humans’ limited ability at hearing, but the award has seen both Up and Toy Story 3 nominated here.

Best Sound Mixing

Best Sound Mixing is probably silly to dogs, because even the best of us humans can’t discern the myriad of radio waves passing through the air. Dances With Wolves won, and Of Mice and Men, Doctor Doolittle and Roma were all nominated.

Best Visual Effects

Doctor Doolittle won in 1967 for Best Visual Effects, while The Wizard of Oz and Rebecca were both nominated here.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Dances With Wolves and To Kill a Mockingbird both won Best Adapted Screenplay, while Rebecca, Babe and Toy Story 3 were all nominated.

Best Original Screenplay

Toy Story, Up and Roma have all been nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

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