Sheridan Animation Students Celebrate Oscar Nominations of Alumni

Students from Sheridan College’s animation program in Oakville, Ontario, are celebrating the Oscar nominations of two films created by their alumni. KPop Demon Hunters and Elio, directed by Maggie Kang and Domee Shi respectively, have both been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Additionally, KPop Demon Hunters has received a nomination for Best Original Song for “Golden.”

For fourth-year animation student Phoebe Yeonsu Lee, Kang’s achievement resonates deeply. As a fellow woman of Korean descent, Lee finds inspiration in Kang’s success. “I grew up with K-pop during my teenage years,” Lee reflected. “It’s really just exciting and a surprise to me because I did not expect my culture could be a big thing. For me, [Kang] is really amazing… She gives me the feeling of the possibility [that] maybe I can be like her.”

Celebrating Sheridan’s Legacy of Excellence

The Oscar nominations highlight Sheridan College’s longstanding tradition of nurturing award-winning filmmakers, according to Mario Positano, program coordinator for the college’s School of Animation. “The program is quite old, it’s just over 60 years old,” he noted during an interview on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning. “Everywhere you go, every studio you go to… we’re always encountering alumni that are doing incredible things.”

Sheridan alumni have consistently achieved recognition in the film industry. Notable successes include Chris Williams, who won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature for Big Hero 6 in 2015, and Domee Shi, who won an Oscar for Best Animated Short for Bao in 2019. Shi’s Turning Red was nominated for an Oscar in 2023, inspired by her experiences growing up as a Chinese Canadian in Toronto.

According to Positano, many graduates secure positions in animation studios across Canada, including major cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. Others find opportunities in prominent U.S. studios like Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sony Pictures Animation. Kang herself was recruited by DreamWorks Animation during her graduating year in 2004.

Inspiration for Future Generations

The success of filmmakers like Shi and Kang motivates current students to aspire for greatness. Positano emphasized the program’s commitment to providing students with the freedom to explore their creative potential while remaining current with technological advancements. “Any one of them can do huge things,” he stated.

Students like Molly McCutcheon, who relocated from Australia to pursue her education at Sheridan, find the film’s themes and strong female characters particularly inspiring. KPop Demon Hunters follows a K-pop girl group that moonlights as demon hunters, working to protect their fans from supernatural threats. McCutcheon has watched the film three times, stating, “It does make you kind of delusional, like it can be me one day… It gives you renewed hope that maybe your idea can one day reach that level of fame.”

The Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, generating excitement among students and alumni alike. The recognition of films like KPop Demon Hunters serves not only as a testament to the talent of Sheridan graduates but also inspires the next generation of animators and filmmakers.