Academy records list exactly three animated movies nominated for best picture in Oscar history. No international cartoon, DreamWorks title, or Sony feature has duplicated the feat through 2026.

Disney's fairy-tale musical became the first animated movies nominated for best picture entry at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992 — when only five films could make the ballot.

Pixar's Up joined animated movies nominated for best picture at the 82nd Academy Awards after the field expanded to ten slots. It won Animated Feature but lost Picture to The Hurt Locker.

Toy Story 3 duplicated the crossover one year later at the 83rd Academy Awards — the last animated movies nominated for best picture entry to date. It lost to The King's Speech.

All three animated movies nominated for best picture lost on ceremony night. Each won other Oscars — Up and Toy Story 3 took Animated Feature — but the top prize remains animation-free.