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Department Of Theatre And Media Arts

BYU Professor and Alumni Shine with Oscar-Nominated Animated Film

Kelly Loosli and Animation Alumni Share Poignant Story Through Animated Short

"Ninety-Five Senses"
Photo by Kelly Loosli

An animated short film co-produced by BYU animation professor Kelly Loosli was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Short category. The Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, March 10, on ABC.

The film, “Ninety-Five Senses,” was directed by former BYU students Jared and Jerusha Hess (creators of “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre”) and co-written by BYU alumni Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer. Two animators who worked on the film, KC Toby and Michael Grover, graduated from BYU’s animation program. It’s the first film from the Hesses to receive an Oscar nomination.

The 13-minute film tells the poignant story of Coy, an incarcerated man, as he reflects on mistakes he made during his life, as well as his hopes and aspirations for life beyond death. In the film, Coy, who is voiced by Tim Blake Nelson, reflects on each of his five senses. Each sense is depicted visually by a different animator, creating a captivating visual journey.

Read the full University Communications article by Tyler Stahle here.