The 2025 Oscars showcased creativity at its best. From VFX to animation, Jonathan Lam explores what we can learn from this year’s most inspiring winners!
The Academy Awards 2025 have wrapped up, and this year’s winners in VFX, cinematography, animation, and production design delivered! From mind-blowing visual effects to jaw-dropping cinematography, the films that took home Oscars this year represented the perfect mix of innovation and artistry.
Let’s list the winners and then explain why these films won, what makes them visually unforgettable, and what we can learn from them. We’ll dive into the VFX wizardry, cinematography, animation brilliance, and finer details like costume design because every piece plays a role in making all these films Oscar-worthy.
1. Visual effects Oscar winner and nominees
Winner: Dune: Part Two
We’ve never seen a movie that makes an alien desert planet feel this real. The sheer scale of Dune: Part Two is mind-boggling, and the VFX team pulls off something special by making CGI and practical effects blend so well together.
Denis Villeneuve’s team mixes real locations and massive sets with some of the best virtual production tech, relying on Houdini and Unreal Engine to give the movie that grounded yet otherworldly feel.
Other nominees that pushed the boundaries
While Dune: Part Two took home the gold, the other nominees are just as impressive in their own ways.
- Alien: Romulus: This movie makes the most of modern computer graphics using cutting-edge VFX for the iconic Xenomorphs. It delivers intense and realistic alien encounters that put audiences on the edge of their seats.
- Better Man: The VFX team turns real concert performances into visually stunning sequences by merging reality with imaginative visuals.
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: The expressive apes rendered on the screen through motion capture and CGI are so realistic that they make audiences wonder where humanity ends and the animal begins.
- Wicked: This new adaptation creates vibrant and enchanting visual effects, giving the audience a realistic yet stylized land of Oz.
The biggest VFX trends this year
One thing is clear: VFX is evolving faster than ever. This year’s nominees showed some major motion trends shaping filmmaking’s future. Let’s take a quick look at some of these:
- AI-assisted VFX: AI speeds up workflows, enhances digital de-aging, and helps with scene composition. Expect to see more AI-driven effects in future blockbusters, as we’re witnessing the growth of AI in the film industry in real time.
- Virtual production is here to stay: Films like Dune: Part Two and The Creator leaned into real-time rendering and LED volume stages, blending practical and digital effects in more immersive ways.
- Hyper-realism vs. stylization: While some films pushed for photo-real CGI, others, like Wicked, embraced more stylized, artistically exaggerated effects, a trend that’s keeping things fresh in the industry.
2. Cinematography Oscar winner and nominees
Winner: The Brutalist
I love it when a film doesn’t just tell a story but pulls you into its world through visuals. The Brutalist does precisely that, with bold, dramatic cinematography that uses light and shadow to set the mood. Every shot feels carefully crafted, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere.
Lol Crawley’s camera work stands out for making everything feel both grand and deeply personal. By framing the camera and using lighting and space, he gives audiences a sense of scale and isolation.
Other nominees that brought visual storytelling to life
Even though The Brutalist took home the win, this year’s nominees were stacked with incredible cinematography:
- Dune: Part Two: Greig Fraser captures the scale and solitude of Arrakis, blending sweeping desert shots with intimate character moments, all bathed in stunning natural light.
- Emilia Pérez: Paul Guilhaume’s bold colors and fluid camera work give this musical its heartbeat, visually echoing themes of transformation and self-discovery.
- Maria: Ed Lachman uses soft light and muted tones to reflect the film’s emotional depth, letting every shadow tell part of the story.
- Nosferatu: Jarin Blaschke’s eerie lighting and dramatic framing revive classic horror visuals with a fresh, haunting intensity.
The biggest cinematography trends this year
- Return to black and white: Films like Nosferatu embrace monochromatic visuals, using the timeless aesthetic to enhance mood and focus on composition.
- Naturalistic lighting: Dune: Part Two and Maria use natural lighting techniques to create authentic and immersive environments, allowing audiences to feel truly present in the scenes.
- Dynamic camera movements: Emilia Pérez showcases how fluid and energetic camera work can mirror a film’s narrative rhythm, adding layers to character development and storytelling.
3. Animated feature Oscar winner and nominees
Winner: Flow
Flow isn’t just an animated film—it’s a breathtaking work of art! Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, it is free from dialogue and uses only visuals to convey emotions as it tells the story of animals navigating a catastrophic flood.
What’s even cooler? Flow was created entirely in Blender, which proves that you don’t need Hollywood budgets to make something incredible. It’s also Latvia’s first-ever Oscar win, making this victory even more special.
Other nominees that showcased great animation
While Flow won Best Animated Feature, the other nominees were just as impressive, each bringing unique creativity and storytelling to the table:
- Inside Out 2: This great sequel looks even deeper into the mind. It uses stunning animation and heartfelt storytelling to explore emotions in a way that feels both fun and meaningful.
- The Wild Robot: The adaptation is absolutely gorgeous. It brings nature to life while following a robot’s touching journey of survival and self-discovery.
- Memoir of a Snail: This beautifully crafted stop-motion film embraces life’s slower moments, using intricate animation to tell a quiet yet powerful story.
- Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: The classic duo return with their signature claymation! The movie delivers plenty of humor, adventure, and nostalgic charm.
4. Animated short Oscar winner and nominees
Winner: In the Shadow of the Cypress
Short films are often used as a canvas for innovation, and In the Shadow of the Cypress is a shining example of this. Directed by Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, this short delves into the complex relationship between a father (a former captain dealing with PTSD) and his daughter.
It’s the first Iranian animated short film to win an Academy Award.
Other nominees that showcased innovation
The Best Animated Short Film category was packed with incredible films that show just how versatile animation can be.
- Beautiful Men: This short stands out with its unique and touching take on beauty and identity, brought to life by directors Nicolas Keppens and Brecht Van Elslande.
- Magic Candies: This is a whimsical and imaginative story about a boy who discovers magical candies that let him hear others’ thoughts. Such a fun and creative concept!
- Wander to Wonder: This film takes us on a visually stunning, surreal journey, exploring themes of farewell and new beginnings in a truly artistic way.
- Yuck!: This innovative animation delves into childhood’s whimsical and sometimes gross aspects, capturing the essence of youthful curiosity and mischief.
The biggest animation trends this year
- Minimalist storytelling: Flow shows just how powerful a visual narrative can be, even without dialogue.
- Open-source creativity: Using free tools like Blender to create award-winning films shows how animation is becoming more accessible, allowing more artists to bring their ideas to life.
- Diverse narratives: In the Shadow of the Cypress brings attention to underrepresented stories and perspectives, using varied cultural experiences and narratives to enrich the animation landscape.
5. Costume design Oscar winner and nominees
Winner: Wicked
Paul Tazewell made history by becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked. His costumes don’t just clothe the characters; they tell a story, blending the fantastical elements of Oz with a contemporary flair.
Other nominees the showcased exceptional costume design
While Wicked took home the Oscar, we have to give credit to the other nominees as they brought some truly incredible craftsmanship and creativity to the screen:
- Nosferatu: Linda Muir nails this classic horror tale’s eerie, gothic vibe with period costumes that make the film’s chilling atmosphere even more immersive.
- A Complete Unknown: Arianne Phillips perfectly captures the rebellious spirit of the ’60s and ’70s music scene, dressing the characters in effortlessly authentic outfits.
- Conclave: Lisy Christl’s designs give us a fascinating look inside Vatican politics. The intricate robes and garments add to the film’s sense of secrecy and tradition.
- Gladiator II: Janty Yates and Dave Crossman bring ancient Rome back to life, blending historical accuracy with epic, larger-than-life costume design.
The impact of costume design on storytelling
Costume design goes beyond being fashionable! It can be used as a narrative tool, shaping the way we look at characters and their environment. This year’s nominees demonstrated how thoughtful wardrobe choices can contribute to these aspects of filmmaking:
- Character identity: The clothes characters wear can communicate a lot about their personalities and journeys through the story.
- World-building: An authentic costume can create the illusion of a truly engaging world, drawing the viewer further into the film’s universe.
- Tone and mood: The movie’s color scheme, texture, and style of costumes all contribute to its atmosphere, influencing how we feel about the story.
Lessons for creatives from the 97th Oscars
The 97th Academy Awards aren’t just about the glitz, glamor, and golden statues! They’re about celebrating creativity. From the breathtaking visual effects of Dune: Part Two to the painterly animation of Flow and costume designs of Wicked, these winners demonstrated that art and technology are constantly evolving together. So, what did we learn this year?
- Story comes first: No matter how advanced the technology, the best films use their visuals to enhance the narrative. Every costume, lighting choice, and camera movement serves the story.
- Mix old and new to create magic: Practical effects and CGI, animation and 3D rendering, real sets and virtual production. Embrace hybrid filmmaking rather than being dependent on one particular style.
- Being bold pays off: Movies are made memorable by the creative risks involved. Whether it’s the silent storytelling of Flow or the gothic designs of Nosferatu‘s costumes, taking risks sometimes pays off!
- It’s all about emotion: The best visual storytelling isn’t just about making things look pretty—it’s about how it makes people feel. Whether through lighting, framing, or costume, every artistic choice should amplify the audience’s emotional connection.
As creatives, there’s so much to learn from these films. So, let’s take inspiration, push boundaries, and keep creating! Learn more about filmmaking by reading our article on StageCraft or famous movie logos.
