In an age where major streaming companies likeDreamWorks are firing their animatorsand big budget animated films fromDisney fell short during award season,Flowhas been quitethe breath of fresh air among animationfans. The little cat that could with a budget of about $4 million took downjuggernaut films likeInside Out 2,Moana 2, andThe Wild Robotat the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, which has made directorGints Zilbalodisa national hero for his country. The Latvian people showered the creator with a hero’s welcome after his Oscar win.
ViaCartoon Brew, the evening began with news reporters and paparazzi at the Riga airport braving frigid temperatures to see Latvia’s latest celebrity. The news filmed Zilbalodis’ plane arriving with the same zeal as if he was the president. After the media members rolled out a red carpet, the animator, alongside producerMatiss Kaza, appeared to the flashing of camera bulbs.A choir greeted them at the airportwith a choir singing the Latvian national anthem. As they left the airport, fans cheered outside for a glimpse at the duo. They waved flowers and the Latvian flag in excitementwhile Zilbalodis and Kaza took some questions from reporters.
Zilbalodis and Kaza werewhisked by a police escort to the Freedom Monumentin the capital city of Riga. A group of about 500 people stood in chilly temperatures to hear speeches from the director and other creators in a joyous celebration of the film that put their country on the international movie map. The crowd exploded in cheers whenZilbalodis and Kaza pulled the Academy Awardfrom their bags, hefting the statues up in the air in triumph.
FlowBroke the Mold for Animation
Flowwas Latvia’s first ever Academy Award win, andthe film has become iconicacross the country. Even Latvia’s president, Edgars Rinkēvičs,snapped a picturein front ofFlow’s black cat statue in Riga. The feline sits atop the city’s letters, which are near the Freedom Monument. SinceFlow’srise throughout the awards season, the country’s government shifted extra funds towards their animation industry, shifting 1 million euros towards future projects and including marketing future Latvian animation projects across the world. The FUR-vor for the little cat that took downanimation beasts which dominated the box officehas become a source of pride for Latvia. After the film’s Golden Globe win, the statue was displayed for over 16,000 guests at the Latvian National Museum of Art.
While it’s unclear whatFlow’s lasting impact on the animationwill be, it has excited creatives in the industry. Disney’sAmphibiaMatt Bralyshared on his TwitterwhenFlowwon, “Deserved. A film with a budget of under $5 million just completely upstaged the big studios - this is what the industry needs to see right now. It’s not about money it’s about passion and ingenuity. Bravo!”
