Interestingly, many animated short films that have won the Academy Award have corresponding picture book versions. Some of them were adapted into picture books after the animation became popular, and some were directly adapted from picture books.
In any case, for children, it is a story that can be seen in both picture books and animations. As parents, we can take advantage of this by letting our children read books first and get abstract information through words. Then take him to see the animation to see how the abstract information is displayed in concrete pictures.
In this process, it is very likely to stimulate children's sensitivity and love for words, which helps to cultivate interest in reading. When my son Haohao was a child, I often took him to read books and animations at the same time, and the same is true now, and I will probably use the same way to read famous books in the future~
Today I will share 8 Oscar Best Animated Short Films, all of which have corresponding picture book versions, and all of them have Chinese versions. If you have a book at home, you can read it together, and if you don't have a book, you can read it alone. They are all super high-quality award-winning works, and they are also suitable for English to sharpen your ears and practice your hearing!
1
Lost & Found
Douban: 8.2 Language: English
Duration: 16 minutes
Suitable for age: 4 years old+
"Lost and Found", which won the 83rd Academy Awards, is adapted from the picture book of the same name by Chinese picture book writer Chen Zhiyong.
The protagonist of the story is a young boy. While collecting bottle caps, he saw a peculiar "large teapot". The teapot was alive, and the two had fun all afternoon.
Later, the boy realized that the teapot had no owner and had been discarded. He wanted to help it find a home of its own, and the two had a wonderful journey......
This is a story full of whimsy, colorful and a little sad. Chen Zhiyong's painting style is mature and changeable, and he is a Chinese picture book writer that I like very much, and I recommend everyone to pay attention to it.
2
Magic Flying Book
Douban score: 8.4 No dialogue
Duration: 15 minutes
Suitable for age: 4 years old+
"Magic Flying Book" has won the 84th Academy Awards, and the picture book version was released after the animation became popular all over the world, and it is also a popular children's bestseller.
The protagonist is a man reading a book on a balcony when suddenly a gust of wind blows away him and his book. Even in the midst of the storm, he did not give up his book, and then they came to a magical world, and the words on the book flew away......
This is a short animation that will make children fall in love with books and reading. The books that move around the floor in the anime are so lovely! Give your child an environment full of books, and they will naturally fall in love with reading.
3
Father and Daughter
Douban score: 9.1 No dialogue
Duration: 8min
Suitable for age: 5 years old+
"Father and Daughter" is the 73rd Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and the corresponding picture book title is "Father and Daughter".
As the name suggests, this is a story about the bond between a father and daughter. The father and daughter cycled through paths, meadows, and high slopes to the lake. After the father hugged his daughter, he sailed away alone. The daughter has been waiting for her father, and after waiting for a long, long time, she got married and became a mother...... Will her father ever return to her?
This is a touching story, with parting and waiting, longing and loneliness. The alternation of light and shadow depicts time and family affection, and has the power to reach people's hearts.
4
"Memories of the Brick House"
Douban score: 9.3 No dialogue
Duration: 12min
Suitable for age: 5 years old+
"Memories of the Brick House" is the 81st Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and the corresponding picture book is "The Block House".
The protagonist of the story is an old man who lives in a house that resembles a building block: due to the rise in sea level, he has to build his house layer by layer, and below the level is where he once lived.
One day, one of the old man's pipes fell into the water. It was his most beloved irreplaceable item. So, he put on his diving suit and went underwater, looking at everything he once knew, and the past came to mind......
It's a touching family story, and each floor of the building block hut is a time to spend with your family.
5
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Douban score: 8.3 Language: English
Duration: 32 minutes
Suitable for age: 6 years old+
"Boy, Mole, Fox and Horse" is the best animated short film at the 95th Academy Awards, that is, it won the Academy Award in 2023, and the animation is adapted from the picture book of the same name.
A little boy who is lost in the forest and wants to return to his home. Later, he met a mole, a fox, and a horse. Four people with different personalities become good friends, and together they want to help the boy return to his human home. At the last minute, however, the boy made an unexpected choice......
It's the best short anime I've seen in recent years, about kindness, friendship, courage, and hope. I think every elementary school student should watch this anime and feel the power of love.
6
Ferdinand the Bull
Duration: 8min
Language: English
Suitable for age: 5 years old+
"Ferdinand the Bull" is the 11th Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, adapted from the classic picture book "The Cow Who Loves Flowers".
The main character of the story is a bull named Ferdinand. It is tall and mighty, but it has a gentle personality and likes to sit under the tree and smell the flowers. But one day, it was selected to compete in a bullfight. In the face of expectations, will it choose to be the winner?
This picture book story was published in 1936, 88 years ago, and a few years ago it was adapted into the movie "The Adventures of the Bull". Picture books have been adapted into animations and movies countless times, not only because of the theme of peace and anti-war, but also because children really love to listen to such stories!
7
Peter and the Wolf
Douban score: 8.0 Language: no dialogue
Duration: 32 minutes
Suitable for age: 6 years old+
"Peter and the Wolf" is the 80th Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, based on a symphonic fairy tale written by Russian composer Prokofiev for children, and the corresponding picture book version is "Peter and the Wolf".
The protagonist Peter lives with his grandfather in the countryside, surrounded by birds, ducklings, and kittens. One day, when Peter was out of the woods, a wolf suddenly popped out of the woods! What would Peter do if the wolf ate the duck and wanted to eat the bird and the kitten?
It is a classic fairy tale that was created in 1936 and has accompanied generations of children to grow up. It's still worth telling children about.
8
A Bear's Tale
Douban score: 8.6 Language: no dialogue
Duration: 11min
Suitable for age: 6 years old+
"The Story of the Bear" is the 88th Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and the corresponding name of the picture book version is "The Story of the Big Bear Theater".
Papa Bear originally had a happy family of three. However, one day the animal trappers attacked them and wanted them to go to the circus. Papa Bear has gone through many hardships and finally escaped. Later, it made an elaborate mechanical box and walked the streets to tell everyone about the experience...... I wonder when it will be reunited with its family?
The story presents the loneliness of a craftsman from the perspective of a child, as well as the infinite attachment to family affection.