The 96th Academy Awards befell final night time, with critics’ favorites “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Issues” taking residence high prizes. And although some consider that Asian creatives have been snubbed this time round, there have been nonetheless many moments that made us smile.
From the “Godzilla Minus One” workforce’s matching outfits to Hayao Miyazaki’s historic win, listed below are eight of our favourite Asian-centric moments from this yr’s Oscars (in no explicit order).
1. “Godzilla Minus One” wins Finest Visible Results
“Godzilla Minus One” made franchise historical past Sunday night time, taking residence the 70-year-old sequence’ first Academy Award. Japanese filmmakers Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima accepted the trophies — their Godzilla-themed toys and footwear taking heart stage.
“So removed from Hollywood, even the potential for standing on this stage appeared out of attain,” Yamazaki mentioned in his acceptance speech. “The second we have been nominated, we felt like Rocky Balboa welcomed into the ring as equals by our greatest rivals, which was already a miracle. However, right here we stand.”
2. “The Boy and the Heron” wins Finest Animated Function Movie
Japanese movie “The Boy and the Heron” topped this yr’s Animated Options class, awarding famed director Hayao Miyazaki his second Oscar. At 83 years outdated, the Studio Ghibli founder is now the oldest director to win this class in over 20 years, and he stays the one Asian director to take the prize. He received his first Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003.
Although Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki have been unable to attend the ceremony, presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Pleasure accepted the award on their behalf.
3. Michelle Yeoh presents Actress in a Main Function
One yr after her historic Finest Actress win for “All the things In all places All At As soon as,” Michelle Yeoh returned to Dolby Theater to current this yr’s award. Alongside different previous winners Sally Fields, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron and Jessica Lange, Yeoh acknowledged nominees Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”) earlier than presenting the trophy to Emma Stone (“Poor Issues”).
4. Ke Huy Quan presents Actor in a Supporting Function
“All the things In all places All At As soon as” Finest Supporting Actor-winner Ke Huy Quan additionally introduced an award to his successor. Taking the stage with previous honorees Sam Rockwell, Tim Robbins, Christoph Waltz and Mahershala Ali, Quan helped have a good time Robert Downey Jr. for his efficiency in “Oppenheimer.” Different nominees included Sterling Okay. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Issues”).
“Sterling, I do know yours has been an extended journey to get to this night time,” Quan mentioned in his heartfelt introduction of the “American Fiction” nominee. “I can relate. And I’m so, so glad that you simply’re lastly being acknowledged by your friends.”
5. Simu Liu dances in Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Simply Ken” efficiency
Can you’re feeling the Kenergy? In one of the highly-anticipated performances of the night time, “Barbie”’s Ryan Gosling took to the stage to sing the movie’s famed quantity “I’m Simply Ken.” A imaginative and prescient in pink, he was joined by fellow Ken actors Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and Simu Liu, in addition to rock-n-roll guitarist Slash.
Their efficiency was one among two representing the “Barbie” film, with Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell performing an orchestral model of “What Was I Made For?” earlier in this system. The songwriting siblings finally took residence the Oscar for Best Original Song.
6. Janet Yang runs into Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Finneas O’Connell backstage
Contemporary off their Best Original Song win, musical duo Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell and presenters Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo ran into Academy President Janet Yang backstage. Although Yang was onscreen teasing the night time’s coming awards, the gang loved a humorous and endearing reunion earlier than the present reduce to industrial.
7. “Battle Is Over!” creators want Yoko Ono a “Pleased Mom’s Day”
“Battle Is Over! Impressed by the Music of John & Yoko” took residence the Oscar for Finest Animated Brief. Becoming a member of filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker onstage, Sean Lennon, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, capped off their acceptance speeches by wishing his mom a “Pleased [U.K.] Mom’s Day.”
8. Sean Wang’s Nai Nai and Wài Pó flip heads on the crimson carpet
Sean Wang might not have received Finest Documentary Brief, however he and his grandmothers positively received finest dressed of the night time. The titular topics of Wang’s movie, his Nai Nai and Wài Pó (in any other case referred to as 94-year-old Yi Yan Fuei and 83-year-old Chang Li Hua) took command of the carpet in customized Rodarte. They have been styled by Shirley Kurata, the Oscar-nominated costume designer for “All the things In all places All At As soon as.”
Honorable Mentions
From the “Godzilla Minus One” workforce’s matching outfits to Hayao Miyazaki’s historic win, listed below are eight of our favourite Asian-centric moments from this yr’s Oscars (in no explicit order).
1. “Godzilla Minus One” wins Finest Visible Results
“Godzilla Minus One” made franchise historical past Sunday night time, taking residence the 70-year-old sequence’ first Academy Award. Japanese filmmakers Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima accepted the trophies — their Godzilla-themed toys and footwear taking heart stage.
“So removed from Hollywood, even the potential for standing on this stage appeared out of attain,” Yamazaki mentioned in his acceptance speech. “The second we have been nominated, we felt like Rocky Balboa welcomed into the ring as equals by our greatest rivals, which was already a miracle. However, right here we stand.”
2. “The Boy and the Heron” wins Finest Animated Function Movie
Japanese movie “The Boy and the Heron” topped this yr’s Animated Options class, awarding famed director Hayao Miyazaki his second Oscar. At 83 years outdated, the Studio Ghibli founder is now the oldest director to win this class in over 20 years, and he stays the one Asian director to take the prize. He received his first Oscar for “Spirited Away” in 2003.
Although Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki have been unable to attend the ceremony, presenters Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Pleasure accepted the award on their behalf.
3. Michelle Yeoh presents Actress in a Main Function
One yr after her historic Finest Actress win for “All the things In all places All At As soon as,” Michelle Yeoh returned to Dolby Theater to current this yr’s award. Alongside different previous winners Sally Fields, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron and Jessica Lange, Yeoh acknowledged nominees Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”) earlier than presenting the trophy to Emma Stone (“Poor Issues”).
4. Ke Huy Quan presents Actor in a Supporting Function
“All the things In all places All At As soon as” Finest Supporting Actor-winner Ke Huy Quan additionally introduced an award to his successor. Taking the stage with previous honorees Sam Rockwell, Tim Robbins, Christoph Waltz and Mahershala Ali, Quan helped have a good time Robert Downey Jr. for his efficiency in “Oppenheimer.” Different nominees included Sterling Okay. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Issues”).
“Sterling, I do know yours has been an extended journey to get to this night time,” Quan mentioned in his heartfelt introduction of the “American Fiction” nominee. “I can relate. And I’m so, so glad that you simply’re lastly being acknowledged by your friends.”
5. Simu Liu dances in Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Simply Ken” efficiency
Can you’re feeling the Kenergy? In one of the highly-anticipated performances of the night time, “Barbie”’s Ryan Gosling took to the stage to sing the movie’s famed quantity “I’m Simply Ken.” A imaginative and prescient in pink, he was joined by fellow Ken actors Kingsley Ben-Adir, Scott Evans, Ncuti Gatwa and Simu Liu, in addition to rock-n-roll guitarist Slash.
Their efficiency was one among two representing the “Barbie” film, with Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell performing an orchestral model of “What Was I Made For?” earlier in this system. The songwriting siblings finally took residence the Oscar for Best Original Song.
6. Janet Yang runs into Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Finneas O’Connell backstage
Contemporary off their Best Original Song win, musical duo Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell and presenters Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo ran into Academy President Janet Yang backstage. Although Yang was onscreen teasing the night time’s coming awards, the gang loved a humorous and endearing reunion earlier than the present reduce to industrial.
7. “Battle Is Over!” creators want Yoko Ono a “Pleased Mom’s Day”
“Battle Is Over! Impressed by the Music of John & Yoko” took residence the Oscar for Finest Animated Brief. Becoming a member of filmmakers Dave Mullins and Brad Booker onstage, Sean Lennon, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, capped off their acceptance speeches by wishing his mom a “Pleased [U.K.] Mom’s Day.”
8. Sean Wang’s Nai Nai and Wài Pó flip heads on the crimson carpet
Sean Wang might not have received Finest Documentary Brief, however he and his grandmothers positively received finest dressed of the night time. The titular topics of Wang’s movie, his Nai Nai and Wài Pó (in any other case referred to as 94-year-old Yi Yan Fuei and 83-year-old Chang Li Hua) took command of the carpet in customized Rodarte. They have been styled by Shirley Kurata, the Oscar-nominated costume designer for “All the things In all places All At As soon as.”
Honorable Mentions
- Crimson carpet host Vanessa Hudgens reveals her being pregnant by arriving with a child bump.
- 2023 Finest Actress-winner Michelle Yeoh surprises “Depraved” costar Ariana Grande whereas she’s being interviewed by Hudgens on the crimson carpet.
- “Previous Lives” actor Teo Yoo commemorates his late pet turtle Momo together with his crimson carpet ensemble.
- “Previous Lives” star Greta Lee stuns in her GlamBot movement portrait.
- “By no means Have I Ever” lead Maitreyi Ramakrishnan goes viral for her hilarious crimson carpet interview.
- 2023 Finest Supporting Actor-winner Ke Huy Quan breaks out into tune with Cynthia Erivo and Amelia Dimoldenberg on the crimson carpet.