Brad Booker, a film animator and Springfield area native, won the Oscar for Best Short Animated Film. Booker's winning creation, "War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko," co-created with filmmaker Dave Mullins, claimed the prestigious award at the Oscars ceremony last night.
"War is Over!" is a compelling animated short set against the backdrop of World War I, accompanied by the timeless anti-war anthem "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The narrative revolves around two soldiers engaged in a game of chess via carrier pigeon, oblivious to their adversarial roles on the battlefield.
Booker is known for his work on renowned films like Iron Giant, Stuart Little, and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. This was his first Oscar Award. The film recently won an Annie Award for Best Short Subject.
During his acceptance speech, Booker thanked esteemed filmmaker Peter Jackson, acknowledging Jackson's instrumental role in bringing the project to fruition. Booker also thanked the animation teams at Weta FX, Lights from Entertainment, and Epic Games for their contributions to the film's success.
A behind-the-scenes look at the film is available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsTx3g3EI7E.