The 2025 Academy Award for Best Animated Film went to Flow, a groundbreaking and emotionally powerful animated feature that has taken the world by storm.
The film tells the poignant story of a solitary black cat and other animals struggling to survive in a world submerged by rising floodwaters.
In a powerful commentary on environmental disaster and survival, Flow combines breathtaking animation with a deeply moving narrative.
What makes Flow even more remarkable is its modest budget and the use of entirely free, open-source software.
With a production budget of only $3.5 million, which may sound like a lot to some, it’s actually a very minimal sum when compared to the astronomical costs of typical animated features.
For context, the much-anticipated Inside Out 2 had a massive budget of $200 million, yet Flow managed to surpass it in both artistic merit and storytelling.
Winning the Oscar is not just a triumph for the film but for the entire Latvian film industry—Flow is Latvia’s first-ever Oscar winner in the Best Animated Film category, making this victory a historic milestone for the nation.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Flow’s production is that it was entirely created using Blender, a free, open-source animation software.
Blender has long been favored by independent animators and small studios, and this victory shows just how far it can take a creative vision. The use of Blender in Flow is a testament to the power of open-source tools and how they can level the playing field, offering filmmakers the ability to create stunning visuals without the need for a high-budget, proprietary animation platform.
Director Gints Zilbalodis, who was also responsible for the film’s concept, began the project with just a simple sketch for the main character. “It was just a sketch to start, and the rest of the world was designed and modeled directly in 3D. It was faster and easier to do it this way,” Zilbalodis said.
The only concept photo.
This direct approach to 3D modeling and design was not only efficient but allowed the team to focus more on the emotional depth of the film rather than getting bogged down by intricate details.
The result was a stunningly unique, immersive experience that captivated audiences and critics alike.
Flow’s success shows that big budgets are not always necessary to tell a powerful story, and that the right creative tools—like Blender—can allow an indie production to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
The film’s Oscar win is a victory for both animation and the independent filmmaking community, proving that with passion, talent, and the right tools, anything is possible.
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