Calgary-based animators nominated for Oscar

Calgary-based animators Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby have been nominated for best animated short film at the Oscars for their work The Flying Sailor.

This isn’t the first time the Forbis and Tilby have been recognized by the Academy, the pair have been nominated for their previous films When the Day Breaks and Wild Life.

According to the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) The Flying Sailor is inspired by the true story of a sailor who was propelled two kilometres in the air by the 1917 Halifax Explosion, the largest accidental non-nuclear explosion of all time.

“We are absolutely blown away by this fabulous news and, like our sailor, we’re flying high! The National Film Board of Canada has our endless gratitude for their unwavering support, and for making films like ours possible in the first place. We share this honour with our stellar creative team, especially producer David Christensen and sound designer Luigi Allemano,” a statement from Tilby and Forbis reads.

Tilby was born in St. Albert, Alta., where she lived until she was six years old before moving to Edmonton, while Forbis was born in Bowness, which is now Calgary.

They both met at Emily Carr University in Vancouver, where they studied animation.

“Congratulations to Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, to producer David Christensen and to the crew who helped bring The Flying Sailor to life. NFB excellence in animation goes back to pioneers Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart, and the tradition of innovation and experimentation they established. Today, we’re proud to be the creative home for visionary animators and storytellers from across the country and around the world,” Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson, said.

You can watch the film on the NFB’s website.