The Academy Awards are the oldest awards given to achievements in film; the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was given the first time for the 2001 film year.

The rules say that the award will only be awarded to one of three nominees in a year that has 8 or more animated features opening theatrically in Los Angeles.

People in the Animation industry and fandom expressed hope that the prestige from this award and the resulting boost to the box office will encourage the increased production of animated features.

  • 2001 Shrek - DreamWorks SKG, Pacific Data Images - Jeffrey Katzenberg, Aron Warner, John H. Williams producers; Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, Scott Marshall directors; Rex Grignon, Anthony Hodgson, Ethan Hurd, Boris Kossmehl, Eric Lessard, Noel McGinn, Jason Reisig, Emmanuel Roth animators
    • Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius - DNA Productions Inc., Nickelodeon Movies, O Entertainment - John A. Davis, Albie Hecht, Steve Oudekerk producers; John A. Davis director; Brian Capshaw, John Karner, Michael Kimmel, Deanna Molinaro, Carl Schembri, John Sore animators
    • Monsters, Inc - Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures - Darla K. Anderson, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton producers; Peter Docter director; Angus MacLane, Dave Mullins, Ross Stevenson animators
  • 2002 Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi) - Dentsu Inc., Mitsubishi Commercial Affairs, NTV, Studio Ghibli, Tokuma Shoten, Touhoku Shinsha, Walt Disney Pictures - Toshio Suzuki producer; Hayao Miyazaki director; Megumi Kagawa, Kitaro Kosaka animators
    • Ice Age - Blue Sky Studios, Fox Animation Studios - Lori Forte producer; Chris Wedge, Carlos Saldanha directors
    • Lilo & Stitch - Walt Disney Animation, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Television Animation - Clark Spencer producer; Chris Sanders director; Paulo Alvarado animator
    • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Dream Works SKG - Jeffrey Katzenberg, Mireille Soria producers; Kelly Asbury, Lorna Cook directors; Greg Checketts, Christopher Oakley, Glenn Storm animators
    • Treasure Planet - Walt Disney Pictures - Ron Clements, Ray Conli, John Musker producers; Ron Clements, John Musker directors; James Baker, Kevin Waldvogel, Dean Wellins, Dougg Williams animators