SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Autodesk Media and Entertainment technology has played a pivotal role in the creation of some of the most iconic and breathtaking movie imagery over the past two decades. From large post-production studios to small boutique houses, talented artists across the globe — from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia/New Zealand — combined digital artistry, Autodesk software and great storytelling to make the most celebrated films of this past year.

“When I realized all five Academy Award nominated films for best visual effects and all five nominees for best animation used Autodesk Maya, I felt like the father of the bride,” said Chris Bradshaw, Autodesk senior vice president. “Digital artists pushed technology in exciting new directions last year — whether blending hand-drawing and computer graphics, combining traditional stop-motion animation with visual effects or bringing beloved books and superheroes to life, it’s their innovation that inspires Autodesk to continually make our software better.”

In the Best Visual Effects category, all five film nominees —The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Life of Pi, Marvel’s The Avengers, Prometheus, and Snow White and the Huntsman—used Autodesk software. This will be the 18th consecutive year Autodesk has had that distinction. The five nominated movies contained a combined 7,754 visual effects shots and involved the work of 30 visual effects studios using Autodesk software (many of whom worked on multiple films) in more than 10 countries.

This year, a record-setting 21 animated films were eligible for nomination in the Best Animated Feature category. The five nominees all used Autodesk Maya 3D animation and visual effects software. The nominees include two 3D animated features Brave and Wreck-It Ralph and three stop-motion movies: Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, and The Pirates! Band of Misfits.

Autodesk software also played a role in the creation of a number of other movies nominated this year including Amour, Argo, Buzkashi Boys, Flight, Les Misérables, Lincoln, Paperman, Silver Linings Playbook, Skyfall, Ted and Zero Dark Thirty.