This isn't a very original thing to write, and I usually don't pay it too much attention, but I was quite happy to see Kunio Kato win the Oscar for his latest short, as I've been a fan since his Traveler series, so a hearty congratulations to him for this. This award comes right after Kunio Kato just won the grand prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival. And more generally, it's great to see the Japanese indie scene get some attention. I'm sorry and bemused, albeit not surprised, that Waltz With Bashir didn't win. As nice a film as Wall-E is, it would have been justice to give this award to a truly great animated film that doesn't already have massive name recognition and the backing of major western studios. I don't know what to think about it not having been nominated as an animated film. I suppose it's testament to the unique position the film occupies - it could have equally well found itself in the documentary category.