The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on April 23 that it has changed the rules for the Animated Feature Film category, removing the requirement that eight eligible animated features have theatrical releases in a single calendar year for the category to be activated. In addition, nominations voting is automatically open to members in the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch, while other members must opt-in to participate in nominations voting.

The Academy also changed the rules for its Animated and Live Action Short Films category, with films in the category now able to qualify for the category if they have theatrical screenings in either the City of New York or Los Angeles County.

Mamoru Hosoda and Studio Chizu's anime film Mirai was nominated in the Animated Feature Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it did not win the award. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won the award.

Sources: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Verge (Jon Porter), Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)