Aaron Blaise’s ‘Snow Bear’ Is an Oscar Contender and the Best Argument for Disney’s Return to 2D. In 12 Minutes, Aaron Blaise proves that storytelling is still the heart and soul of an animated movie. Aaron Blaise, a former Disney animator and Director of Disney’s Brother Bear, new hand-drawn animated short, ‘Snow Bear’, has a soul that pixels sometimes miss.
Snow Bear follows a solo polar bear through a season in the Arctic tundra, which is cold, hard, and lonely. That loneliness is at the heart of the story, something that most people can connect to. The need for companionship, the wanting to be part of something more, simply put, a friend.
As a writer, I am supposed to use words eloquently and drive the point home, but something about ‘Snow Bear’ just makes it hard to put into words how this beautifully hand-drawn bear reflects that loneliness. Why am I emotionally connected to a bear that is considered an Apex Predator? Not in a scary way, but in a way that, through nature, you can see the human experience reflected. No matter how strong or capable we are, we still succumb to the ache of isolation.
Aaron Blaise, being an ex-Disney animator, you can probably guess how this all ends. The movies he was involved with during that Disney Renaissance period all had a Happily Ever After, and Aaron continues that tradition in ‘Snow Bear’. We cannot recommend this story enough to Disney fans!
“Set in a rapidly changing world, Snow Bear tells the story of a lonely polar bear in an unforgiving environment on his quest to find a friend. Created entirely by Oscar-nominated animator Aaron Blaise over three years, the film features stunning hand-drawn animation that captures both the humor and poignancy of its central character’s quest for connection. Balancing moments of laughter and heartfelt emotion, this short film pays tribute to the timeless art of traditional animation while offering a gentle reminder of the bonds that unite us all.”
Aaron Blaise’s ‘Snow Bear’ can be watched now on YouTube, and you can watch the Oscars March 16th, 2026, to see if this wins this years award for Animated Short Film.
Disney needs to rehire Aaron Blaise. They should let him run a department dedicated to hand-drawn art again. He already teaches thousands of students online, at CreatureArtTeacher, so he’s the perfect person to train a new team. Bringing him back would help Disney find its heart again. While we are at it, we need to tell The Walt Disney Company and D23 that Aaron Blaise should receive the Disney Legend Award at this year’s upcoming D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Snow Bear isn’t just a cute short film. It’s proof that traditional art isn’t dead. It’s still the best way to tell certain stories. If a single artist can get an Oscar nod from his house, imagine what a studio could do if they went back to their roots.
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