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Most of the Oscar news we read earlier this week was about The Help, or The Artist, or Hugo, so you're forgiven if you didn't notice the winner for short animated film: 

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. 

The film is a charming homage to the joy of reading, your local library and the secret lives of books. It was inspired in part by Buster Keaton, Hurricane Katrina, the Wizard of Oz, and children's books publisher William Morris.

Yet it only takes fifteen minutes to enjoy:

Interestingly enough, while the film obviously praises the physical book, it also has an iPad app, where you can interact with the story.  

co-creator William Joyce said "There was some trepidation about doing the app -- we didn't want to kill the thing we love -- but at the same time we thought, 'This new technology could very well be a way to help save publishing. But we're not sure. Let's dive in and see.'"

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

A charming animated film pays homage to the joy of reading, your local library, and the secret lives of books. Oh, and it won an Oscar.

Video Break: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

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