In an era dominated by blockbuster budgets and established studio powerhouses, Flow emerged as a quiet revolution. Directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, this visually poetic and dialogue-free animated film not only defied industry expectations but made history by winning Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. Flow is the first Latvian film ever to earn an Oscar in this category, a watershed moment for independent animation and a testament to the global power of visual storytelling.
At its core, Flow is an atmospheric odyssey following a black cat through a hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic world submerged in water, accompanied by an unlikely group of animal companions. Without a single spoken word, the film weaves a rich narrative about survival, connection, and the emotional nuances of a journey in isolation. The cat’s voyage mirrors the resilience of independent creators in a world ruled by giants.
Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Flow was immediately recognized for its minimalist approach and striking animation. Audiences and critics alike were drawn to its raw emotion and immersive world-building, all achieved through visuals and sound alone.
Zilbalodis began working on Flow in 2019. Over five and a half years, what started as a personal passion project became a masterclass in independent animation. With a lean team of just 20 artists and collaborators from Latvia, Belgium, and France, Flow was produced on a modest budget of approximately $3.7 million USD. To put this in perspective, fellow Oscar contenders Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot had budgets of $200 million and $78 million respectively.
What makes Flow even more remarkable is the technology behind it. The entire film was created using Blender, the free and open-source 3D animation software that first launched in 1994 by Ton Roosendall. Since then it has transformed the animation landscape. Blender is not only accessible to independent creators without the high licensing costs of proprietary software, it is also flexible and powerful enough to deliver high-end results. Flow leverages Blender’s full pipeline, from modeling and animation to lighting and rendering, proving that open-source tools can now stand toe-to-toe with the proprietary systems used by major studios.
Zilbalodis details the production process in an interview with and you can get further details of the animation in this presentation from the 2024 Blender Conference by Léo Silly-Pélissier, the Animation Supervisor of Flow.
Zilbalodis and his team pushed Blender’s capabilities to the edge, customizing workflows and building cinematic visuals that rival anything produced by Hollywood. In his Oscar acceptance speech, Zilbalodis made a point to thank Blender, spotlighting the community and the innovation that made the film possible. It was a deeply symbolic gesture, and one that resonated across the animation world. For countless independent animators and small studios, it was validation and inspiration all at once.
Flow’s funding was equally unconventional. It was co-produced by Dream Well Studio in Latvia, Sacrebleu Productions in France, and Take Five in Belgium. Support came from a variety of European sources, including Eurimages (400,000 euros), the National Film Centre of Latvia (146,277 euros), la Région Sud in France, Radio Télévision Belge Francophone, and the Belgian Tax Shelter. This cross-border model reflects the importance of international cooperation in supporting unique, culturally resonant stories.
Despite its modest budget, Flow became Latvia’s highest-grossing theatrical release, earning over $36 million dollars globally. In contrast, its competitors had massive financial backing, yet Flow outperformed them in terms of efficiency and return on investment. Here is a breakdown comparing the budgets and revenues of Flow and other Oscar-nominated animated films:
| Film | Budget (USD) | Global Box Office (USD) | Budget as % of Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flow | $3.7 million | $36 million | 10.28% |
| Inside Out 2 | $200 million | $1.699 billion | 11.77% |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | $150 million | $690.8 million | 21.72% |
| The Boy and the Heron | $50 million | $167.4 million | 29.87% |
| The Wild Robot | $78 million | $235 million | 33.19% |
Flow had the lowest budget-to-revenue ratio of all nominees, demonstrating how independent films can not only compete with but also outperform major studios in terms of storytelling impact and financial success.
Beyond awards and financials, Flow has had a profound cultural impact. A statue of the cat protagonist now stands in Riga, and the Golden Globe the film also won is proudly displayed at the Latvian National Museum of Art. The Latvian government, inspired by the film’s success, has pledged increased funding and support for local animation projects, hoping to encourage more independent filmmakers to pursue their visions.
The triumph of Flow marks a shift in how animated films are made, funded, and celebrated. For decades, mainstream animation has been defined by studios, franchises, and celebrity voice casts. Flow rewrites that narrative. It demonstrates that animation is not a genre but a medium capable of profound emotional storytelling.
Zilbalodis’s journey from self-taught animator to Oscar winner is not just inspirational, it is instructional. With passion, discipline, and the right tools, like Blender, independent creators can now reach global audiences and stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest names in the industry. Blender’s role in this shift cannot be overstated. It empowers artists to create outside of traditional pipelines, supports creative freedom, and fosters a thriving global community. In many ways, Flow is a celebration not just of its story, but of what Blender represents for the future of animation.
As Flow continues to reach new audiences, it leaves behind more than accolades. It offers a message: that authenticity matters, that stories don’t need words to move us, and that small teams with bold visions can reshape an entire industry. Flow is more than a film, it is a movement becoming more prevalent. It represents the creative power of individuals and the future of storytelling in a world where innovation and imagination know no bounds.