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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 53
BY SENATOR ADLEY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Moonbot Studios on winning the Oscar for Best
Animated Short Film at the 84
th
Annual Academy Awards.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Moonbot Studios in Shreveport upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated2
Short Film for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore at the Eighty-3
Fourth Annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012.4
WHEREAS, Moonbot Studios was founded in 2009 by partners William Joyce,5
Alissa Kantrow, Lampton Enochs, and Brandon Oldenburg; and6
WHEREAS, in July 2009, with financial support from the Louisiana Department of7
Economic Development, Moonbot Studios began production on its first project, the animated8
short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore; and9
WHEREAS, production on the film was completed in November 2010, and the film10
was submitted and accepted to a number of national and international film festivals; and11
WHEREAS, during 2011, the film won accolades at dozens of film festivals,12
including "Best Animated Short" at Cinequest Film Festival, Cleveland International Film13
Festival, SIGGRAPH, Seattle International Film Festival, and Chicago International14
Children's Film Festival and "Audience Awards" at Florida Film Festival, Palm Springs15
International Festival of Short Films, and Austin Film Festival; and16
WHEREAS, in December 2011, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore17
was chosen as one of the ten films in contention for an Academy Award nomination out of18 SR NO. 53
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a field of eighty-five films and in January 2012, the film received a nomination; and1
WHEREAS, at the 84
th
Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles,2
California, directors William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg were awarded Oscars for Best3
Animated Short Film of the year; and4
WHEREAS, shortly after production on the short film was completed, Moonbot5
Studios began production on an iPad app based on the Morris Lessmore film and story; and6
WHEREAS, the app was completed with support from the Louisiana Economic7
Development FastStart Program and with assistance from Twin Engines Labs of Shreveport,8
and was launched in May 2011, and quickly became a top selling iPad app; and9
WHEREAS, the Morris Lessmore iPad app was named to the Apple iTunes Hall of10
Fame and was named "App of the Year" by Apps Magazine; and11
WHEREAS, a second app was launched in January 2012, "The Numberlys", which12
was immediately named Apple "App of the Week"; and13
WHEREAS, in July 2012, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore will14
be published in hardcover form by Simon and Schuster as the first title in a series of books15
under the Moonbot Books imprint; and16
WHEREAS, the citizens of Louisiana eagerly await future projects by Moonbot17
Studios which will surely delight and amaze audiences everywhere; and18
WHEREAS, William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg, and everyone at Moonbot Studios19
merit a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation for their accomplishments in the art20
and entertainment industry and for the tremendous pride and honor they bring to the21
Shreveport community and the state of Louisiana.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana23
does hereby commend William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg, and Moonbot Studios in24
Shreveport upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for The Fantastic Flying25
Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore at the Eighty-Fourth Annual Academy Awards, recognizes26
and records for posterity this memorable and historic accomplishment, and extends to the27
entire Moonbot Studios family best wishes for continued success and happiness in all of their28
future endeavors.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to30 SR NO. 53
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William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg.1
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 53
Commends Moonbot Studios in Shreveport upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short
Film for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore at the 84
th
Annual Academy
Awards.