Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 53
BY SENATORS ADLEY AND PEACOCK
A RESOLUTION
To commend Moonbot Studios in Shreveport upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated
Short Film for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore at the Eighty-
Fourth Annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012.
WHEREAS, Moonbot Studios was founded in 2009 by partners William Joyce,
Alissa Kantrow, Lampton Enochs, and Brandon Oldenburg; and
WHEREAS, in July 2009, with financial support from the Louisiana Department of
Economic Development, Moonbot Studios began production on its first project, the animated
short film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore; and
WHEREAS, production on the film was completed in November 2010, and the film
was submitted and accepted to a number of national and international film festivals; and
WHEREAS, during 2011, the film won accolades at dozens of film festivals,
including "Best Animated Short" at Cinequest Film Festival, Cleveland International Film
Festival, SIGGRAPH, Seattle International Film Festival, and Chicago International
Children's Film Festival and "Audience Awards" at Florida Film Festival, Palm Springs
International Festival of Short Films, and Austin Film Festival; and
WHEREAS, in December 2011, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
was chosen as one of the ten films in contention for an Academy Award nomination out of
a field of eighty-five films and in January 2012, the film received a nomination; and
WHEREAS, at the 84
th
Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles,
California, directors William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg were awarded Oscars for Best
Animated Short Film of the year; and
WHEREAS, shortly after production on the short film was completed, Moonbot
Studios began production on an iPad app based on the Morris Lessmore film and story; and
WHEREAS, the app was completed with support from the Louisiana Economic
Development FastStart Program and with assistance from Twin Engines Labs of Shreveport,
and was launched in May 2011, and quickly became a top selling iPad app; and SR NO. 53 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the Morris Lessmore iPad app was named to the Apple iTunes Hall of
Fame and was named "App of the Year" by Apps Magazine; and
WHEREAS, a second app was launched in January 2012, "The Numberlys", which
was immediately named Apple "App of the Week"; and
WHEREAS, in July 2012, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore will
be published in hardcover form by Simon and Schuster as the first title in a series of books
under the Moonbot Books imprint; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Louisiana eagerly await future projects by Moonbot
Studios which will surely delight and amaze audiences everywhere; and
WHEREAS, William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg, and everyone at Moonbot Studios
merit a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation for their accomplishments in the art
and entertainment industry and for the tremendous pride and honor they bring to the
Shreveport community and the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend William Joyce, Brandon Oldenburg, and Moonbot Studios in
Shreveport upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film for The Fantastic Flying
Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore at the Eighty-Fourth Annual Academy Awards, recognizes
and records for posterity this memorable and historic accomplishment, and extends to the
entire Moonbot Studios family best wishes for continued success and happiness in all of their
future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE