^{Credit: Endless Cookie (Obscured, Mongrel Media, Scythia Films) & Boys Go to Jupiter (Cartuna, Irony Point)}

Two animated films have been recognized at the 41st Film Independent Spirit Awards. Endless Cookie has been nominated for Best Documentary, while the narrative film, Boys Go to Jupiter, is up for the John Cassavetes Award. Director Seth Scriver made Endless Cookie with his indigenous half-brother, Peter Scriver. Seth spent almost a decade recording his older brother’s stories. Peter’s family also became part of the experience, with his daughter, Cookie, serving as the titular figure. Seth paired the recordings with his distinct animation, with some help from fellow animator Julian Gallese. While Endless Cookie taps into important subjects regarding family and indigenous culture, it’s also a hangout movie as the brothers discuss whatever pops into their heads. 

Endless Cookie’s competition at the Indie Spirit Awards includes Come See Me in the Good Light, My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 - Last Air in Moscow, The Perfect Neighbor, and The Tale of Silyan. This isn’t the first time that an animated feature has been nominated in the documentary category. Most recently, Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee was nominated in 2021. Flee went on to be nominated for three Oscars, including Best Animated Feature and Best Documentary Feature. At the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, Endless Cookie is among thirty-five entries for Best Animated Feature. It’s also one of more than 200 entries submitted for Best Documentary Feature. 

The shortlist for Best Documentary Feature will be announced on December 16. If Endless Cookie is among the fifteen finalists, it stands a shot at making the final five for Best Documentary Feature when the Oscar nominations are announced on January 22, 2026. If Endless Cookie were to get nominated, it would be the second animated feature to be recognized in the documentary category, the other being Flee. The animated documentary Waltz with Bashir was also nominated for Best International Feature Film in 2009. Several animated documentaries have been nominated in the Best Animated Short category as well, including Chris Landreth’s Ryan. Time will only tell how far the Scriver brothers’ film goes, but for now, the possibilities are endless. 

Boys Go to Jupiter is the brainchild of writer/director Julian Glander. Drawing inspiration from stop-motion creations like the Rankin/Bass specials and Gumby, this CG coming-of-age story was made with Blender, the same open source software used for the Oscar-winning Flow. Boys Go to Jupiter was nominated for the John Cassavetes Award, which spotlights films with a budget of $1,000,000. Considering how much even independent animated films cost, we rarely see the medium recognized in this category. The People's Joker was nominated last year, although that satire was mostly live-action. Of course, Blender is changing the game, suggesting that we could see more films like Boys Go to Jupiter break through in this category moving forward. Boys Go to Jupiter is nominated against The Baltimorons, Eephus, Esta Isla (This Island), and Familiar Touch. It’s also eligible for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. 

It's also worth noting that the Emmy-nominated Adult Swim series Common Side Effects has been nominated for Best New Scripted Series, along with Adolescence, Forever, Mr Loverman, and North of North. Check out Cartoon Contender’s review of Endless Cookie here, and our review of Boys Go to Jupiter here. Stay tuned for when the 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards winners are announced on February 15. 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1 and 2. Available Now!