...or at least a film he narrates does

An animated film narrated by Tim Minchin has won an Oscar.

The Lost Thing, based on the children’s book of the same name, won the Academy Award for best animated short film in Los Angeles last night.

Minchin provides the only voice in the 15-minute film, about a boy who discovers a bizarre-looking creature while out collecting bottle-tops at a beach – although everyone else barely registers its presence.

Director and author Shaun Tan said it was ‘wonderfully ironic’ to be noticed for a film about not being noticed.

‘Wow, this is quite surreal,’ he said onstage at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. ‘Our film is about a creature that nobody pays any attention to and it is wonderfully ironic.’

Before the ceremony the film, made by British producer Andrew Ruehmann, was an 8-1 outsider to win its category. It beat off competition from the favourite, Pixar’s Day & Night, as well as fellow nominees, The Gruffalo, Let’s Pollute and Madagascar, Carnet De Voyage.

Minchin said on his blog: ‘Excuse me while I gush: I’m incredibly excited for Shaun. He’s an amazing, lovely, wondrous and wonderful man. His dedication to his work is an inspiration, and the fact that I was offered the chance to play my tiny role in this film is a profound honour. I love his work and can’t wait to see what he does next.’

The film is currently available on iTunes. Here is a trailer:

Published: 28 Feb 2011