With back-to-back wins already sending shockwaves across the 98th Academy Awards, Oscar night quickly turned into a rollercoaster of surprises. As fans watch closely to see their favourites take home the golden statuette, the Best Animated Short Film category has already given audiences something to cheer about with the win of The Girl Who Cried Pearls, which has not only captured the Academy’s heart but also sent viewers drifting into a dreamy, storybook world of handcrafted animation and quiet emotion.

So if this shimmering Oscar winner has already piqued your curiosity, here is where you can watch the 2026 Academy Award-winning animated short The Girl Who Cried Pearls.

Directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, the Best Animated Short Film winner at the 2026 Oscars, The Girl Who Cried Pearls has quickly captured the curiosity of audiences following its delicate stop-motion triumph on Hollywood’s biggest stage. The 18-minute animated short, produced by the National Film Board of Canada, is fortunately easy to watch online, as viewers can stream it for free on NFB.ca and on the NFB’s official YouTube channel. It is also available on platforms like Crave (Canada), Prime Video, and Apple TV in select regions.

But the film’s enchanting world does not shimmer through animation alone; it is also carried by the voices that breathe life into its fragile, pearl-like tale. At its centre is Jeanne Madore, voicing the young girl whose mysterious tears transform into pearls, surrounded by a supporting cast including Colm Feore, Gabrielle Dallaire, James Hyndman, and Simone Paradis. Together, they bring to life a delicate tale where sorrow slowly turns into beauty.

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However, before the film begins to snatch your screen with its delicate tears-to-pearls tale, here is a quick look back at the moment The Girl Who Cried Pearls claimed the Best Animated Short Film honour at the 2026 Oscars

Standing among nominees like Butterfly, Forevergreen, Retirement Plan, and The Three Sisters, The Girl Who Cried Pearls carved out its moment in one of the night’s most-watched categories. For directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, the win marked a milestone in their long collaboration and the 12th Oscar-winning film for the National Film Board of Canada, as well as the duo’s first Academy Award. Accepting the honour, the filmmakers thanked the artists, collaborators, the NFB, and the Academy for continuing to champion short animated storytelling.

"This award is a tribute to all the artists who shared this labour with us. They are not just names in the credits, they are our community, and their extraordinary talent and hard work made this possible. We'd especially like to thank the National Film Board of Canada for their enduring support, and the Academy for continuing to champion short animated film.” Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski said.

However, standing firm in many 2026 Oscar predictions, the animation had already been steadily building global attention through an impressive festival run. The film earned major recognition across the circuit, including Best Canadian Short Film at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, along with honours such as the Banshee Award and the Ani Choice Award.

Now streaming on platforms like NFB.ca, YouTube, Crave, Prime Video, and Apple TV, The Girl Who Cried Pearls feels like a personal win not only for its filmmakers but also for the festival audiences who championed it long before Oscar night.

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Will you be watching The Girl Who Cried Pearls after its Best Animated Short Film win? Let us know in the comments.