And the Oscar Goes To...

The story of the gold-plated statuette that became the film industry's most prestigious award began in 1929, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) decided to replace its original Academy Award statuette, designed by Cedric Gibbons and sculpted by George Stanley. The original design, a knight holding a sword, was replaced with a more stylized version featuring a robed figure holding a film reel and standing on a sphere. The new design, also by Gibbons and Stanley, was approved and first presented in 1930. The statuette, made of gold-plated bronze and standing 13.5 inches tall, has since become an iconic symbol of cinematic excellence. Each statuette is hand-cast in Los Angeles by the Artkraft Strauss company, with the exception of the base, which is made in Chicago. The process of creating each Oscar takes about six weeks and involves more than 200 steps. The statuette is officially known as the "Academy Award of Merit," and its design has remained largely unchanged since its introduction, with only minor adjustments to the plinth and the addition of the Academy's official seal.