Watch La Maison en Petits Cubes in Animation | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Today is the day I head off for my dose of Oscar-nominated short films — both live-action and animated. I did this last year, and was enormously glad I did, not only because it gave me a rooting interest in categories that might otherwise mean nothing to me, but because it gave me an opportunity to see things I honestly wouldn't have ever seen otherwise.

One of them was the winner of the Oscar last year for Best Animated Short Film, La Maison En Petit Cubes. I absolutely fell in love with it instantly when I saw it, and while I was sure the Oscar would go to Presto! (Pixar's entry) or another of the nominees, I did a happy little chair dance when this one took the prize. People who love the opening sequence in Up for its simplicity and heart are very (very) likely, in my opinion, to love this twelve-minute short which, happily, I can embed here for you.

If you're interested in tracking down the theatrical-release program that dishes these up, here's the site. Definitely worth considering as you expand your horizons toward Sunday.