With the support of the private members club Soho House,[1] the showcase started in 2016 with the goal of finding upcoming creative talents in the animation industry and promoting animation in the creative industry.

[2][3][4] The Animation Showcase hosts a yearly "Best of the Year" screening, highlighting films that are likely to become shortlisted and eventual nominees for the Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film category.

The Animation Showcase became available worldwide for members of the film industry via its own streaming platform,[6][7][8] which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[9] The screening lasts around an hour and ends with a question-and-answer session with invited filmmakers.

Traveling mostly in Europe and the US, the "Best of the Year" showcase highlights animated short films, months before the official announcement of Academy Awards nominations.