23 Sketches Breaking Down The 2022 Oscars

By Arantza Peña Popo & Mike Roe

Published Mar 28, 2022 1:41 PM

An illustration with text: "The Oscar for best supporting actress goes to... Ariana DeBose, 1st openly queer woman of color to win!" The illustration shows a woman with short hair in a red dress, holding a golden Oscar statuette.

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Sunday night's Academy Awards were hectic, but maybe even more so for our intern and in-house sketch artist Arantza Peña Popo. She live-sketched the whole show on LAist's Twitter, and here's our illustrated breakdown of a night that made history.

Illustrated text: "The Oscar goes to... Dune!!! Greig Frazier for Cinematography (Props for not getting sand in the cameras!) The illustration shows a man in a dark black outfit looking downcast, walking on sand, with a rocky landscape behind him.

Dune wracked up awards all night, particularly in the technical craft categories.

Illustrated text: "DUNE WINS AGAIN!!! for Visual Effects!!! (We knew Timothée's jaw had to be fake!)" The sketch shows a closeup of the man's face, including his striking jawline, with an Oscar statuette drawn in the corner.

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Is handsomeness a special effect?

Illustrated text: "Folk dancing!!!" Illustrations of dancers in traditional garb — woman in a large folk dress, man wearing a wide-brimmed hat — dancing in front of palm trees and sun.

The show included two numbers from the hit Disney musical film Encanto, starting with a rendition of Dos Oruguitas accompanied by folk dancing.

Illustrated text: "Encanto wins for Best Animated Film!" The illustration shows a bust of a young Latina woman in a folk dress.

Talking about Bruno resulted in an Oscar (though not in the song category).

Illustrated text: "Best Supporting Actor! Troy Kotsur." An illustration of Troy Kotsur signing, wearing a gray newsboy cap with his tuxedo.

Troy Kotsur made history as just the second deaf actor to win an Academy Award for his role in CODA.

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An illustration of a red car with a Japanese flag behind it. Text: "Drive My Car wins Best International Picture!"

The acclaimed Japanese film, also nominated for Best Picture, took home the international prize.

An illustration of singer Reba McEntire, with strawberry hair and in a dress, in front of a mic. Illustrated text: "REBA BREAK!"

Reba McEntire performed Best Original Song nominee Somehow You Do from the film Four Good Days, written by legendary songwriter Diane Warren. She had an all-star band with Kevin Jonas on guitar, Sheila E on percussion, Travis Barker on drums, and Robert Randolph on pedal steel guitar.

Illustrated text: "Megan tore it up!" Illustration of a woman in a flowing yellow dress, showing her legs, and with flower in her hair — she holds a microphone that she sings into.

Didn't she? Megan Thee Stallion made an appearance during We Don't Talk About Bruno, delivering a brand new rap verse. (Though we missed the part about the rats.)

Text: "A live cartoonist worst nightmare: A 50-person musical ensemble." Illustration shows a worried woman drawing on a tablet in front of a laptop with a mug next to it.

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Look, these sketches don't draw themselves! WHEW.

Illustrated text has arrows pointing to Amy Schumer as Spider-Man and Wanda Skyes as Richard Williams from "King Richard." Further illustration text: "COSPLAY IN ACTION!" Sykes as Richard pushes a shopping cart full of tennis balls, while Schumer hangs from above dressed in a Spider-Man costume.

The three hosts appeared mid-show in cosplay gear from several of the year's biggest films.

Illustrated text reads "Best adapted screenplay!!" Illustration shows a glowing blond woman in a glittery silver gown, holding an Oscar statuette, in front of a microphone.

CODA took home Best Adapted Screenplay in a big night for the film about a deaf family with a daughter who can hear.

An illustration with text that reads "BILLIE EILISH," and other text reading "GOT GIRLS (and cat) CRYING." Illustration shows three young women crying, as well as a cat crying. They cry as they look at Billie Eilish, singing into a microphone with her eyes closed.

Billie Eilish performed the theme from No Time To Die with her brother Finneas, a performance so powerful, even a cat was moved to tears. (Or maybe it just looked that way through our own tears.)

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Illustrated text: "Weird Will Smith-Chris Rock throwdown??" Arrows and text point to Chris and Will Smith, with the illustrated Smith smacking Chris across the face.

We don't even know, y'all.

An illustration of Questlove, with a cross chain on — you can see his beard, glasses, and curly hair. The text reads "Questlove sending love."

Questlove also made history Sunday night as just the second Black director to win an Academy Award. Questlove won for Summer of Soul, shortly after the assault by Smith on comedian Chris Rock.

A woman types on a laptop keyboard, with a cat also typing next to her. Text: "All of us trying to figure out what happened with Will Smith & Chris Rock?????"

Our beleaguered illustrator tried figuring this out, with a feline assist.

Text: "Finneas & Billie Eilish!! Best Song!" Finneas and Billie, a man and a woman, are shown holding Oscar statuettes with musical notes around them.

The brother/sister duo took home the prize for their theme to No Time To Die, which also happened to keep Lin-Manuel Miranda from achieving an EGOT.

An illustration of director Jane Campion, in glasses, reading her acceptance speech from a piece of paper. Text: "Best director Jane Campion."

For the first time ever, women directors won back to back Oscars. Chloé Zhao won for Nomadland in 2021.

Text: "Will Smith, Best Actor, with very emotional & loaded Speech!" Word balloon from a crying Smith reads "I want to protect!"

Will Smith came up to accept his win for Best Actor after a hard smack across Chris Rock's face earlier in the night. While he apologized to the Academy, he pointedly didn't apologize publicly to Chris Rock.

An illustration of Will Smith holding an Academy Award with a word balloon reading "I hope the Academy invites me back."

Will Smith ended his speech with a wish for the Academy to invite him back — whether that happens remains to be seen. Should they?

Amy Schumer holds a microphone. Word balloon: "There's like a different vibe in here..."

Amy Schumer returned after a long absence — which included Will Smith smacking Chris Rock — and asked if there was anything she missed.

An illustration of Jessica Chastain, with text indicating that she won for Best Actress, with word balloon "You are loved!"

Jessica Chastain used her Best Actress win for The Eyes of Tammy Faye to share a message of unconditional love with the audience.

Text: "The Oscar goes to... CODA, Best Picture." Next to an illustration of an Oscar statuette.

CODA took home the big win, despite coming in as an underdog against Power of the Dog.