OSCAR WATCH

The telecast of the 61st Academy Awards Wednesday night will feature nearly seven minutes of computer animation, said to be a record for an awards broadcast. Designed by graphic artist C. David Pena, the visual lead-ins to the various categories feature silver film strips, gold Oscars statues and neon-lit movie marquees to match the program’s theme of “That Old Hollywood Glamour.” A computer-generated envelope will open to reveal the name of each winner and a simulation of the beaded curtain in the Shrine Auditorium will rise to reveal the staged production numbers. The animation was created at the Limelight Studio in Hollywood.