Among the numerous categories of award that are presented during the award ceremony is 'Academy Special Achievement Award'. This award is given by the Academy for an achievement, which makes an outstanding contribution to the motion picture industry, meeting the sole purpose of forming it. However, it is not mandatory to give this award every year. 'Special Achievement Oscar Award' is conferred only for achievements in productions, which also qualify as an eligible release for distinguished achievements and meet the Academy's eligibility year and deadlines requirements. Here is a list of the winners in this category.

Academy Special Achievement Award

Year
Film
Winner
1995
Toy Story
John Lasseter (First feature-length computer-animated film)
1990
Total Recall
Eric Brevig, Rob Bottin, Tim McGovern, Alex Funke (Visual Effects)
1988
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Richard Williams (Animation Direction)
1987
RoboCop
Stephen Flick, John Pospisil (Sound Effects Editing)
1984
The River
Kay Rose (Sound Effects Editing)
1983
Return of the Jedi
Richard Edlund, ASC, Dennis Muren, ASC, Ken Ralston, Phil Tippett (Visual Effects)
1981
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Ben Burtt, Richard L. Anderson (Sound Effects Editing)
1980
The Empire Strikes Back
Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, ASC, Dennis Muren, ASC, Bruce Nicholson (Visual Effects)
1979
The Black Stallion
Alan Splet (Sound Editing)
1978
Superman
Les Bowie, Colin Chilvers, Denys Coop, BSC, Roy Field, Derek Meddings, Zoran Perisic (Visual Effects)
1977
1.Close Encounters of the Third Kind
2.Star Wars
1.Frank E. Warner (Sound Effects Editing)
2.Ben Burtt (Creation of the alien, creature and robot voices)
1976 -
1.King Kong
2.Logan's Run
1.Carlo Rambaldi, Glen Robinson, Frank Van der Veer, ASC (Visual Effects)
2.L. B. Abbott, ASC, Glen Robinson, Matthew Yuricich (Visual Effects)
1975
The Hindenburg
Peter Berkos (Sound Effects)
Albert Whitlock, Glen Robinson (Visual Effects)
1974
Earthquake
Frank Brendel, Glen Robinson, Albert Whitlock (Visual Effects)
1972
The Poseidon Adventure
L. B. Abbott, ASC, A. D. Flowers (Visual Effects)