The film won the Academy Award (1988) for Best Animated Short Film.[2][3]
In his acceptance speech, Back shared his Oscar with "all the women and men who plant trees and hope and work so hard to protect forests, wildlife, the health and the beauty of this world".
Olivier Cotte (2007) Secrets of Oscar-winning animation: Behind the scenes of 13 classic short animations. (Making of '"The Man Who Planted Trees") Focal Press. ISBN978-0-240-52070-4