ASHLAND — An Ashland filmmaker found himself basking in the limelight Sunday night when a movie named “Rango,” about a lizard stranded in the Mojave Desert, nabbed the Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature Film.

Gary Kout, who was production supervisor on the set, was sitting in his Ashland home when he got the news. The film stars Johnny Depp and is directed by Gore Verbinski.

“I think the monthlong process of working directly with the actors made all the difference,” 44-year-old Kout said on Sunday night. Other animated movies attempt to capture the movements of characters, but “Rango” captured the emotions, he said.

The actors played out their scenes together, rather than separately. Animators then created images based on the emotional responses of the characters, Kout said.

“Rango” competed against other popular movies that include “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Puss in Boots,” “Chico and Rita” and “A Cat in Paris.”

Kout said it was a departure for him to take on the “Rango” project because he normally produces independent projects such as “Conversations with God,” “My Name is Bruce,” “Calvin Marshall” and “Walk-In.”

Kout said he was chosen as production supervisor based on his experience keeping budgets low and sticking to tight production schedules for independent movies. “I’m used to making movies in a short period of time,” he said.