A few days ago, the intrepid Pete Hammond reported on his Notes on A Season blog that there will be at least 16 eligible movies for this season’s Best Animated Film Oscar, which means (according to Academy bylaws) that there may now be five nominees in that category as opposed to the usual three. (In the short history of the category, that’s happened once before, in 2002.) It’s not mandatory; it’s just a possibility now. But I’m not sure the animation branch should take the bait. Certainly the voters could come up with a fine list of five: let’s say Up, Ponyo, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Monsters Vs. Aliens, and 9. But should they? If 5 of the 16 eligible films end up with a Best Animated Film nomination, that would be a 31 percent success rate. Compare that to last year’s Best Picture race, where 5 of the 281 eligible films were nominated. That’s less than 2 percent.
I admit I’m no animation expert, so I ask you, OscarWatchers: Are animated films so much tougher to make that they should have such a greater shot at scoring an Oscar nod? Or should the animation branch exercise restraint and only nominate three films (which would be 19 percent, by the way)? Either way, what would your dream list of nominees look like?
Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter (@davekarger) for instant Oscar updates.
Comments (1-15) of 90 Add your comment
I would love for them to go with 5, even though we know Up or Ponyo is going to take it ultimately. Your list seems good, but I would sub Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in for Monsters Vs. Aliens.
nah! Monsters vs. Aliens was da bomb! Even my dad loved it!
5!!!!!! Come on, it’s only fair!
Up (duh), Ponyo, 9, and MAYBE (depends on if they are any good or not) Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog
Add Coraline and take away 9, those are probably the noms.
I say the more the merrier; this year’s batch of animated films was definitely good enough to warrant a larger slate of nominees and it’s not like the majority of these films are gonna get nominated in any other category.
My only quibble is with your 5 picks; where’s Coraline??? Where’s The Princess and the Frog???
Those two definitely have a better chance than the far less critically acclaimed Monsters vs. Aliens and 9 (which was both a critical and commercial disappointment)
Why does it matter? All the high success rate means is that studios should be making more animated films.
I’d go with Up, Ponyo, and 9. Ultimately and deservedly, Up should win.
How can you label “9″ a disappointment? It had Coheed and Cambria in the trailer, for crissakes!! It was the freakin’ best movie if the year before it even came out!!! COHEED COHEED!!!!
I hate to break the news to you, but Coheed & Cambria sucks; note that not one person has come to this thread to support your statement to the contrary. Sorry, but it’s a fact.
I back you up Coheed! Coheed and Cambria are great! No doubt about it. Something different in today’s musical times.
I’m with James here. Since when a few seconds of music for X band/artist makes a movie the best movie of the year? That alone is laughable. I’m not saying 9 wasn’t great, it was but hardly the best animated and/or movie of the year. If we are going by your statement then “The Vampire Assistant” is the best movie of the year since they use that awesome Mazy Star song on the first 10 seconds of the preview…….not.
COHEED! COHEED!! COHEED!!!
ALRIIIIGHT!!!!!
5- Up, Ponyo, Princess and the frog (holler Disney!), Fantastic Mr Fox (maybe) and *fingers crossed* A Christmas Carol
Up, Ponyo, Coraline, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and either The Princess and the Frog or Mary and Max
This year has been excellent for animation; 5 nominees are necessary. Up and Ponyo are sure bets, Coraline is one of the best movies I’ve seen all year. Plus, the stunning 9 and the way funnier than expected Cloudy. Assuming Fantastic Mr. Fox is as good as it looks, and Disney gets back to form with Princess and the Frog… great year for animation and should be recognized as such.
I really hope Coraline gets nominated. It’s excellent!
Up is, in my opinion, the best film of the year so far. I didn’t get to see Coraline, but wasn’t it also one of the best reviewed films so far this year? As for if there should be three or five nominees, I say- Does it really matter? By having a separate category in the first place, the Academy is essentially relegating these fine films to the kiddie table, and giving them no shot at winning the biggest prize of the night. Maybe they’ll be some crossover now that there will be 10 Best Picture Noms, and the Animation category can be cut.
Who cares? The Oscars have so many effed up rules, anyway, that they drive me nuts. I love how they’re all supposed to be about an individual performance, but the actors can only get a nomination for ONE performance in a category. Music? Directing? Costume Design? Same person can be nominated for as many jobs as they did that year. But no, in the acting category – sorry! Only one per customer!
ABSOLUTELY!!! Animation is ofter overlooked because of it’s general demographic (children entertainment), but it is so much more that than. I even think that an animation film should be nominated for Best Picture. It takes the same about of time and effort (and then some) for a Best Picture nominee. It is probably the most popular film genre, yet it is so limited with the Academy Awards.
I’m not sure I care as long as Up wins! I’m still bitter over Monsters Inc losing out to Shrek.
There should be 5: Fantastic Mr. Fox (which looks awesome), 9, Up and above all the two best animated films of the year: Ponyo and Coraline! –Forget Monsters vs. Aliens, it was awful… Princess and the Frog looks decent but still not very good.