As the awards season draws nearer, it becomes a fun game to be the first to spot the surprise Oscar nominees that no one else sees coming. In the case for Best Animated Feature Film, we’ve seen a few of this year’s frontrunners already (Brave, ParaNorman), with several more to come in the next few weeks/months (Frankenweenie, Wreck-It Ralph). But Oscar handles this category the way I sometimes wish they would handle their Best Picture race, often finding diamonds in the rough, without any fear to go with lesser known/seen films – regardless of the spoken language in the film. Since the category’s inception back in 2001, there have been several animated films to receive a nomination that fit this description, including The Triplets of Belleville (2003), Persepolis (2007), The Illusionist (2010), and both Chico and Rita and A Cat in Paris from just last year.
There are several films that could sneak in and be the next nominee to fit this common occurrence. The two that draw my interest the most are From Up on Poppy Hill – which is being distributed through GKIDS (who has three nominations in the last three years with The Secret of Kells and the aforementioned Chico and Cat) – and the newly acquired Disney film, Arjun: The Warrior Prince. Disney has taken on distributing this Indian flick, and is giving it a one-week Oscar qualifying run in Los Angeles. But for those outside the L.A. market, do not despair, as Arjun: The Warrior Prince is also currently available on Netflix Instant.
Just today, Scott Feinberg at The Hollywood Reporter delivered the news that Rise of the Guardians will be presented with the Hollywood Animation Award, honoring the year’s best animated film. The last five winners of this award have gone on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a legitimate frontrunner!
Handicapping the race now, these are the ten films I currently feel are the strongest contenders for a nomination (in order of likelihood):
Rise of the Guardians
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
Wreck-It Ralph
From Up On Poppy Hill
Arjun: The Warrior Prince
Zarafa
Hotel Transylvania
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Here is the trailer for Arjun: The Warrior Prince, which does not include subtitles, but the visuals look impressive and the subject matter – which tells “the untold story of India’s greatest warrior” – seems baity enough.
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Tags: Animated films, Brave, Frankenweenie, From Up on Poppy Hill, ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, Wreck-It Ralph
8 Comments
I Arrietty really so unlikely?
UBourgeois(Quote) (Reply)
Arrietty is not eligible this year. Otherwise, I’d have it top 5 for sure. I absolutely loved that film.
Mark Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
‘Frankenweenie’ is so up my alley…nomination or not, I just want it to be nearly as good as I’m hoping.
I love that they include different styles of animation in this category with Pixar-like computer animation to ‘Triplets’ 60′s style in classic cel format – which is one of my personal faves, both style-wise and as a film in general. I love seeing different illustration methods recognized and appreciated.
Chelsea DalPra(Quote) (Reply)
Triplets is still one of my all time favorites. The animation in Persepolis was pretty original as well.
Mark Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
Agree.with Chelsea on different styles. Its fabulous that old classic animation styles are still appreciated. Check out Arjun also. Classic style, beautiful detailing.
maisha(Quote) (Reply)
I think it’s easier to find “diamonds in the rough” as you say when the choices on what to nominate are so limited. The challenge with Best Picture has always been having to narrow down every film released in a given year to a list of five films (well, five to ten now), which is why the concept of Oscar Bait naturally arises, they’re looking for a way to narrow down the films they nominate. With Best Animated Feature, the only eligible films are the animated ones and there are way less of those released each year, so it’s more natural to look elsewhere for films to nominate (especially when the popular ones don’t turn out to be good). Just wanted to put that into perspective, why Best Picture may not look to those “diamonds in the rough” while Animated Feature does…..
Isaac(Quote) (Reply)
Duly noted, Isaac, and I don’t disagree with you. Just wish that they would find something every once in a while that no one saw coming for BP. I understand it is wishful thinking though. Thanks!
Mark Johnson(Quote) (Reply)
SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY is not eligible? If that’s true, then perhaps that is why GKIDS nabbed and is putting in play FROM UP ON POPPY HILL from Studio Ghibli then? I love that little Arrietty movie quite a bit…
Michael Ward(Quote) (Reply)