The animated feature field unfortunately fell one film short of the required 16 eligible contenders to expand the category to five nominees this year. As a result of this bewildering and arbitrary “rule,” some great work was left off the list in this, a pretty decent year for animation in general.
Nevertheless, the animators proved once again that they value the craft and artistry above all else, as a delectable, modest yarn beat out some stiff commercial competition to join two heavyweights that already seemed destined for inclusion. The resulting trio, despite being limited in number, is therefore a vibrant snapshot of the year in animation and one of a few categories that is absolutely stacked this season.
The nominees are:
“How to Train Your Dragon” (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois)
“The Illusionist” (Sylvain Chomet)
“Toy Story 3” (Lee Unkrich)
Despite the overall quality on display in the category this year, I don’t think many are expecting much of a race. Surprises can happen, but a certain consistently successful studio has been mopping up in the precursor circuit and happens to, once again, be competing in the Best Picture field, too. Tough to top that.
Still, “How to Train Your Dragon” was a delightful and definitive step in the right direction for DreamWorks. Released nearly a year ago, the film was a surprise for anyone expecting the usual commercialism and pop culture send-ups for which the studio has come to be known. It’s a heartwarming tale with a strong parable layered into a simple, if entertaining, children’s story. So it’s with good reason that writers William Davies, Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders were for a time considered possible nominees for their adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s series of books. It’s also well crafted, perhaps even more deserving of the sound editing nomination one of its competitors in this field nabbed. It faces an uphill battle now, but it could be attractive for voters looking for some variety.
The third spot was snatched up by Sylvain Chomet, whose touching “The Illusionist” (filmed from an original concept by Jacques Tati) was bound to be well-respected by animators looking to keep traditional animation alive. But regardless of that, the specificity of craft shouldn’t be undercut here. The city of Edinburgh is rendered beautifully in simple Chomet strokes, while the film boasts a patience that digs in and allows the work to marinate. And it has, ultimately, emotion to spare. So it’s nice that the film made it in over the other contenders looking to push through. It’s been a long road through the festival circuit all year, all the way to a Christmas U.S. release, but with the Academy voting on the award at large, it’s likely that road ends with this nomination.
All signs seem to point, yet again, to Pixar grabbing a fourth animated feature Oscar in as many years (and a sixth overall) for the franchise-defining “Toy Story 3.” Here is a film that put a bow on a beloved series with class and dignity, told a story well at home within standards previously set but willing to expand thematically and hit emotional notes felt deeply by anyone with warm blood pumping through his or her veins. If it faces any kind of a threat, it could be that the studio has been well-rewarded as of late and there are definitely worthy alternatives to consider. But the franchise itself hasn’t necessarily been honored (beyond a special award for the first installment) and the film has a Best Picture nomination in tow, as well. That pretty much spells “game over” by anyone’s measure.
Will win: “Toy Story 3”
Could win: “How to Train Your Dragon”
Should win: “Toy Story 3”
Should have been here: Nothing. But with five, “Idiots and Angels” and “Tangled.”
Check out my current rankings for this race at its dedicated Contenders page here.
Who do you think deserves to win the award for Best Animated Feature Film? Have your say in today’s sidebar poll!
[Photos: Sony Pictures Classics, Walt Disney Pictures]
Comments
39 responses to “OSCAR GUIDE: Best Animated Feature Film”
I would love it it How to Train Your Dragon pulled it out. I thought Cars was going to win and then it got bumped aside for Happy Feet.
My ranking of the animated features of this year:
Toy Story 3 > Tangled > How to Train Your Dragon > My Dog Tulip > Despicable Me > Megamind >>>>>>>>Shrek Forever After
Really want to see The Illusionist, though, so I have no hard feelings about it stealing Tangled’s spot. Judging by this year’s box-office for animated features, I expect this category will have five nominees from now on as Hollywood green-lights more and more (much to my pleasure. We get way too many live-action films each year).
And though I’m looking forward to Cars 2, I have a feeling next year will end Pixar’s Oscar streak.
‘How To Train Your Dragon’ likely won’t pull it out. But I would be ecstatic if it did. I think ‘HTTYD’ is a slightly better film, overall, than ‘TS3’. Having said that, ‘TS3’ made me ball my eyes out and I loved it, as well. Toss-up for me.
I’m eagerly waiting to see ‘The Illusionist’. The animation in the trailers make me salivate.
And I’m quite pleased that ‘Despicable Me’ didn’t make it in. Ew.
Would have loved for Tangled to be here, but otherwise it is a solid slate.
Kris, you should add a line for “What Thankfully Wasn’t Here”. I think we’re both in agreeance on that.
Will win: Toy Story 3.
Could win: if the planets align… How To Train Your Dragon.
Should win: How To Train Your Dragon.
I have yet to see The Illusionist! Can’t wait for it.
I agree on your ‘should have been here’ of Tangled and Idiots and Angels … well, at least Tangled had its song nominated, so there’s some recognition.
Logically speaking, if “Toy Story 3” is one of the year’s ten best overall, and none of the other animated film nominees are, then it’s obviously the best animated film of the year.
I would love to see HTTYD winning this category.
I know is impossible, but it would be nice to see the better film (in my opinion) get the award it deserves.
was hoping for tangled…bu toy story 3 has this and rightly so
Was really sad not to see “Tangled” here, one of the best films of the year animated or otherwise, but I can’t really complain because “The Illusionist” is lovely. My choice however goes to “Toy Story 3.”
Will win: Toy Story 3
Could win: —
Should win: Toy Story 3 or The Illusionist
Should have been nominated: Tangled
Ugh: How to Train Your Dragon
Kris, I’m sure you’re guess is as good as some others, but … what do you think was 4th in Animated?
Tangled? Despicable Me? Or another Secret of Kells? ;-)
Kris, if it’s any consolation, it was an (inside, by this point) joke and not a personal insult.
That said, How To Train Your Dragon or The Illusionist would both be more deserving winners.
if it was 5, the other 2 would be Summer Wars and Idiots and Angels.
Yes, Maxim.
JJ: No idea. Probably Despicable Me.
Tangled should have been here over Illusionist or Dragon. Loved both films but Disney really showed something special with Tangled. I really wish there could’ve been 4 slots like with Best Song since there were only 4 worthy of nominations.
Sidenote: To the people saying that there’s a permanent slot in the Best Picture 10 for an amimated film, will Cars 2 really pull it off? King Fu Panda 2? Dare I say… Winnie The Pooh? Next year will be an interesting one for this category that’s for sure.
Haven’t seen HTTYD or Tangled, but I do STRONGLY feel that “The Illusionist” is a better movie than Toy Story 3, which I do like.
It honestly makes you wonder that if films of the caliber of Wall-E are Toy Story 3 are only the Best Animated Films of the year, the actual Best Picture winners would be some massive masterpieces. If only…
The quality of animated films year after year is astounding. No wonder they are the most commercially successful films made today. They are some of the best written movies of the year these days.
But back to Toy Story 3, what a movie! Superb even by Pixar standards. The coda to their flagship series meant they had to return to the visual simplicity of their earlier films (after the gargantuan autuerish majesty of Wall-E) but they came up with one of their very best scripts and staggering emotional power to make what I think is the Best American film of the year.
It will be my pick for Best Picture “Should Win” too.
MY DREAM
ACADEMY VOTERS VOTE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON FOR BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
AND VOTE TOY STORY 3 FOR BEST PICTURE
My dream is to not have animated films compete in the best film category.
The Illusionist should win, making it only the 2nd 2D film to win after Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away”
“My dream is to not have animated films compete in the best film category.”
Wow, prejudiced, much? I guess documentaries and foreign films shouldn’t be allowed either, since they also have their categories.
I’m not sure why people think anything besides TS3 even has a chance? Doesn’t the fact that it is nominated for best picture make it a done deal it will win best animated picture? If either of the other two animated features were to win they would be in the top ten?
Will win: Toy Story 3
Could win: As if.
Should win: The Illusionist
Should have been here: My Dog Tulip, though this is one of the most respectable slates they’ve ever compiled.
Guy, I’ve been dying to see My Dog Tulip. It sort of came and went, did it not?
I was very interested in the animation technique. Did you ever do a review on this one?
No, I only recently caught up with it myself.
I believe that the ascent of quality in animated features matches the descent of quality in live action in the past few years.
I’ve no problem at all with them being nominated in Best Picture. Both The Illusionist and TS3 are in my 10 for 2010, I feel kind of odd aligning strongly with the Academy.
I caught My Dog Tulip at Melbourne Film Festival this year and it floated my boats big-time. Not sure it’s of the universal quality of the 3 nominees though.
I haven’t seen The Illusionist, but I figure I would like it the best.
I’ve been pining for The Illusionist ever since I missed it by a week last summer when I visited Paris.. Still haven’t seen it, UGH.
And I do think it’s a travesty that How To Train Your Dragon got nominated over Tangled. Most inexplicably over-loved movie of last year, no doubt. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it was still very a pedestrian, point A to B film. Shows just how many steps behind Dreamworks is, even at their best.
Tangled was not that great. It’s way better than what Disney has been doing lately (non-Pixar), but still, that’s not saying much.
“It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it was still very a pedestrian, point A to B film.”
Tangled is like the very definition of Pedestrian (I mean, that ending? come on, what a total cop out). Not to mention, the climax of the movie is basically a straight up knock off of Beauty and the Beast.
I loved Tangled, Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Illusionist. A banner year for animation in my opinion. Any of these could win in a lesser year (2005 over Wallace and Gromit which was just okay, and 2006 over Happry Feet which was just awful)). Better year than the last.
On a side note, does anyone besides me think that voters let their kids decide which is best? That’s what I would do. It would explain the travesty of Happy Feet (a big box office hit) winning over Cars and Monster House. Yuck.
SHOULD WIN = How To Train Your Dragon
A much better 3D outing, a compelling and charming story, and absolutely beautifully rendered animation. It’s original and took chances and for my money, that’s where it’s at.
LOL of the Day, from a THR article:
“In animation, says Sony Pictures Classics’ Michael Barker, ‘The Illusionist won against those big studio pictures. Not one pundit predicted it. This is animation done the old-fashioned way, without CGI, like Disney did.’”
Maybe all these apparently clueless pundits ought to lose their jobs in favour of all the armchair quarterbacks that correctly predicted it then.
Toy Story 3 wins it. The best animation of the year imho, and a rarity in cinema for a trilogy to be capped off by a superb film that is worthy of its renowned predecessors. The adapted screenplay and BP noms all the more cinches the win. Oh, and the Pixar streak ends next year.
No chance in hell the movie that ushered the era of CG animation rides off into the sunset without and outright Oscar win. Animation is in the bag, and perhaps even best song. Tangled, Dragon, and Illusionist just has the misfortune of being released the same year as the Toy Story 3.
The only hope for everyone really is for Pixar to utterly drop the ball on this one-which despite their track record, still could’ve been the case given that most part 3’s are usually utter garbage-but they did not.
Toy Story 3 was a great film, but its sphere of emotion was just too small. It pulled a number on your heartstrings–it definitely got me thinking of my old toys and how I peddled them off at garage sales, gave them to younger relatives, and once, how I left them out in a box on the curb–but that was it. The movie made me rather nostalgic for my childhood and for the Toy Storys of the past, but didn’t extend beyond that.
I haven’t seen the Illusionist, so I can’t (and won’t) say anything about it. But I really feel that HTTYD was an incredible film, even better than TS3. Visually, it’s a masterwork of animation, and the soundtrack was superb. But more importantly it also plays on a huge range of human emotions: love for an animal companion, a desire for society’s acceptance, strained relationship between parent and child, the beauty of flight and fantasy. I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I sat there staring stupidly in awe. HTTYD managed to tease so many reactions out of me that by the movie’s end, I was exhausted and yet elated, ready to see it again–and again–and again. It was a truly novel experience.
TS3 draws on a lot of its old material, ramps up its plot, and fine-tunes its jokes. Honestly, the movie felt like a remix of the best of TS1 & 2. And it worked, it turned out to be a wonderful film, but it just didn’t have the freshness of HTTYD.
It’s quite likely that TS3 will take the cake this year. It’s a classic, and it deserves to be put up on a shelf with care. But I just can’t give up on HTTYD. I’ll see it through to the end. Maybe, just maybe, the voters will see things my way.
Do you think this article http://www.reviewmaze.com/2011/02/academy-award-nominations-2011-oscars.html has a good point about Tangled missing amongst the 3 nominees?
perhaps impossible but i really wish it would be the illusionist. there are more things outside pixar and computer animation…
plus i really dont understand how people wish for tangled to be included in nominations. i think that the illusionist is pure art and the rest might be entertaining but they are still mainstream stories/mainstream design work.