The Academy has announced a dozen finalists for the Animated Feature award. Three nominees will be chosen from this lot:

“Alvin and the Chipmunks”

“Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters”

“Bee Movie”

“Beowulf”

“Meet the Robinsons”

“Persepolis”

“Ratatouille”

“Shrek the Third”

“The Simpsons Movie”

“Surf’s Up”

“Tekkonkinkreet”

“TMNT”

So who will score? "Ratatouille" obviously. But I honestly feel the race for the other two nominees will be intense. "The Simpsons Movie" and "Persepolis" make sense on paper. But a TV-show-2D-animated film and an experimental French film? It's still where I'd put my bets. But we can't deny that money talks in this category, as does tradition.