We now know there are 31 animated films in official contention for Best Animated Feature. That’s two less than last year, for those playing at home. There’s a whole stack of films on here you’ve likely never heard or and quite a few that are still yet to complete their required qualifying release to be eligible once nomination voting commences in January. But this race is really about the same five films that keep showing up everywhere.
With the critics groups, it’s The Wild Robot leading the way with 14 wins. The film also landed on three Oscars shortlists with the Academy for Score, Original Song, and Sound. It’s all but a lock for an Oscar nod in this category. But it’s Flow that’s picked up wins with more prestigious critics groups like Los Angeles, New York and the National Board of Review. The film also made it into the final 15 for Best International Feature Film, so we could be looking at a close battle here.
The nominations for the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards both picked the same five nominees in The Wild Robot, Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, and Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and they’re really starting to look like the final five for the Oscars too. With six spots, the Golden Globes also gave a nod to Moana 2, but it’s hard to see it stealing one of the five slots with the Academy. It’s a colossal box office success, but so was Frozen II and that failed to land an Oscar nod.
Is there anything waiting in the wings to sneak in at the last minute? To be honest, no. Transformers One had strong reviews, but, much like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem last year, it’s probably not going to be taken seriously. The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim was D.O.A with both critics and audiences and the Academy has never nominated a LEGO film in this category, so there’s little chance for Piece by Piece.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE PREDICTIONS:
1. The Wild Robot (DreamWorks) – CCA, GG
2. Flow (Janus Films) – CCA, GG
3. Inside Out 2 (Disney/Pixar) – CCA, GG
4. Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films) – CCA, GG
5. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Netflix) – CCA, GG
IN CONTENTION
Despicable Me 4 (Universal Pictures)
The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim (Warner Bros.)
Moana 2 (Walt Disney) – GG
Piece by Piece (Universal Pictures)
Spellbound (Netflix)
Transformers One (Paramount Pictures)
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