With three nominations overall, Disney’s Encanto has really cemented itself as the frontrunner for Best Animated Feature. There will be plenty who argue if it truly deserves to win and bemoan the idea of yet another victory for Disney in this category. But you can’t deny the film has become somewhat of a phenomenon, and a property like that is hard to beat at the Oscars.
It was ultimately that Best Original Score nomination for Germaine Franco that proved Encanto was now the one to beat in the animated race. “Dos Oruguitas” expectedly nabbed a Best Original Song nod, and it could be the dark horse to take home that trophy too. Since debuting on Disney+ in December, Encanto has just gone from strength to strength, and it’s hard to see anything else winning at this point.
That being said, this is a super strong final five. Any other year, they’d each likely be the frontrunner to win. If there is one true competitor to dethrone Encanto, it would be The Mitchells vs. the Machines. The film has been the overwhelming favourite with the critics groups this season and Netflix are giving it a huge campaign push. It probably won’t be enough, but Disney exhaustion could lead Academy members to look elsewhere this year.
So what will shape this race before Oscar voting commences on March 17? The Annie Awards are coming up on March 12 (the big winner there has matched the Oscar winner seven times in the last ten years), BAFTA and Critics Choice will both be held on March 13, and PGA announces its winners on March 19. If Encanto sweeps these four, it’s all but over.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE PREDICTIONS:
1. Encanto (Disney)
2. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Netflix)
3. Flee (Neon)
4. Luca (Disney/Pixar)
5. Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney)