Best Animated Feature Predictions (October)

As per the Academy’s rules, if there are 16 or more films submitted for Best Animated Feature, there will be five nominees. Anything less than that results in just three nominees. We’re currently in the precarious position of exactly 16 films being eligible for this year’s race. If just one of them postpones their release to 2021 (which could easily happen), we’ll only have three nominees for the first time since 2010.

After rave reviews from its London Film Festival world premiere, Pixar’s Soul is sitting in pole position for the moment. However, with 10 wins from 13 nominations, Pixar exhaustion could damage its chances, especially with the studio being the reigning champs from last year, courtesy of their somewhat divisive victory for Toy Story 4.

Waiting in the wings to spoil the Pixar party is Netflix, who came achingly close to winning last year with the gorgeous Klaus. Their contender Over the Moon is a sweeping animated musical that feels like something Disney would have released in the 90s, particularly given the film is the feature directorial debut of Disney Legend Glen Keane.

But the real dark horse here is Wolfwalkers, which has seem tremendously strong reviews after its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Produced by Cartoon Saloon and distributed by GKIDS and AppleTV+, Wolfwalkers could finally score Cartoon Saloon their first win after three unsuccessful nominations for The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, and The Breadwinner.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE PREDICTIONS:
1. Soul (Disney)
2. Wolfwalkers (GKIDS/AppleTV+)
3. Over the Moon (Netflix)
4. Onward (Disney)
5. The Croods: A New Age (Universal Pictures)

OTHER CONTENDERS:
Brightheart (TriCoast Worldwide)
Connected (Sony Pictures Animation)
Lupin III: The First (GKIDS)
On-Gaku: Our Sound (GKIDS)
Ride Your Wave (GKIDS)
Rumble (Paramount Pictures) [Moved to May 2021]
Scoob! (Warner Bros)
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (Netflix)
Trolls: World Tour (Universal Pictures)
The Willoughbys (Netflix)
Wish Dragon (Sony Pictures)