WELL WELL WELL
Just last night we were speculating about what might be on Oscar's eligiblity list for Animated Feature and today, two weeks ahead of schedule (according to when they usually announce that is), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has gone and revealed the list. Perhaps we should have bought a lottery ticket?
Five of the 25 titles listed after the jump will go on to Oscar nominations in January...
Ana Y Bruno
- Ana y Bruno (Mexico)
- Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (US)
- Early Man (UK, Aardman) EFA Nominee
- Fireworks (Japan, Shout! Factory)
- Have a Nice Day (China, Strand Releasing)
- Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (US)
- Incredibles 2 (US, Disney/Pixar)
- Isle of Dogs (US, Fox Searchlight)
- The Laws of the Universe - Part 1 (Japan)
Liz and the Blue Bird
- Liz and the Blue Bird (Japan)
- Lu Over the Wall (Japan)
- MFKZ (France/Japan, GKids)
- Maquia (Japan) APSA Nominee
- Mirai (Japan, GKids)
- The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl (Japan, GKids)
On Happiness Road
- On Happiness Road (Taiwan) APSA Nominee
- Ralph Breaks the Internet (US)
- Ruben Brandt, Collector (Hungary, Sony Pictures Classics)
- Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero (US)
- Sherlock Gnomes (US)
- Smallfoot (US)
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (US)
- Tall Tales (France/Luxembourg)
- Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (US)
- Tito and the Birds (Brazil, Shout! Factory)
We've only seen five of the titles thus far and would rank them in tiers of preference like so: Loved and rooting for: Isle of Dogs; Strong - would be happy to see them nominated: Incredibles 2, Mirai, Ruben Brandt Collector; Didn't particularly care for though it has its moments: Tito and the Birds
Can anything beat Incredibles 2?
That depends on the combination of campaigning, response to the unseen films, and the unlikely but possible at some point industry fatigue about the fact that they've giving Pixar 50% of these statues over the years. Only one sequel has ever won the Animated Feature prize (Toy Story 3) but Incredibles 2 could easily make it a party of two.
Conspicuously absent.
Some foreign titles we discussed yesterday might not be eligible until next year -- it's hard to track this category. So possible entries on next year's list could be the Cambodia war drama Funan, Russia's stop motion fairy tale Hoffmanadia, and Spain's Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles about the filmmaker Luis Buñuel among others. Basically we'll just move all the foreign titles over to next year's Animated Feature prediction chart in case they open then.