We’re a month away from the 96th Annual Academy Awards. One of this year’s most interesting categories is Best Animated Feature. Each of the five nominees has a legitimate chance of winning. Let’s break it down:
Hayao Miyazaki won the second Best Animated Feature Oscar ever awarded for 2002’s “Spirited Away”. Many thought he might win again for what was (at the time) his final film — 2013’s “The Wind Rises”. But it went to Disney phenomenon “Frozen” instead. Will The Academy reward Miyazaki this time for what could (once again) be his final movie — “The Boy and the Heron”?
Just five years ago the Oscar for Animated Feature went to Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”. Sony Pictures Animation had previously earned an Academy Award for short “The ChubbChubbs!” and was nominated for second feature “Surf’s Up”. I’ve supported the studio from the beginning, but many didn’t really take Sony Animation seriously until the “Spider-Verse” victory, followed by “Hair Love” winning in the Animated Short Film category the next year. If “Across the Spider-Verse” takes the gold, this animated “Spider-Man” franchise will join the “Toy Story” brand with having multiple Oscars Animated Feature wins.
Speaking of “Toy Story”… the folks at Pixar are back on the ballot with “Elemental”. Word of mouth helped propel this rom-com to more than $150 million domestically last summer. It even made more money overseas than “Spider-Verse”. I don’t think Pixar will earn a 12th Best Animated Feature Oscar with this, but I wouldn’t be mad if it happened.
I’m thrilled “Robot Dreams” (my favorite animated film of 2023 and second favorite movie of the year overall) is an Oscar nominee. It’s a wonderful, beautiful movie that I can’t wait for everyone to see once NEON officially releases it on… May 31st. Yes, you read that right. For some reason it’s not coming out in theaters in time for the Oscars… even though it could win because of support for the film and if the votes are scattered amongst the five nominees. Waiting until the final day of May to open this in theaters is ridiculous. If it pulls-off a surprise upset, look for NEON to quickly move-up the release.
And then there’s “Nimona” — the sci-fi action/drama Netflix rescued after Blue Sky Studios (the makers of “Ice Age”) shut down. It leads the 2024 Annie Awards nominations. That ceremony will be held on Saturday February 17th, with the BAFTAs on Sunday February 18th. “Nimona” isn’t up for the BAFTA. It’s “Heron”, “Spider-Verse”, “Elemental” and Aardman’s “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget” vying for that honor. And “Elemental” isn’t nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Annies.
“Heron” won the Golden Globe and “Spider-Verse” earned the Critics Choice Award. “Nimona” could be the Annie winner. If “Heron” or “Spider-Verse” win BAFTA, that film could be the slight Oscar favorite. But if BAFTA goes with “Elemental”, then the Oscar race is completely wide open.