Best Animated Feature Film: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Last year’s winner: Toy Story 4.
We only have four categories left, and each of them award a feature film of some sort: there are documentaries, international films, and the coveted Best Picture (to reward the greatest film of 2020). Today, we’re starting out with the Best Animated Feature Film category, which is usually hit or miss for me. Sometimes, we get some real drivel here (like Boss Baby), just to bring the nominees up to five. Then, we get more daring, bold efforts, like The Red Turtle or Boy and the World, if not something mature like Anomalisa. Always, and I mean always, you will find a Disney or Pixar film here, unless both studios are operating at their very worst. Let’s see what the mixed bag this year is. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
There was no chance in hell that the Demon Slayer film was going to make it, but it did so well critically, the animation is to die for, and it honestly is one of the stronger animated works of last year. Not only that, but it would really be something to see an anime film — that isn’t Miyazaki, mind you — make it here more than once in a while. I’m not an anime expert by any means, but I do feel like there are so many works of that world that could make appearances in a category that honours animation like this.
5. Over the Moon
Even though Over the Moon is an improvement over Abominable, Pearl is still not quite where it could be yet. A good enough portion of this film just feels flat, and it’s sad because it is quite strong at various moments; the animation is also so fluid and detailed, which is something this category honours even if a film is bland. I like Over the Moon, but it’s still the weakest film here; had the actual moon moments been less safe and cookie cutter, this could have been a much better picture.
4. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
I love Shaun the Sheep, and am always happy whenever a new entry — feature or short — is brought into this series. Without question, Farmageddon is the weakest Shaun the Sheep entry I’ve seen so far, but it’s still so delightful and soul-soothing. I can’t help but feel happier whenever I watch an Aardman Animations picture, and Farmageddon is no different. Despite being held down by clichés and some safer storytelling options (especially for the official science fiction entry in the Shaun canon), this is still creative and magical enough to warrant a watch (its adorableness and hilarity is a given).
3. Onward
Pixar is usually quite off when they’re not releasing winners, so something like Onward — which I personally found a little underrated — is a bit of an anomaly to experience: there are recent Pixar films that are good without feeling exemplary or like they missed the mark in major ways? It might seem silly that Pixar has two films here, especially when one is the frontrunner for this award, but I don’t mind Onward getting its dues. If anything, it makes me happy that it wasn’t completely forgotten, because it’s a bit of the black sheep of Pixar. It won’t knock your socks off, but it’s a pleasant, moving evening watch that shouldn’t be written off like it has been.
2. Wolfwalkers
The category takes a massive leap with this spot, since Wolfwalkers is such a gorgeous film, through its animation or complex, mature storytelling. Cartoon Saloon has always made an appearance here, so it only goes without saying that their possible opus gets recognized as well. Had this been a year where Disney/Pixar didn’t release one of their best works in ages, Wolfwalkers could have actually been the frontrunner to win this category. It’s too bad that it won’t win, but I hope its nomination is yet another opportunity for people to discover how amazing the work over at Cartoon Saloon is. I can’t recommend Wolfwalkers enough.
1. Soul
Well, duh. What else would be here? To me, Soul is Pixar’s strongest release since Inside Out (which is one of their best films to date), and it actually acts almost like a sister film in a number of ways (the abstract-yet-understandable look at the more difficult aspects of our experiences with life). In short, Soul is brilliantly animated, an inventive story (I love that it isn’t a direct copy of Inside Out despite the similarities, and it’s individualistic enough), and a highly emotional experience. Soul was one of my top films of last year, period. So, it only makes sense that it gets ranked first here.
Who I want to win: On one hand, I’d love if Cartoon Saloon finally got the Oscar love it deserves, especially since Disney and Pixar win this award so often (even if they don’t deserve to). But… Let’s be real. This is one of those years where Disney/Pixar deserve to win. All aboard the Soul train, once again!
Who I think will win: One of the most obvious predictions one can make this year is that Soul will win. Firstly, Disney/Pixar almost always wins this category, even when they’re off, but especially when they’re on. They’re on this year. A major telltale sign for these film categories is when one of these films gets nominated in other categories, especially major ones. Soul ranked up three in total, including Original Score (which it may very well win) and Sound. Some people thought it was going up for Best Picture as well. This obviously proves that Soul is doing well with the Academy already. Besides, it has swept up most awards of this category. It’s Soul.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.