Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2012

[ajmrowland]

Right, nominees are in

Paranorman
Frankenweenie
Wreck-it-Ralph
Brave
Pirates: In an Adventure with Scientists

Surprised at the inclusion of Pirates and annoyed by the lack of token foreign films. They don't have a shot of winning but I like using the Oscars to filter out the notable ones.

Other than that, pretty much expected.

Ah, it'll be a tight competition with Brave being swept behind!

I dont really know how to feel about that in particular, but they were all great movies.

I think these are five fantastic animated films. I'm probably in the minority here but whatever.

I am SO glad to see Dreamworks overlooked while Disney walks away with three nominations. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Katzenberg's ridiculous Oscar campaign for Guardians crash and burn. He began shopping it around back in September or something. This is just karma.

And Paperman is pretty much a shoe-in.

That's awfually harsh judgement. We all know how Dreamworks has been making much better flms than they used to and Brave wasnt really better than Rise in my opinion.

also, disney's employment practices suck. no secret there. Katzenberg gives his employees a good ear and free lunches.

I didnt see the campaign but I doubt it's as ridiculous as Alice in Wonderland for Best Picture.

[ajmrowland]

I liked Rise of the Guardians too. Anyhow, not to be biased, but I'm seriously hoping Wreck-It Ralph wins, even if it probably won't.

By the way, is there any way I can watch Adam & Dog anywhere?

Wreck-It Ralph has a strong chance of winning. Best Animated Feature tends to go to the populist pick, which is Ralph this year. But ParaNorman is the critical darling and Frankenweenie is the sentimental choice. All three could win (I think Ralph is winning the Annie, though).

I believe Adam & Dog is still touring the film festival circuit as is Head Over Heels. Paperman is, of course, playing with showings of Wreck-It Ralph and will be on the Blu-Ray/DVD. You can legally watch Fresh Guacamole on YouTube, while cam bootlegs of The Longest Daycare are also on there (I'm surprised that short wasn't included on the Ice Age 4 Blu-Ray).

Every year, they've been showing the animated and live-action shorts on a packaged bill before the ceremony. So, be on the look-out to see if they come to your area. I haven't gone before, but I plan on going this year.

I'll wanna watch them as well. Never saw last year's

[PatrickvD]

I think these are five fantastic animated films. I'm probably in the minority here but whatever.

I am SO glad to see Dreamworks overlooked while Disney walks away with three nominations. Nothing makes me happier than seeing Katzenberg's ridiculous Oscar campaign for Guardians crash and burn. He began shopping it around back in September or something. This is just karma.

And Paperman is pretty much a shoe-in.

That's awfually harsh judgement. We all know how Dreamworks has been making much better flms than they used to and Brave wasnt really better than Rise in my opinion.

also, disney's employment practices suck. no secret there. Katzenberg gives his employees a good ear and free lunches.

I didnt see the campaign but I doubt it's as ridiculous as Alice in Wonderland for Best Picture.

Katzenberg would rig the Oscars if he could. He's that annoying when it comes to awards. He bought the Annies a few years back and Guardians was winning all kinds of awards no one had ever heard of back in October.

I have nothing against the film or the fine artists at DWA, but Katzenberg needs to let the films speak for themselves. All he wants is an oscar to boost dvd sales. It's all about money to him, nothing else.

[qindarka]

Don't think it's about money, or at least not all of it. Do awards really boost home-video sales substantially?

Probably just an issue of pride.

[Disney's Divinity]

Funny, I think the exact opposite.

Naturally.

[disneyboy20022]

It's all about money to him, nothing else.

It's alway about money to any movie studio

Just ask the this guy:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v0due39C-XM" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[PatrickvD]

Don't think it's about money, or at least not all of it. Do awards really boost home-video sales substantially?

Probably just an issue of pride.

I think they do boost it by a little. Everything gets a bit of a boost after the Oscars, especially the films that are still in theaters. It's free advertising to over 30 million viewers in the US alone. God knows how many worldwide.

Heck, I think dvd's now have stickers with 'golden tomato' on it when it's Rotten Tomatoes' #1 movie of the year. These things are all considered in marketing these days.

Katzenberg knows that. You didn't see him acting all Oscar-pushy with 'How To Train Your Dragon' because he had no idea the film would be as successful and beloved as it was. Then he decided that Guardians would be the next best thing, not waiting to see what audiences or critics thought about it. He did the exact same thing with Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas. No one saw the Oscar nod for Beauty coming, so Jeffrey just looked at the slate and decided Pocahontas was going to be the next best thing.

I think he should just let the filmmakers do their work and back off. There's major talent at DWA. They're going to be fine.

[Sotiris]

Katzenberg would rig the Oscars if he could. He's that annoying when it comes to awards. He bought the Annies a few years back and Guardians was winning all kinds of awards no one had ever heard of back in October.

I think you're being unfair about this. Katzenberg did not buy the Annies in any way. He simply gave away memberships to his employees (among other benefits) which was a great thing to do. That helps both the ASIFA organization and the employees themselves who don't have to spend their money on a membership. Disney and Pixar (who employ more people than DreamWorks) could have easily done the same if they weren't so incredibly cheap. Besides, Pixar's films kept sweeping the Annies up until Kung Fu Panda despite DreamWorks' free memberships.

All he wants is an Oscar to boost DVD sales.

As qindarka said, awards don't sell DVDs any more as the home video market is rapidly declining. The market is nowhere near as profitable as it once was. Winning awards doesn't have to do with money but with the recognition of the studio and its talent within the industry.

It's all about money to him, nothing else.

If Katzenberg only cares about money how come DreamWorks is the best animation studio to work for with the best working conditions? That doesn't seem as a cost-saving tactic to me.

Guardians was winning all kinds of awards no one had ever heard of back in October.

I don't understand why you would perceive that as such a major faux pas. He simply submitted the film to various festivals and competitions. Other studios could have done the same. I see nothing wrong of him trying to build early buzz for the film. On the contrary, I think that's reasonable and expected.

[qindarka]

Generally, how much creative involvement does Katzenberg have with Dreamworks films, or at Disney back then?

[Avaitor]

Kaztenberg's already getting an Oscar this year though. The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. I think that's enough for him.

[PatrickvD]

If Katzenberg only cares about money how come DreamWorks is the best animation studio to work for with the best working conditions? That doesn't seem as a cost-saving tactic to me.

Dreamworks has three movies out this year. It's not hard to give your employees great working conditions if you can actually give them work to do.

Disney and PIXAR only make one film a year. And in the case of Disney, which has the animation guild up their ass, it's problematic.

And as I stated, I think the way he campaigns and shops films around is just annoying. If the movie is good, it will be recognized. The critics awards came and it was ignored. And probably rightfully so as it was inferior to the three leading films of the year.

Sure, it's not as bad as Oscar campaigns by certain actors, I mean, there was no level of stupidity the likes of Melissa Leo for example would not stoop to to get that Oscar, but still....

Maybe he also annoys me incredibly because he's not an artist of any kind. He just got into animation with no knowledge or any kind of affection for the craft. It's very off-putting.

[Disney's Divinity]

I thought it was typical of studios to push their films on the awards circuits in most genres. I actually like that Katzenberg does that for his animated films, because he's treating them the way he would any other film, instead of "just" as cartoons.

[Sotiris]

Dreamworks has three movies out this year. It's not hard to give your employees great working conditions if you can actually give them work to do.

Good working conditions do not pertain solely to consistency of work. It also has to do with work culture and environment as well as additional benefits. For example, the studio has fostered a positive workplace for women in the industry. Considering that DreamWorks is an independent studio whereas WDAS/Pixar are part of the biggest media conglomerate in the world with much deeper pockets, makes DreamWorks' achievement much more impressive.

And in the case of Disney, which has the animation guild up their ass, it's problematic.

What are you talking about?! How is WDAS being under a union contact (DWA is unionized as well) and having their employees getting more benefits and better treatment than in non-union studios problematic?

Maybe he also annoys me incredibly because he's not an artist of any kind. He just got into animation with no knowledge or any kind of affection for the craft. It's very off-putting.

That sounds very elitist to me. He may not have had any previous knowledge about animation or experience but he learned and eventually developed a passion for animation. I don't think he's the typical clueless executive that you make him out to be.

[Pokeholic_Prince]

While Katzenberg is not an artist by any means, he is a visionary. I admire that he takes animation as serious as any other type of film. He sees the potential in animation more than most anyone in the industry. Plus his studio is the only major studio that is trying to take risks either. He may not be an artist, but his love for animtion is commendable.

[Lnds500]

Plus his studio is the only major studio that is trying to take risks either. He may not be an artist, but his love for animtion is commendable.

I haven't made up my mind yet on what I think about him but but I would like to know, what risks did Katzenberg/DreamWorks take with animation? They abandoned hand-drawn with the first chance they got, they are constantly milking franchises and putting out mediocre films (with a few marvellous exceptions). That's the opposite of risk taking!

[Pokeholic_Prince]

Plus his studio is the only major studio that is trying to take risks either. He may not be an artist, but his love for animtion is commendable.

I haven't made up my mind yet on what I think about him but but I would like to know, what risks did Katzenberg/DreamWorks take with animation? They abandoned hand-drawn with the first chance they got, they are constantly milking franchises and putting out mediocre films (with a few marvellous exceptions). That's the opposite of risk taking!

Prince of Egypt was a huge risk. Shrek, while it doesn't seem like it was a big risk. An ugly character with very mature jokes. It changed animation as we know it, for better or worse, and it made more studios join the frey. Dragon was a more serious movie. And Guardians tried a look very different style than the mainstream look.

[WonderNeverOz]

Plus his studio is the only major studio that is trying to take risks either. He may not be an artist, but his love for animtion is commendable.

I haven't made up my mind yet on what I think about him but but I would like to know, what risks did Katzenberg/DreamWorks take with animation? They abandoned hand-drawn with the first chance they got, they are constantly milking franchises and putting out mediocre films (with a few marvellous exceptions). That's the opposite of risk taking!

I'm not sure if they have taken a lot of risks so far, but I think disney's taking much more risk than dw. they went back to hand drawn animation, they created a fairy tale movie with CG for the first time, and they just created a movie about video games, and made a movie with a lot of heart and disney magic as others. AND THEY R WORKIN ON BIG HERO 6, A SUPERHERO MOVIE, which something very groundbreaking and fresh. their pressure of the amazing disney legacy isn't stopping them to take risks at all as you can see.

don't get me wrong, I like dw animation. I loved kung-fu panda 1 &2, how to train your dragon, rise of the guardians etc...and they are all very creative and unique, but maybe not that risky as disney to create.

[WonderNeverOz]

While Katzenberg is not an artist by any means, he is a visionary. I admire that he takes animation as serious as any other type of film. He sees the potential in animation more than most anyone in the industry. Plus his studio is the only major studio that is trying to take risks either. He may not be an artist, but his love for animtion is commendable.

Honestly, I don't really like him. I mean, maybe what you're saying is true, but c'mon, he's the guy who tried to delete "Part of Your World" from the movie itself!

[disneyboy20022]

This is the list that shows the 17 nominations that Disney has with the Oscars

http://d23.disney.go.com/news/2013/01/t ... minations/

[Sotiris]

I mean, maybe what you're saying is true, but c'mon, he's the guy who tried to delete "Part of Your World" from the movie itself!

The important thing is that he didn't. Any executive with so little experience in the animation industry would have thought to do the same when the sequence failed to engage with test audiences. But he listened to the people around him and trusted their creative instincts.

Katzenberg is a also big philanthropist (unlike other top executives in the animation business).

I just don't understand all this Katzenberg hatred. You may not like the films his studio produces which is perfectly acceptable but we need to give credit where credit is due.