Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2012

[Pokeholic_Prince]

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.

Amen to that. He may have made mistakes in the past, but he's learned from it. He's one of the few execs that fully trusts his artists. Also he's a main player in bringing animation back.

[Disney's Divinity]

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.

I disagree entirely. TP&TF, Tangled, and Frozen all rely on Disney's staple, an animated musical featuring a female protagonist--hardly risks. The former two heavily recycle ideas taken from films they made 10 years ago. WIR is somewhat different for Disney, but not in general for an animated film. As for Superhero 6--again, new for Disney, but not new in general. Even when they finally jumped into 3D, they were already late to the game.

So, no, I don't think Disney is more creative than Dreamworks these days, and definitely not groundbreaking. The early 2000's were actually more creative for Disney, but since they were rarely successful financially (or critically, really), they went back to the old stand-bys and new gimmicks. Naturally, they make more money that way.

[DisneyJedi]

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!

AND the same guy who nearly ruined Toy Story by making Woody a selfish asshole, along with nearly ruining Lion King by altering what Elton John wanted for a certain love song in said film.

[qindarka]

AND the same guy who nearly ruined Toy Story by making Woody a selfish asshole, along with nearly ruining Lion King by altering what Elton John wanted for a certain love song in said film.

The first case was simply a difference in approach. Having an unlikable protagonist isn't exactly bad. I know that version was supposedly terrible but its simplistic to say that it was due to that one factor.

And I do sometimes think that Can You Feel The Love Tonight was a little out of place. Can understand why there were plans to cut it.

[PatrickvD]

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.

Oh don't get me wrong, I think it's great how DWA has created an amazing place for artists and especially women. I think PIXAR is still the studio with a bit of an image problem regarding women. And yes, Disney has the bigger pockets, but in terms of Box Office revenue created by WDAS films, they are very, very far behind. Tangled was big for Disney, but for DWA, $590 million is not all that uncommon. At least, it used to be.

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?

I know both are unionized, but It's problematic because Disney hasn't been able to figure out how to create a steady workflow, forcing them to lay-off animators in-between projects. I'm actually very critical of Disney here. And I'm not speaking negatively of Katzenberg's better treatment of the DWA staff, but I also think Disney can't afford that with their films rarely over performing. Unless they'd accept the hundred of millions they would lose in order to keep people employed and give them better working conditions.

But I think the rosy days are over for DWA. Rise of the Guardians indicates Dreamworks might not be able to keep their crew for much longer either. They have three original films coming out this year. Original films don't do well at the international Box Office anymore. Brave, Guardians, Ralph all underperformed. The days of a sure-fire $500 million dollar hit like Shrek, Panda or Madagascar are over. Their next sequel isn't until spring 2014 and their stock has plummeted. It'll be very interesting to see if they can continue to have this great environment they've created.

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.

Well, coincidentally I am very elitist and yes, I do think he is the clueless executive I make him out to be. Not with money, he is good with money, hence the great studio he has built, but I stand by my original point: how he treated Dragon versus Guardians tells me he would not recognize a great film if it ran him over with a truck.

[Pokeholic_Prince]

I don't know, he treated Dragon very well from what I've seen and read. He even rallied it for Best Picture, which Guardians didn't recieve any attention like that. And Guardians is a great movie and hopefully over time people and critics will realize this. It deserves more recognition than the above average Brave.

[Sotiris]

After finally watching all five of the Oscar-nominated animated films, I believe ParaNorman deserves to win the most.

Here's how I rank them:

1. ParaNorman

2. Pirates! Band of Misfits

3. Wreck-It Ralph

4. Frankenweenie

5. Brave

[DisneyJedi]

AND the same guy who nearly ruined Toy Story by making Woody a selfish asshole, along with nearly ruining Lion King by altering what Elton John wanted for a certain love song in said film.

The first case was simply a difference in approach. Having an unlikable protagonist isn't exactly bad. I know that version was supposedly terrible but its simplistic to say that it was due to that one factor.

And I do sometimes think that Can You Feel The Love Tonight was a little out of place. Can understand why there were plans to cut it.

Well, it goes a little deeper than the whole "unlikable protagonist" thing. As a matter of fact, the Black Friday featurette (which can be found on YouTube) does a better job explaining the whole problem better than I can.

And no. Jeffrey didn't want to CUT Can You Feel the Love Tonight. He wanted it sung from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective.

[PatrickvD]

Don't think I've done a list yet. I would rank them as such:

1. Wreck-It Ralph

2. Frankenweenie

3. Pirates: Band of Misfits

4. Paranorman

5. Brave

And I still find Brave to be an excellent film despite having it in last place. I think this is easily one of the best years in animation in quite a while. A very diverse list of films, even though foreign independent films were ignored this year.

Whichever film wins will have deserved it.

[estefan]

My ranking would go:

1. Wreck-It Ralph
2. ParaNorman
3. Frankenweenie
4. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
5. Brave

And I agree with Patrick. This is a wonderful set of nominees and I would be pleased with any of these winning.

[disneyprincess11]

Wow, Brave won Best Animated Picture for the Golden Globes. Didn't expect this.

[DisneyJedi]

Okay, it seems Brave won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. Am I the only one who finds this a littbe- By "a little", I mean EXTREMELY...

I dunno.

What's the word I looking for...?

UNFAIR?!

I mean, don't get me wrong. I loved Brave. Really, I did. But come! Freaking! On!!

[PixarFan2006]

Yeah neither did I. Frankenweenie would've been my second pick (by default anyway) I did not see WiR so I cannot vouch for that one. I also think both Hotel Transylvania and Rise of the Guardians look just meh (definitely not worthy of awards even though it seems Disney ALWAYS scoops them up).

[Tristy]

Okay, it seems Brave won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. Am I the only one who finds this a littbe- By "a little", I mean EXTREMELY...

I dunno.

What's the word I looking for...?

UNFAIR?!

I mean, don't get me wrong. I loved Brave. Really, I did. But come! Freaking! On!!

Now you say that? NOW YOU SAY THAT?!!? *Sigh*. You know I didn't think Brave was bad myself better than what some people do say but Wreck it Ralph was a better movie! I was actually hoping that after last year, we would not have the streak of "Pixar! Pixar! Pixar!" Because it just so unfair to the other animated films that might be even BETTER! But oh well. Fine award shows. Fine. Than I guess you really do want Lasseter to keep replacing directors who might, just MIGHT, have done a better job.

[WonderNeverOz]

Wow, Brave won Best Animated Picture for the Golden Globes. Didn't expect this.

I'm quite happy Brave won, even though I'm a huge wreck-it ralph fan. It deserves more attention.

This year's animation award race is so confusing. How am I suppose to predict now O_O

[DisneyEra]

"Brave" beats "Wreck-It Ralph," "Hotel Transylvania," "Rise of the Guardians" and "Frankenweenie" for the Best Animated Feature Golden Globe. I think we can just stop wondering what film will win the oscar, Pixar has it locked & sealed! No other film has a chance

[disneyprincess11]

Yeah, I LOVE Brave so much, but Wreck-It Ralph had a LOT more heart and soul than Brave. Plus, the other contestants (minus Hotel Transyvania) looks so much stronger than Brave. I’m shocked that Brave won! And yet, ANOTHER Pixar film that won.

I'm seriously wondering if Pixar bribed them or something...

[DisneyJedi]

I'm seriously wondering if Pixar bribed them or something...

You know what?

I can't help but wonder the same thing.

[DisneyEra]

Yeah, I LOVE Brave so much, but Wreck-It Ralph had a LOT more heart and soul than Brave. Plus, the other contestants (minus Hotel Transyvania) looks so much stronger than Brave. I’m shocked that Brave won! And yet, ANOTHER Pixar film that won.

I'm seriously wondering if Pixar bribed them or something...

Reminds me of the oscars a few years ago when Randy Newman was nominated for The Princess & the Frog for 2 of The Best Original Song award, but lost. Then a year later he was nominated again for Best Original Song for Toy Story 3, and won! That always bugged me. He loses for the Disney film, but wins for the Pixar film.

[DisneyJedi]

That's the Awards are freakin' Pixar-biased.