Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2014

[estefan]

I also think Boxtrolls has a good chance at a nomination, considering Laika's current pedigree. The director of The Secret of Kells has a new movie opening this year, so I can see that occupying the "indie/foreign film" slot.

[disneyprincess11]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about Boxtrolls!

[ce1ticmoon]

As long as reception is along the lines of Coraline and ParaNorman (considering their pedigree, I can't see it being poorly received), I'd consider Boxtrolls locked in for a nomination.

I think these three are locked:

The LEGO Movie
How to Train Your Dragon 2
Boxtrolls

Big Hero 6 will depend on reception, but if it is as well-received as their other recent films, it should get a nomination too.

The Book of Life looks quite intriguing, but coming from a smaller studio, it might be passed over for a token indie/foreign nomination, even if it is good.

Takahata/Ghibli's Princess Kaguya should be getting a U.S. release this year, as well as Tomm Moore's Song of the Sea. Both of those should be strong contenders, and if Underdogs (Foosball) is really getting a wide release through Weinstein this year, it should have a shot as well. (Though I'm wondering if that's really happening... I remember reading it was supposed to be released in August, but there has been absolutely no news about it lately.)

[Lady Cluck]

Book of Life looks like crap from the trailer, and it's from the studio that brought us FREE BIRDS. People are putting way too much faith in it because of the art style and concept. I would love for it to be good too but...I highly doubt it

I wish Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio was actually coming out this year, not that we need more Pinocchio adaptations

[ce1ticmoon]

Book of Life looks like crap from the trailer, and it's from the studio that brought us FREE BIRDS. People are putting way too much faith in it because of the art style and concept. I would love for it to be good too but...I highly doubt it

I wish Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio was actually coming out this year, not that we need more Pinocchio adaptations

Is that actually ever going to come out? It's been a while since I've heard anything about it...

As for The Book of Life, I must say I have my reservations about it as well, but the visuals are already miles better than Free Birds, so it's possible that the content will be too. I definitely won't be going into it with sky high expectations though.

[Sotiris]

If Underdogs (Foosball) is really getting a wide release through Weinstein this year, it should have a shot as well. (Though I'm wondering if that's really happening... I remember reading it was supposed to be released in August, but there has been absolutely no news about it lately.)

Underdogs has been pushed back. It will now be released on January 16, 2015 which makes it ineligible for Oscar consideration since it was released in its home country in 2013.

[Sotiris]

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has revised the rules for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. They have adopted the Academy's definition of "animated film" which requires a film to be at least 75 percent animated and no longer recognize performance capture as an animation technique. They have also opened up the animation category to movies from all over the world, in all languages, even if they do not have a U.S. release, as long as they were shown in their home country. The only downside is that foreign animated films are no longer eligible in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

[ce1ticmoon]

If Underdogs (Foosball) is really getting a wide release through Weinstein this year, it should have a shot as well. (Though I'm wondering if that's really happening... I remember reading it was supposed to be released in August, but there has been absolutely no news about it lately.)

Underdogs has been pushed back. It will now be released on January 16, 2015 which makes it ineligible for Oscar consideration since it was released in its home country in 2013.

Thanks for the update.

I was looking for some info about it but couldn't find anything. Wonder why it's being pushed back...? Bummer, I was looking forward to it.

Considering it will be released in January, though, isn't it possible that they'll give it a week-long qualifying run late this year? Either way, I guess it's chances would have been slim overall.

[estefan]

The Weinstein Company did give Hoodwinked a qualifying run prior to its January release to make it eligible for the 2005 Oscars. So I can see them doing that with Foosball.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has revised the rules for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. They have adopted the Academy's definition of "animated film" which requires a film to be at least 75 percent animated and no longer recognize performance capture as an animation technique. They have also opened up the animation category to movies from all over the world, in all languages, even if they do not have a U.S. release, as long as they were shown in their home country. The only downside is that foreign animated films are no longer eligible in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Interesting that they now rule motion-capture ineligible, considering they gave Tintin the award a couple of years ago.

But the Golden Globe rules are seriously warped. Give some credit to the Academy. At least they allow animated films, foreign films and documentaries to compete in the Best Picture category (well, when they nominate them, anyway. A documentary has never been nominated for best picture, oddly enough).

[Sotiris]

Latvia submits animation Rocks in My Pockets to Oscar race
http://www.screendaily.com/awards/latvi ... 15.article

[Lady Cluck]

The Boxtrolls is getting mixed reviews

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_boxtrolls

I saw HTTYD2 and even though I've complained about the franchise a lot before, it was one of the only efforts from Dreamworks that I actually respected. There were parts I enjoyed (I can see why Toothless being forced into killing Hiccup's father had such a big emotional impact...that was hard to watch), but overall I was still a little underwhelmed. It really wasn't anything particularly original, funny, or interesting outside of that one big moment, and it honestly felt like a fanfic to me. A lot of the charm and heart that was in the first one was lost. Maybe I just didn't have any interest in seeing more of these characters, but I'm glad it underperformed at the box office because it would be a mediocre Oscar winner. I thought Kung Fu Panda 2 did a MUCH better job of expanding the strengths of its first film and increasing my love of the characters and interest in the franchise. I definitely prefer those films overall.

I also saw Mr. Peabody & Sherman and thoroughly enjoyed it...for the first half. I thought they captured the spirit of the show well and I loved what they did with the historical figures, the historical puns, etc. But the chaotic superhero action and forced heartfelt storyline of the second half really made me lose interest. It could have just been a fun and quirky adventure but as usual they tried to throw in some of everything and it lost its focus. There was some fun animation in it though.

It looks like I'll be rooting for The Lego Movie or Big Hero 6.

[taei]

So here's my opinion on this matter.

I do agree that the following will be nominated:

-The Lego Movie
-How to train your Dragon 2
-Big Hero 6
-The Box Trolls
-Princess Kaguya (?)/The Book of Life.

And here's how i think this will go:

Lego movie or Big hero 6 will win the award.

As most people have heard, the academy doesn't really care about animation and will most likely give the award to the movie their kid liked the most.
The Lego Movie not only has that advantage but also is the one that adults have seen the most. So it's gonna be really tough for any other move to top that.
Except for Big Hero 6.
Big Hero 6 could turn out to be a standout movie and can ride the waves of the critical acclaim of Fro *coughletitgocough*zen.
So much like Pixar, the academy will think that Disney is now the studio to look out for.
I have hopes for BH6... But I know so little that I can't really predict how it'll do. So Disney better start pimping non-armor baymax as much as they can if they want another oscar.

As for How to train your Dragon 2, I am sorry Lady Cluck that you didn't like the movie. It's ok as I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.
However, I have to say, this movie blew me away. It is the best movie I have seen in the past 2 years. I absolutely loved it and I am praying to god that it wins the oscar because I really think it deserves the win. And DreamWorks needs the win. And I also think that this movie deserves to win for the future of Animation. This was the most adult and darkest movie I have seen this year, including Dawn of Apes, and to see animation go to that dark and serious place in this age and time is really worthy of an award.
But.. I'm 99% sure it won't win.

This is the time that most top 10 summer movies list come out and I've rarely seen Dragon on those lists. Why? Because it wasn't a commercial success. The movie got stellar reviews from critics, but at the same time, no money no memory.
While I do want it to win the award, I know that it won't. Gotta wait for Annies.
As for the soundtrack, I wholeheartedly think that this movie should win best score and song for "For the dancing and the dreaming"
I haven't heard another score this year that was nearly as good as Dragon's and if this doesn't win that award then I will forever lose hope that any other good score can win. The closest contender in this stage is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
My only complaint is that the score might not be qualified cause they used the theme in "Where no one goes" or is that rule only for musicals?

The tale of princess/The book of life will be the movies that just fill the seats. Nothing more.

And now the box trolls.
I really don't think this will win because of two reasons:
1. I don't think it'll perform well at the box office.
2. The really mixed reviews it's getting.

Will the movie be good? Maybe. But I doubt it'll be as good as Coraline.
The movie will manage to stand apart because it's in stop motion, but that's pretty much it.
The story doesn't sound too interesting to me.

So yeah... That's pretty much my predictions.

1. Lego movie.
2. Big Hero 6
3. Dragon 2
4. Box Trolls
5. Book of Life/Princess

[estefan]

This is the time that most top 10 summer movies list come out and I've rarely seen Dragon on those lists. Why? Because it wasn't a commercial success. The movie got stellar reviews from critics, but at the same time, no money no memory.

It made over $600 million worldwide. Hardly, no money. I think people jumped the gun on its opening weekend (which wasn't that bad. It made $50 million) and declared it a disappointment, rather than waiting it out. It's the highest grossing animated movie of the year. If anything, The LEGO Movie might have a more uphill battle than Dragon. How many voters will pick something based on toys, regardless of how well-received it is?

[frankf3]

It's hard for sequels to win in this category, no matter how well received it is. Yes, Toy Story 3 is the one exception, but that was nominated for Best Picture.

Shrek 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Despicable Me 2 were well received; but did not win.

I think the category is going to come down to Lego Movie, Big Hero 6, and HTTYD 2. I'm waiting for more Boxtrolls review before I count them in or out. If it's gets at least a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes (certified fresh basically), it might have a fair chance.

[PatrickvD]

The Boxtrolls doesn't look to be receiving particularly good reviews at the moment.

So nothing is locked at this point. But BH6's chances of a back-to-back win for WDAS are increasing. Provided that it's good of course.

[ce1ticmoon]

Yeah, the reviews for Boxtrolls are surprisingly mixed. More positive than negative (and will likely end up being certified fresh on RT), but it looks to be definite step down from Coraline and ParaNorman in terms of critical reception. However, it being stop-motion and carrying the LAIKA name could be enough for it to snag a nomination. I definitely don't expect a win though.

For now, I see the win being between LEGO and Dragon 2, unless BH6 is super well-received, which is definitely possible.

[frankf3]

I don't even think Big Hero 6 needs to have a similar reception to Lego Movie or HTTYD 2. I think it could still win the Oscars with a 70%-80% tomatometer score range. As Brave showed us two years ago, brand name is stronger than critical reception.

[Tangled]

I personally don't have high hopes about Big Hero 6 winning. I mean, it still carries the Disney name, but it doesn't look like a traditional Disney movie at all. Frozen was a traditional fairy tale musical while BH6 is a superhero action flick. Keep in mind that most Academy voters are over the age of 50 and don't know/care much about animation. I feel the same way about the Lego Movie, which was amazing and critically aclaimed, but still not Oscar bait-y enough to have a definite chance at winning. I mean, it's a commercial in movie form. The best and most effective commercial I've ever seen, but it still solely exists to sell Lego. Also, see: Wreck-it Ralph. None of these are targeted towards the main Academy voters' demographic at all. It doesn't matter how great they are. The average 60 year old Academy voter probably doesn't care much for Lego, Japanese superheroes or video games.

How to Train Your Dragon 2, while still a sequel, will probably end up being the safest choice, being a Dreamworks-made fantasy epic set in Scotland (which I haven't seen yet so I have nothing to say about). That, or Ghibli, which I'm rooting for, since Princess Kagura looks gorgeous and it would be great for a traditionally animated movie to win. Plus, rumors about Ghibli stopping production would probably be enough to catch some pity votes.

[TsWade2]

I personally don't have high hopes about Big Hero 6 winning. I mean, it still carries the Disney name, but it doesn't look like a traditional Disney movie at all. Frozen was a traditional fairy tale musical while BH6 is a superhero action flick. Keep in mind that most Academy voters are over the age of 50 and don't know/care much about animation. I feel the same way about the Lego Movie, which was amazing and critically aclaimed, but still not Oscar bait-y enough to have a definite chance at winning. I mean, it's a commercial in movie form. The best and most effective commercial I've ever seen, but it still solely exists to sell Lego. Also, see: Wreck-it Ralph. None of these are targeted towards the main Academy voters' demographic at all. It doesn't matter how great they are. The average 60 year old Academy voter probably doesn't care much for Lego, Japanese superheroes or video games.

How to Train Your Dragon 2, while still a sequel, will probably end up being the safest choice, being a Dreamworks-made fantasy epic set in Scotland (which I haven't seen yet so I have nothing to say about). That, or Ghibli, which I'm rooting for, since Princess Kagura looks gorgeous and it would be great for a traditionally animated movie to win. Plus, rumors about Ghibli stopping production would probably be enough to catch some pity votes.

Well, Disney already got an Oscar for Best Animated Feature for Frozen anyway. Besides, I think The Lego Movie is the front runner. Such a great movie and a very good message too.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm not surprised with Boxtrolls' mixed reviews. The colors remind me of that 3D mouse movie from several years back.

Overall, a boring year for animated movies, imo.