Oscar for Best Animated Feature 2014

[Lady Cluck]

Early buzz for Big Hero 6 is good and it sounds like it will have the same emotional depth of other recent Disney releases, so it could be a contender. We'll see.

Meanwhile The Tale of Princess Kaguya is getting RAVE reviews. It's probably a lock for a nomination and could even win. I'd like to see a Japanese film win again. Oh God, if Big Hero 6 is actually good enough to win I can just imagine the complaints about a film with a "fake Japan" winning over an authentic Japanese film

With The Lego Movie, How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, and possibly Big Hero 6 all being very well received by critics, this Pixar-less year in animation could be more competitive than it seemed I would love an unpredictable race like that. And The Boxtrolls and The Book of Life ended up getting pretty good reviews too, just not quite the same raves.

[frankf3]

The Academy shortlist has been announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the 20 films that have submitted for this season's best animated picture Oscar. The films in contention, if they qualify, include:

“Big Hero 6”
“The Book of Life”
“The Boxtrolls”
“Cheatin’”
“Giovanni’s Island”
“Henry & Me”
“The Hero of Color City”
“How to Train Your Dragon 2”
“Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart”
“Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return”
“The Lego Movie”
“Minuscule – Valley of the Lost Ants”
“Mr. Peabody & Sherman”
“Penguins of Madagascar”
“The Pirate Fairy”
“Planes: Fire & Rescue”
“Rio 2”
“Rocks in My Pockets”
“Song of the Sea”
“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”

Source: http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/big ... contenders

[Lady Cluck]

My current rankings:

1. Big Hero 6
2. The Lego Movie
3. How to Train Your Dragon 2
4. Mr. Peabody & Sherman
5. Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return

BH6 and Lego are pretty close and both would make great winners, I just personally liked BH6's story more and it was less of a gimmick, though Lego Movie really made the gimmick work. But in my opinion, there's a significant drop off in quality after that. As I said, I'd HATE to see HTTYD2 win. A truly mediocre film, but I rank it third for basic cohesive plot structure which the other two couldn't manage. At least it's not as bad as the vile and offensive Despicable Me 2.

Still need to see The Book of Life, The Boxtrolls, and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (I think I'll enjoy all three). That may be it for me from that list.

[Tangled]

From what I've seen this year:

#1. The Lego Movie
#2. Big Hero 6
#3. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Sort of let-down by this one in comparison to the first. My expectations were super high, and I just felt like they crammed way too much plot ideas in, and most of them were really rushed and didn't have a satisifying payback aside from initial shock value. Plus, most of the humor aside from Toothless felt really out of place and shoehorned in. However, it's still super Oscar-bait-y anyways. I'll admit to listening to the soundtrack over and over again, and Toothless is adorable and worth being emotional over).
----Oscar Nominees Stop right here, probably along with Princess Kaguya, Song of the Sea (I hope) and maybe Boxtrolls, none of which I've seen yet because they're not widely available anymore/yet----
#4. Book of Life
#5. Peabody and Mr. Sherman
#6. Rio 2 (actually, the musical numbers and animation for this movie were actually really good, and there were very pretty moments. Just...the writing and story. TvTropes: The Anvillous Save-the-Rainforest Movie right here).

Overall, it's probably one of the least predictable Oscar animation categories in a long time, since most of the big studios have pretty different Oscar-worthy heavy hitters except Pixar. I really can't make a solid prediction. If they wanted to pick the "safest" option, then it's HTTYD2; however, The Lego Movie was even more positively recieved and successful. BH6 has Disney, so if the Academy's Disney-bias is true then that's the winner. However, for pure "artsy" merit, then it's Princess Kaguya or Song of the Sea, and Studio Ghibli is rumored to stop feature-length film production, so enough could pity vote Princess Kaguya for it to win...

This will be very close.

[estefan]

I have to defend the inclusion of the loggers in Rio 2. With the first movie tackling the problems of bird poaching, it made logical sense for the sequel to handle why certain Amazonian animals are becoming extinct. It would have been a major turn-off if Rio 2 didn't include that storyline and subject matter, since it's an actual real problem happening in the Amazon right now. And the beauty of the Rio movies for me is how it obviously comes from a director who loves his home country, but simiarly has problems with portions of it. Since Blu and Jewel are themselves based on two real macaws, it would have been disrespectful to them not to show why they and other animals are endangered species. It wasn't like the filmmakers pulled it out of their behind, that is actually happening in the Brazilian rainforest as we speak.

Back on-topic, I agree that this is an unpredictable race. I do think Dragon 2, Lego Movie, Big Hero 6 and Tale of Princess Kaguya are getting nominated, with The Book of Life, The Boxtrolls and Song of the Sea fighting over the last slot. Though they could always surprise, like when Monsters University and The Simpsons Movie were seen as definite nominees, but the voters went with something else.

[disneyprincess11]

I really hated Rio 2. But, I saw Book of Life, last night and LOVED IT! Hopefully, it'll be nominated too!

[taei]

Big Hero 6 will win, but IMO Dragon 2 needs to win.

[frankf3]

The Lego Movie is my favorite animated movie of 2014, but I can live with Big Hero 6 or HTTYD 2 (both movies are really good and worthy of winning).

I think the nominees will be: (From most confident to least confident)

1. Big Hero 6
2. The Lego Movie
3. Tale of Princess Kaguya
4. The Boxtrolls
5. How To Train Your Dragon 2

alt pick: Song of the Sea

I'm thinking Big Hero 6 is going to win since it came out most recent and isn't a sequel. It's also Disney, so it's got the strongest brand name.

[disneyprincess11]

I just saw Big Hero 6 (Review will come soon!). I thought it was a good movie and it will be nominated. But, I think it will come be between HTTYD2 and Lego Movie. This will also be a test if the Academy REALLY CARES about the art of animation or if they're like, "Ok, we all love you, Disney. So, here you go." We all know how they are to Pixar. I'm still pretty shocked that Frozen beat Wind Rises.

[Avaitor]

I think I'm the only person on earth who doesn't give a fuck about The Lego Movie. But it seems like it'll win.

[Widdi]

Big Hero 6 is a shoe in for a nomination, but How to Train Your Dragon 2 is still the one I want to see win. This is coming from a person who generally hates all Dreamworks movies (HTTYD 1 excluded). I just absolutely loved that movie, and something from the franchise needs to win. Not to mention it still being the best reviewed American animated film of the year.

The Lego Movie was great till it came to grinding halt when is switched to live action for those 7-10 minutes at the end. It killed the high the movie was giving me and thus it is a distant 3rd on my animation rankings for the year.

Boxtrolls and Book of Life looked pretty, but were nothing to write home about story wise.

[Sotiris]

AFM: Russian Cinema Nominates 'The Snow Queen 2' for Golden Globes
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a ... now-747700

17 Animated Films Will Compete For Golden Globe Nomination
http://www.goldenglobes.com/golden-glob ... tion-25804

10 Animated Shorts Advance in 2014 Oscar Race
http://www.oscars.org/news/10-animated- ... oscar-race

42nd Annie Award Nominations Announced
http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationsco ... d-20141201

[ce1ticmoon]

I've actually only seen the "big three" (LEGO/Dragons/Hero) films from this year so far--from those, my choice would be either LEGO or Dragons, which were both great films. BH6 was good, but a notch or two below. Those are the three sure-fire nominations, and the other two nominations will probably be between Boxtrolls, Princess Kaguya, and Song of the Sea. I would have had Boxtrolls in the sure-fire list, but reception hasn't been quite as good as past LAIKA efforts. I'm really behind this year, gotta catch it in one of the discount theaters, since it's playing there now. Hopefully Kaguya and Song of the Sea will be playing near me in the near future. (Considering most GKIDS films do, I'm optimistic.)

It's nice to see Bill Plympton snag a nomination for the Annie. I think he snagged one in the 90s, but that was when there were much fewer animated films. Honestly, I'm quite surprised, but it's great to see them recognize his work.

[frankf3]

Golden Globe Nominations were announced today:

Best Animated Feature Film
The Lego Movie
Big Hero 6
How To Train Your Dragon 2
The Boxtrolls
The Book of Life

http://www.goldenglobes.com/2015_72nd_G ... s_Nominees

[unprincess]

disappointed no 2d film got a nom(Kaguya or SOTS.)

[Lady Cluck]

Hoping the Oscars produce a different result. What an appalling victory for a mediocre film people pretend to like.

[taei]

Hoping the Oscars produce a different result. What an appalling victory for a mediocre film people pretend to like.

Wow... You're just a ray of sunshine....

I don't understand why you can't seem to accept that some people like this movie.
I loved it and I thought that it was the best animated movie I have seen since the 90s Disney movie.

Perhaps it's time for you to finally accept that the world is changing, I am sorry that you didn't like the movie, but you seriously need to back off now. I know that you have opinions and you are entitled to them, but don't say stuff like "people pretend to like"! My opinion is my opinion, I don't need you to come in and tell me how wrong my opinion is. If you hate Dreamworks so much you should just ignore them.

On another note, what didnt you like about the movie? What was so appaling about this movie?

[disneyprincess11]

TBH, Big Hero 6 was the weakest out of bunch. It was just good. Not great, just good. The others are much better.

HTTYD 2 had everything: Action, adventure, emotional depth, and a huge heart.

Lego Movie could have been terrible. But, what they did was taking advantage of what it's working with by giving it a huge imaginative world and surpringsly funny jokes and brilliant twists that work. This better gets some awards

Book Of Life has some cliches and weird casting choices & present talk, but the worlds are gorgeous and most of the movie is big and also has a lot of heart.

I haven't seen Boxtrolls, but it's a good attempt to bring back stop-motion and it looks creative and adult.

Big Hero 6 is just....good. The only things that are truly memorable & standouts are Baymax, whom I found to be the best Disney sidekick since Timon & Pumbaa, and Tadashi, who is such a likable, supportive character. And that's it. Nothing special

[The_Iceflash]

Hoping the Oscars produce a different result. What an appalling victory for a mediocre film people pretend to like.

Wow... You're just a ray of sunshine....

I don't understand why you can't seem to accept that some people like this movie.
I loved it and I thought that it was the best animated movie I have seen since the 90s Disney movie.

Perhaps it's time for you to finally accept that the world is changing, I am sorry that you didn't like the movie, but you seriously need to back off now. I know that you have opinions and you are entitled to them, but don't say stuff like "people pretend to like"! My opinion is my opinion, I don't need you to come in and tell me how wrong my opinion is. If you hate Dreamworks so much you should just ignore them.

On another note, what didnt you like about the movie? What was so appaling about this movie?

Sorry, I'd have to agree with Lady Cluck on its mediocracy.

As far as being the best animated movie you've seen since a 90s Disney movie:

We all have different standards and opinions but with that one I don't know whether to or or or any combination. Have you seen any animated films since the 90s? With my opinions and standards I put the film more along the lines of this:

...overrated steaming pile of SHIT known as How to Train Your Dragon...

I'm not saying Big Hero 6 should have or shouldn't have won but I don't rate How to Train Your Dragon 2 that highly.

[Walter]

I did like "Big Hero 6", but not as much as either "Frozen" or "How to Train Your Dragon 2". As much as I like Disney, I am glad to see Dreamworks win here, and hope they win the Oscar as well.

Glad to see "The Book of Life" got a nomination, as it should not be in the Land of the Forgotten.