Best Animated Feature Oscar: Rank Past Winners, Talk 2009

[Luke]

This must be the Academy Awards category whose winners list is most likely to have been viewed in full by forumgoers. So, how would you rank the first eight winners?

Here's the list:

<b>2001: Shrek (DreamWorks)
2002: Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli)
2003: Finding Nemo (Pixar)
2004: The Incredibles (Pixar)
2005: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Aardman)
2006: Happy Feet (Warner)
2007: Ratatouille (Pixar)
2008: WALL-E (Pixar)</b>


I would rank them like this:
1) The Incredibles
2) Finding Nemo
3) WALL-E
4) Ratatouille
5) Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
6) Shrek
7) Spirited Away
8) Happy Feet

2 & 3 are a close call and I need to see <i>Nemo</i> again; 4-7 are all pretty close too; there's a lot I like about them but each has some distinct shortcomings. Interestingly, what I consider Pixar's worst still seems better to me than every other film that's won the award.

Discussion is welcome. Feel free to also talk about this year's race, which strikes me as being the most interesting one to date. Could having an animated feature as one of the 10 Best Picture nominees hurt said feature's chances for the Best Animated Feature category, if it's perceived as a shoo-in?

Serious Contenders:
Coraline (LAIKA)
Up (Pixar)
Ponyo (Studio Ghibli)
9 (Focus)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox)
A Christmas Carol (ImageMovers)
The Princess and the Frog (Disney)

Other Eligible Films:
Monsters vs. Aliens (DreamWorks)
Battle for Terra (Lionsgate)
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Blue Sky)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (Sony)
Astro Boy (Imagi)
Planet 51 (Illion / TriStar)

[Flanger-Hanger]

Coraline deserves to win, but that's not going to happen.

[Disneykid]

Good to see you posting and creating threads again, Luke!

Here's how I'd rank them:

1. Finding Nemo
2. WALL-E
3. Spirited Away
4. Ratatouille
5. The Incredibles
6. Shrek
7. Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit
8. Happy Feet

In all fairness, I've only watched Wallace & Gromit once, whereas I've seen the other films on this list at least two or three times each.

I think Up is pretty much guaranteed to win for 2009, which I certainly won't mind since it's my favorite Pixar film to date. Since three seems to be the magic number in regards to animated feature oscars, I think the nominees will be Up and Coraline for sure, with the third being a toss up between Ponyo and The Princess and the Frog. Maybe they'll do the same thing they did in 2002 and have five nominees. If so, then those four will certainly make it on there, and either A Christmas Carol or The Fantastic Mr. Fox will make the fifth spot depending on how innovative they are. I think this is probably the best year for animation we've had in quite a while, so it'll be interesting to see what gets nominated.

[Escapay]

In terms of "Most Favourite" to "Least Favourite", I would rank it as this:

1. Finding Nemo
2. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
3. The Incredibles
4. Spirited Away
5. Ratatouille
6. WALL-E
7. Happy Feet
8. Shrek

In terms of what actually are "Best" pictures, and trying to cast all personal feelings aside, it'd probably look like this:

1. WALL-E
2. Spirited Away
3. The Incredibles
4. Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
5. Ratatouille
6. Finding Nemo
7. Shrek
8. Happy Feet

I don't know what to think of the 2009 contenders as I've only seen Up so far, though I'm looking forward to Astro Boy and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, as well as blindbuying Coraline and Monsters vs. Aliens. I haven't seen much of Astro Boy beyond the 1980-1981 version but I enjoyed that immensely so I hope the new movie will be just as good. And Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was one of my favourite books as a kid, so seeing a new film version will prove interesting (the trailer itself is hilarious). Coraline and Monsters vs. Aliens were two films I had intended on seeing in theatres, but never got around to it so a blindbuy will suffice for now.

And as much as everyone else is anticipating The Princess and the Frog, I'm probably one of the few UDers who really just doesn't care much for the film. I mean, yes, I do share the cheers of "Yay for Disney's return traditional animation!", however, I'm not one of those "HAHAHA, DIE CGI! 2D 4EVA!!!" fiends as I loved two of Disney's three CGI animated classics and look forward to other future traditional and CGI films from Feature Animation.

It's just that the Frog Prince story has never interested me (I didn't even enjoy the Robin Williams/Teri Garr version from "Faerie Tale Theatre"), the thought of Randy Newman songs has grown increasingly more irritating, and just because it's traditional animation doesn't mean it automatically makes it better than Disney's CGI or live-action films (but given the quality of half of Disney's live-action films since 2002, it might as well be). I just can't muster enough enthusiasm to want to see it in theatres even if Kram and Jane want to. I likely will though, simply to give me something to do on a Saturday afternoon.

albert

[Widdi]

In terms of ranks:

1. Wall-E
2. Finding Nemo
3. The Incredibles
4. Wallace and Gromit in the curse for the Were-Rabbit
5. Happy Feet
6. Ratatouille
7. Shrek

I have never seen Spirited Away in English so I can't judge it.


In terms of this year's category it will be a battle between Up, The Princess and the Frog and either Coraline (the early release date could kill it's campaign) or 9 (if it's any good).

Up has it in the bag and will probably become the second animated film to get nominated for Best Picture now that 10 films can compete.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

1. Ratatouille
2. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
3. The Incredibles
4. Spirited Away
5. Finding Nemo
6. Shrek
7. Happy Feet

I prefer to pretend that robot thing doesn't exist.

Up wins. Move on.

The Princess and the Frog is just an excuse to sell Princess toys. Ew.

[magicalwands]

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
My apologies Albert, I have never seen Wallace & Gromit but I will put it before the list to show that I will be considering it.

1. Spirited Away
2. WALL-E
3. Ratatouille
4. The Incredibles
5. Finding Nemo
6. Shrek
7. Happy Feet

That's my list of most favorite to hate. If I would put most important to me, The Incredibles would be number one for inspiring me to become an animator and Spirited Away at number two for boosting that inspiration.

I really, really would like Coraline to win. LAIKA is a brand-new studio and if their first film is awarded, it will encourage them to keep making great films for art and not business. Because well, Up, Ponyo, and Coraline all were not AMAZING because each had something missing to make it special; they're all on the same level to get the award, not one of them is sticking out from the other.

[amazon980]

Am i the only one here think that the voices should get some noms as well? like best Female Voice in an Animated Movie?

[PatrickvD]

2009 will be interesting. So far, only Coraline surprised. Up is a lock of course. I think if PatF is good enough it has a shot, but critics love to tear apart Disney. And to be honest, the controversy surrounding this film will prevent it from a Pixar-like Rotten Tomatoes score. Wich will keep Up at the top. So I predict Up as the winner.

1. Ratatouille
2. WALL-E
3. Spirited Away
4. Wallace & Grommit: Curse of the Were Rabbit
5. Finding Nemo
6. The Incredibles
7. Shrek
8. Happy Feet

[PeterPanfan]

I actually don't like Spirited Away that much. I understand its adavancement in artistic design and such, I just don't like it as much as other seem to.

[Avaitor]

1: Spirited Away
2: WALL*E
3: The Incredibles
4: Shrek
5: Ratatouille
6: Finding Nemo

I haven't seen Wallace & Gromit or Happy Feet yet, so I can't rightfully rank them.

For this year's runnings, I think Up is likely going to win, but I'd personally like to see Coraline take the award myself, and also have high hopes for 9 and Princess and the Frog.

[pap64]

I'm not even going to rank the films because to me they are all good and deserve the award.

As for this year, I think Up is going to take the award. First, the Academy loves Pixar, especially when Pixar garners both critical and commercial acclaim (note that Cars did well but reaction was mixed). Second, while I believe that Princess and the Frog will be a very fun classic it will be considered "shallow" because its a fairy tale.

Coraline looks great, but its an experimental animated film and those tend to be ignored. Monsters vs. Aliens was fun, but is pretty much the dumb action flick of the lot, with very little character development.

I haven't seen the other nominees so I can't comment on that.

[magicalwands]

I understand its adavancement in artistic design and such

Actually, it was really the characters and the story that really make me love this film. It was just something that is so new and unique, so different to Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks that makes it special.

Looking at it from a bigger picture, I get why some people from other parts of the world won't get it or like it. Almost all of us grew up with Disney, thus our perspective and taste in movies is different. The Box Office sort of proves that. (It only semi-proves it because they don't really say much about movies as we all know.) Back to my point, last year The Dark Knight was a very, very high grossing film. In Japan though, The Dark Knight opened in Ponyo's second week and could not take it's place as number one. Then, you have Spirited Away being the number one in all-time box office in Japan...with Titanic following behind at number two. It's just all to do with how different countries label "animation" for kids. Maybe Spirited Away was too dark for you? How you see that film is probably how I see Persepolis...it is way to intense for me.

[Escapay]

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
My apologies Albert, I have never seen Wallace & Gromit but I will put it before the list to show that I will be considering it.

You're in for a treat, magicalwands.

albert

[Old Fish Tale]

What about 'Mary and Max'? Click here! It had good reviews!

[ajmrowland]

Here's how I'd rank them

1) the Incredibles
2)Ratatouille
3)Wall-E
4)Finding Nemo
5)Shrek
6)Wallace and Gromit
7)Spirited Away

Edit: I forgot to add Happy feet. I'm the worst person to rank animated films. They're all pretty good, IMO.

They're all good. A couple I'd have to watch again. List is subject to change every five minutes.

[Wonderlicious]

1. The Incredibles
2. Spirited Away
3. Ratatouille
4. Wallace and Gromit
5. Shrek
6. Finding Nemo
7. WALL-E

I haven't seen Happy Feet so that's why I've only put down seven. As for this year's nominees, Up and Ponyo will feature, no matter what. Aside from them, the most likely to also appear are The Princess and the Frog, 9, Coraline and Monsters vs Aliens. Obviously, it'd be nice if The Princess and the Frog won (provided it is good), but I doubt that it would, as like others have already mentioned, Disney and the critics do not a good couple make. Either way, I doubt Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is going to see a nomination.

[Luke]

What about 'Mary and Max'? Click here! It had good reviews!

Do we know for sure if this is getting released in the US by the year's end? If not, is it still eligible? It looks like the kind of thing the Academy would like, especially in a 5-film category, but without general release, I'm skeptical that it could (or even is allowed) to earn a nomination.

[Disney-Fan]

The Princess and the Frog is just an excuse to sell Princess toys. Ew.

Hu... Curious. I didn't know Disney bumped the release date. Reviews are all ready rolling in...

[PixarFan2006]

Here is how I would rank the Best Animated Feature winners from best to worst.

1.The Incredibles (2004)
2.WALL-E (2008)
3.Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
4.Ratatouille (2007)
5.Finding Nemo (2003)
6.Spirited Away (2002)
7.Shrek (2001)
8.Happy Feet (2006)

I was especially disappointed when Happy Feet won the Oscar when there were more deserving films (Like Monster House and Cars, despite it being Pixar's weakest effort)

I am pretty positive that Up will take home the Oscar next year.