The 85th Academy Awards Animation Oscar Nominations Revealed
The Academy of motion pictures arts and sciences have announced the final nominees for the 85th Academy Awards or “Oscars” as they are more commonly known. And whilst the rest of the media has a little flap about the “Best Actor” or “Best Director” here at Skwigly we wish to pay focus on the people that really matter. Those hard working animators.
The 85th Academy Awards take place on Sunday the 24th February and will be hosted by Seth McFarlane.
Here is a full list of the nominees. Who do you think will win? Who do you think SHOULD win? Join the debate in the comments section below.
Nominees for Best Animated Feature
Brave
Dirs: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Featuring Pixars first princess (second if you include Princess Atta from “A Bugs Life”) this sentimental story of a mother relationship with her wayward daughter is certainly a return to form for Pixar who seemed to have had lost the critical buzz that accompanied their releases since the release of Cars 2, but it didn’t generate the kind of excitement that “Toy Story 3” managed two years ago when it was nominated for both Best Animated Feature and Best Picture. Is this film about fate destined to take the award?
Frankenweenie
Dir: Tim Burton
Heavily dosed in the familiar gothic Burton style we are so used to this film is a revisitation of an idea that Tim Burton first created in short film form. Recreated (or resurrected) in stop motion we have a film that has charmed audiences of all ages that have seen it with its theme and design. The film has already been very well received critically. Could this be the year the “Corpse Bride” director wins an Oscar?
ParaNorman
Dirs: Chris Butler and Sam Fell
First time director Chris Butler joins Aardman alumni Sam Fell to take on a very american adventure with Laika, the studio behind Coraline. With a sensitive story about acceptance meshed with a well paced and boisterous zombie action thriller, this film took the familiar Laika route of using new technologies and creating new techniques to make the best film they possibly can. Will those efforts be rewarded by the academy members voting?
Listen to Chris butler and Sam Fell being interviewed here
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists
Dirs: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
When the eccentric charm of Gideon Defoes stories met the stylish tomfoolery of Aardman Animations a delightful match was made that lit the fuse of british barmyness the studio is famous for. Whilst possibly not as well received commercially as some of the others in its category perhaps the swashbuckling showcase of stop motion will win over the academy.
Listen to Peter Lord being interviewed here
Wreck it Ralph
Dir: Rich Moore
Futuramas Rich Moore takes on the world of computer games in this original tale from Disney that does for 8 bit what Toy Story did for toys. With its fresh ideas and bold characters the film has been a huge hit with audiences and a hit commercially. Disney has never won a Best Animated Feature academy award on its own (unless you are counting the Pixar films, which we are not) so perhaps this new direction will convince the academy voters that this film is a level up on its competitors.
Nominees for Best Animated Short Film
Adam and Dog
Dir: Minkyu Lee
This film won the Annie for best animated short last year and features some beautifully realised environments and world class animation from some of Disneys young animation stars.
Fresh Guacamole
Dir: PES
The “Roof Sex” and “Western Spaghetti” director turns another simple recipe into a colourful cavalcade of fun and surprise.
Head Over Heels
Dir: Timothy Eckhart
A couple at odds find themselves in an environment that matches their situation and leads to problems that need to be conquered physically and emotionally.
Maggie Simpson in: The Longest Daycare
Dir: David Silverman
Directed by the man who could probably claim “The Simpsons” as his own above even Matt Groening, this short takes the youngest Simpson and gives her a standalone adventure which is entertaining without relying on backup from the rest of the family
Paperman
Dir: John Kahrs
This heartwarming tale of a chance meeting blossoms into a love story that does with 7 minutes, what most other love stories struggle to do with 90. Its technical achievement adds an extra zing to this films other abundant qualities.
Listen to an interview with John Kahrs here
Nominations for Best Visual Effects
‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’
‘Life of Pi’
‘Marvel’s The Avengers’
‘Prometheus’
‘Snow White and the Huntsman’