Did They Get the Best Animated Film Right?

According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a film can be nominated for Best Animated Picture if it meets three criteria. First, it must have a runtime of at least 40 minutes, as is the case for every film nominated in any category. Second, a significant number of the main characters must be animated in some style. Third, at least 75 percent of the runtime must feature animation. Since the 74th Academy Awards, animated films have been nominated for what is considered to be the biggest prize in animation. Unlike the other categories awarded by the academy, this is a far more exclusive group. 22 films have won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film sporting various animation styles and representing several studios. What I've done is go back and watch every film that has been nominated for this award and determine whether the AMPAS got it right. To add to the investigation, I've added films that have won or been nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film that were not nominated by the academy. This award is even younger, first being awarded in 2007. I've rewatched every film to determine if the voters made the right choice and to give my opinions on each year's decisions. 

2001 

Academy Award Winner- Shrek (Other Nominees: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Monsters, Inc.)

The award's inaugural showing features two of my favorite animated films of all time. Pixar and Disney have become synonymous with this award and they put forth one of their best efforts with Mosnters, Inc. It's clearly the most refined animation style of the three films as it improves on some of the other films that can before it. It features a great duo, John Goodman and Billy Crystal with a few good villains. Not to be outdone, Dreamworks has some solid entries in its catalog. Shrek is one of the most popular and successful animated franchises ever and the first film is the best in the group. There have been a few films and the trio of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz lead a film that feels like it's meant more for adults than kids. While not bad by any stretch, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius is a little out of its depth here. The precursor to the successful animated series on Nickelodeon, this is a solid introduction to the cast of characters and it features some good voice performances from stars like Patrick Stewart and Martin Shot. Like Shrek, the animation style is a bit rough when it comes to humans. Still, it's a fun offering to round out a solid class of films. 

Did they get it right? This really comes down to two films and I think the Academy got it right. It's fitting that it's between a Disney film and a film that is a satire of the basic Disney film. It even features some popular characters from Disney's old days. For as much as I love Monsters, Inc., Shrek deserved this win. While the Pixar film is clearly prettier to look at, the type of humor offered by Shrek is right up my alley. It's a very close call though. 

My ballot- 1. Shrek, 2. Monsters, Inc., 3. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

2002

Academy Award Winner- Spirited Away (Other Nominees: Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron and Treasure Planet)

With Pixar not releasing a film in 2002, three different studios earned their first nominations. Dreamworks was the only returning nominee with Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron. I'd never seen it before and was a little surprised by it. It is a visually-superior film to Shrek, which had won the year prior but it lacked many interesting characters or a gripping story. Most of the work is done without the horses ever speaking, though Matt Damon serves as the narrator from Spirit's perspective. Blue Sky, via 20th Century Fox, released Ice Age as its debut work. Having not seen it in forever, this film is a lot smarter and funnier than I remember it being. There is tons of heart at the core of the central trio and while it's not the prettiest thing to look at, it has a humor about it that is good. Studio Ghibli out of Japan earned its nomination for Spirited Away, the story of a girl whose parents are turned into pigs after they wander into an abandoned amusement park. She's forced to work in a bathhouse and encounters many strange occurrences. The hand-drawn animation style works perfectly and while I watched the English dubbing of the film, there was still plenty of charm to go with it. The remaining two nominees came from Walt Disney Animation Studios with Treasure Planet, a retelling of the story Treasure Island with an outer space setting, and Lilo & Stitch, the story of a broken family whose lives change when an alien crashes onto Earth. Both fall on the "underrated" side of Disney's catalog, especially the latter, which is one of my personal favorites. 

Did they get it right? I don't believe the perfect film exists but Spirited Away comes dangerously close to that conversation. I'm not sure why I didn't watch this sooner. It's funny that the common thread between my top two for the year is Daveigh Chase, who voices Chihiro in Spirited Away and Lilo in Lilo & Stitch. I think the race for second and third is a lot closer than first and second. While Studio Ghibli's masterpiece is easily #1, there is little separation from the rest of the pack. 

My ballot- 1. Spirited Away, 2. Lilo & Stitch, 3. Ice Age, 4. Treasure Planet, 5. Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron

2003

Academy Award Winner- Finding Nemo (Other Nominees: Brother Bear and The Triplets of Belleville)

This trio of films is a little more similar than I initially thought they'd be. All three feature the main characters taking long journeys to either save a loved one or see a loved one. They each have their own style, both in the way they tell their story and the animation style they do it in. Pixar returns to the race with Finding Nemo, the story of a father having to save his son after he was taken by divers. While the ocean is known for being a vast amount of nothingness, that isn't the case here. It's a beautiful film with a very emotional story at its heart. Disney had another entrant in the mix with Brother Bear. This is another nature-heavy film with a lot of the film showcasing some beautiful scenery. Along with the journey, it's also a film about family and never forgetting your family. The "oddball" film of the group is France's The Triplets of Belleville. The title is very misleading because while we meet the triplets, they aren't the main characters of the film. The story is largely told through sounds and actions with very little dialogue. It's the first PG-13 film to be nominated in the category and after my first time watching it, I understand why.

Did they get it right? Where there might've been some competition in the first two years, this was a bit of a runaway train. The other two films are good but Finding Nemo is the clear winner this year. It's visually the more appealing film and it tells a far better story. My biggest problems with its challengers are that The Triplets of Belleville is a good story but I really wasn't a fan of the animation style, while Brother Bear's main characters are unlikeable. I get the French film was trying to do something different with its animation but it really missed the mark with me. Kenai and Koda were different ends of the annoying spectrum for me and it hurt its chances with me. 

My Ballot- 1. Finding Nemo, 2. The Triplets of Belleville, 3. Brother Bear

2004

Academy Award Winner- The Incredibles (Other Nominees: Shark Tale and Shrek 2)

The three highest-grossing animated films of 2004 went up against one another with Dreamworks earning two nominees along with Pixar. This would prove to be an interesting group of films, all of which I'm very familiar with. After winning the inaugural award in 2001, the Shrek franchise returned with Shrek 2 to continue the story of Shrek and Fiona. The sequel would help to fill in some of Fiona's backstory while introducing us to her parents. It also featured a great antagonist in The Fairy Godmother as the franchise continued to play off of the typical tropes we see in princess films. Dreamworks' other film was Shark Tale, the story of a fish on the bottom of the food chain that builds a false reputation as a shark slayer. It features a fantastic cast of names with Jack Black stealing the show. Looking to make it two in a row, Pixar released The Incredibles in 2004 and the best way I can describe this movie is "superheroes with a mix of James Bond". It has a very retro feel to it thanks to its color palate and it features another strong villain, easily my favorite villain in Pixar history, Syndrome. The action is well-animated and the vocal performances are top-notch. 

Did they get it right? Much like Finding Nemo the year before, this was a bit of a blowout to me. The Incredibles is my favorite Pixar film to date, largely due to how mature of a film it is, something we hadn't seen from Pixar to this point. While my preconceived bias was strong, I don't think it clouds my judgment here. Shrek 2 is very good and is a solid follow-up to one of the greatest animated films ever. The nomination of Shark Tale baffles me a little bit because I really don't think it's a good film. While it was the third-highest-grossing animated movie of the year, I'd gladly take The Polar Express or The Spongebob Squarepants Movie, both released in 2004, over Shark Tale. 

My ballot- 1. The Incredibles, 2. Shrek 2, 3. Shark Tale

2005

Academy Award Winner- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Other Nominees: Corpse Bride and Howl's Moving Castle)

This is an interesting group because there is no film from Disney and it is stop-motion heavy. The only film nominated to not be animated in stop motion was Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. As I did with Spirited Away, I watched the English dub and it featured some big names, led by Christian Bale and Billy Crystal. I think it looked a little better than Spirited Away's animation style and the colors throughout were beautiful. For the fourth time in five years, Dreamworks had a nominee, this time with Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The first feature-length film to star the titular characters, this film brings plenty of laughs as it parodies the old-school monster films. Gromit was the highlight of the film without ever saying a line. Corpse Bride is another in a long line of good Tim Burton films. The score for the film is amazing and it features some solid songs. While most of the film is in grey, it still makes good use of color overall. It also has a great cast of actors, led by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. 

Did they get it right? For the first time, I think they might have gotten it wrong. While Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is good, Corpse Bride is stronger overall. I think the Dreamworks duo is funny, I think it relies too much on its schtick. I will give it props for having a little more adult humor than I expected from a G-rated movie. Howl's Moving Castle is visually stunning but narratively a mess. It lacks a clear story and its focus shifts around way too much. I also felt the voice acting in the English dub was a little rough at times. I think Corpse Bride has the better overall story and the music is phenomenal. I think this is probably the weakest group of films to this point with none of them truly standing out as exceptional films. 

My Ballot- 1. Corpse Bride, 2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, 3. Howl's Moving Castle

2006

Academy Award Winner- Happy Feet/Golden Globe Winner- Cars (Other Nominees: Monster House)

For the first time, the Golden Globes decided they wanted to get in on the animated action and declared their own Best Animated Film category to go along with the Academy Awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the AMPAS both nominated the same three movies. Pixar returned to the awards circuit with the story of a racecar named Lightning McQueen in Cars. The movie was full of nods to racing and other car-related things throughout the film but even if you're not a fan of cars or racing, there is plenty to like from a visual, musical, and story standpoint. The year was big on motion capture films being nominated, the first being Happy Feet, the story of an Emperor Penguin that likes to dance and move its feet. The theme is all about accepting yourself no matter what other people say about you. It's another film with very good music The final offering comes from the production companies led by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Speilberg and also primarily features motion capture technology. It's a little on the scary side but features an excellent climax fight between a demon house and a group of odd kids. The visuals are a little different and it adds to the charm. 

Did they get it right? In the first year with two major bodies deciding on the Best Animated Film, the HFPA and the AMPAS came to different conclusions with Happy Feet winning the Academy Award and Cars winning the Golden Globe. I was tempted to pick Monster House just to be different but I've decided to agree with the HFPA and pick Cars as the winner. Other than enjoying it more on a surface level, I think it's superior in most aspects to the other two films. It features a much more interesting cast of characters, some excellent music, and a story that is easier to follow and enjoy. 

My ballot- 1. Cars, 2. Happy Feet, 3. Monster House

2007

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Ratatouille (Other Nominees: Persepolis, Surf's Up, Bee Movie, and The Simpsons Movie)

There seemed to be a lot of disagreement about which animated films were worthy of being nominated. Each voting body nominated three films and they only had one film in common. Both the HFPA and the AMPAS agreed that Pixar's Ratatouille was award-worthy. The film about a rat in France that can cook is another in a long line of great Pixar films and it has grown on me quite a bit in recent years. Up against Pixar's entry for the Academy Award was the French-language film Persepolis and the documentary-style film by Sony, Surf's Up. Persepolis is a biographical film about the life of Marjane Satrapi based on the graphic novel she created of the same name. It tells the story of growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution and the journey she took. Surf's Up is a parody of surfing documentaries, giving it an interesting perspective. For the Golden Globes, they nominated Bee Movie and The Simpsons Movie. Jerry Seinfeld helms Bee Movie and its social commentary on human consumption of honey. The Simpsons family finally earned their own movie after spending several seasons on the small screen. The style is a lot more refined than its television counterpart but brings with it a ton of nostalgia for anyone who grew up watching it. 

Did they get it right? Despite the difference in which films were nominated, both groups voted that Ratatouille was the best animated film of the year. While I think they made a good choice, I disagree. My biggest complaint about Ratatouille is that it seems to drag for a little too long. There are so many different plotlines that they could've cut some out and made the film 10-15 minutes shorter. It's a great film but I've decided on Persepolis as my winner. Visually, it is the most interesting film of the group. It is a graphic novel that has come to life. The story is compelling and it evokes the strongest emotions. It's a great film and I think it deserved the win. 

My ballot- 1, Persepolis, 2. Ratatouille, 3. The Simpsons Movie, 4. Bee Movie, 5. Surf's Up

2008

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- WALL-E (Other Nominees: Bolt and Kung Fu Panda)

The Academy Awards and the Golden Globes both agreed on which three films should be nominated this year, picking WALL-E, Kung Fu Panda, and Bolt to compete for the top prizes in animation. Kung Fu Panda stars Jack Black playing the animated panda version of himself. He is chosen as the Dragon Warrior and must fight a prisoner coming to reclaim what is his. The action in the film is good, especially the climactic fight scene between Po and the film's villain. The best way for me to describe Bolt is "Homeward Bound with a hamster and an identity crisis". The main cast is extremely likable and there is some good action in this one too. WALL-E is one of Pixar's most unique films and it's one of its biggest risks. There is very little talking for the first 30 minutes but the robots make up for that by being very emotive. It's one of the most unique love stories ever told and it features an interesting concept about what Earth could look like in 700 years. 

Did they get it right? Without a doubt, the right film won. This is the first major blowout in a few years because WALL-E is far and away the best film here. The animation is excellent, the story is beautiful, and the overall emotion is stellar. The Autopilot being the villain is a good twist. No disrespect to Bolt and Kung Fu Panda but they never stood a chance. It's one of Pixar's best films and it absolutely deserved this victory. 

My ballot- 1. WALL-E, 2. Kung Fu Panda, 3. Bolt 

2009

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Up (Other Nominees: Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, The Secret of Kells, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs)

Both the HFPA and the AMPAS nominated five films this year and they largely overlapped. Of the six films that received nominations overall, four of them were nominated by both voting bodies. They all came from different studios too. There was a pair of strong stop-motion entries this year from 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Mr. Fox and Laika's Coraline. Both received strong voice acting performances with George Clooney leading an all-star cast as the titular Mr. Fox and Dakota Fanning as Coraline. They also have very strong stories with Fantastic Mr. Fox being an indie heist movie and Coraline being much darker and foreboding. On the lighter side of things, Disney released one of its better modern musicals, The Princess and the Frog. It's an adaptation of E.D. Baker's "The Frog Princess", which is a re-telling of "The Frog Prince" by the Brothers Grimm. The music is largely inspired by its New Orleans setting and it is nothing but bangers from the entire cast. Pixar was also back with another solid entry. Up was the story of a widowed man going on a last adventure in his wife's memory to South America and the mess that it becomes. It's arguably more known for the first 10-11 minutes as one of the saddest openings in cinematic history. Where the two groups differ is in their fifth nominations. The AMPAS nominated The Secret of Kells, a story of Irish folklore and the creation of the Book of Kells. The art style is very unique and it is visually interesting. The HFPA decided to give their fifth spot to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a loose adaptation of one of my favorite children's stories. Some of the most recognizable comedians of this generation lend their talents to this visual story that most kids dream of. 

Did they get it right? I love Pixar but this might be one of my more controversial takes. Outside of the masterpiece that is the opening, Up is probably one of Pixar's most overrated films. I don't think the story is that compelling and the characters are mostly annoying instead of endearing. It just loses steam after the opening. I think three of the films nominated in this group are better than Up, which was the consensus winner. I spent a lot of time debating with myself which one I thought should've won and at the end of it, I landed on Coraline. I'm a sucker for good stop-motion and Coraline hits all of the right notes. It's a darker story with great visuals and a compelling villain. It plays up every kid's fantasy about wanting to escape to a different world while warning us that we can't always get what we want. Overall, I prefer it to the other five films, though the race in the top three was close. 

My Ballot- 1. Coraline, 2. The Princess and the Frog, 3. Fantastic Mr. Fox, 4. Up, 5. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 6. The Secret of Kells

2010

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Toy Story 3 (Other Nominees: How to Train Your Dragon, The Illusionist, Despicable Me, and Tangled)

For the first time since adding the animated film category, the HFPA nominated more films than the AMPAS. Both agreed on the three films that would be nominated for the Academy Awards. Dreamworks' next big franchise in waiting began with How to Train Your Dragon. It told the story of Hiccup and his relationship with a Night Fury named Toothless whom he refused to kill after capturing it, the opposite of what the vikings are taught to do. He helps to change their ways and teaches them that dragons and humans can co-exist. Once again, the foreign nominee of the year comes from France. The Illusionist is a largely dialogue-less film told more through action and undiscernible French but stars an illusionist that is out of work and moves to Scotland with a woman that believes his magic is real. The final joint nominee is the third installment in Pixar's most successful franchise, Toy Story 3. Over a decade after the second film, it shows the toys coping with Andy going off to college and coming to the realization that playtime might be over for them. It has one of the better subversive endings and the best villain of the franchise. The Golden Globes also nominated two additional films from big studios. Tangled is the story of Rapunzel from Walt Disney Animation Studios based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. It expands the story and shows Rapunzel leaving the castle for the first time with Mother Gothel doing everything she can to manipulate the poor girl. Despicable Me is another film that would help to create a franchise, one of the most recognizable today thanks to the Minions. The first installment stars Steve Carrell as Gru, a villain who tries to steal the moon for the Heist of the Century. It features another star-studded cast and a bunch of yellow guys that would soon take over the planet. 

Did they get it right? I'm not sure which Toy Story film is my favorite but Toy Story 3 is definitely in the conversation. After 11 years, all of the toys are back and it brings with it a ton of nostalgia. There are several strong entries for this year but I think the Academy Awards and Golden Globes both got it right. Each nominee has its strong points but is outclassed by what Pixar has to offer. Toy Story 3 has a better villain, story, and ending than all of the other films. It was seconds away from being the darkest ending ever before turning into one of the saddest as Andy drove away. I think How to Train Your Dragon likely has the best argument to overtake the winner but there are some story elements that I wasn't a huge fan of. The other films are great in their own right but the winner was clear. 

My ballot- 1. Toy Story 3, 2. How to Train Your Dragon, 3. Tangled, 4. Despicable Me, 5. The Illusionist

2011

Academy Award Winner- Rango/Golden Globe Winner- The Adventures of Tintin (Other Nominees: A Cat in Paris, Chico and Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Cars 2, and Arthur Christmas) 

There were eight movies that were nominated by at least one of the voting bodies, the most of any year. Of those eight, I either hadn't seen five of them before. There was a fair amount of disagreement between the HFPA and the AMPAS with only two films being nominated by both, Nickelodeon's Rango and Dreamworks' Puss in Boots. Rango is about a chameleon that is abandoned in the desert after a car crash as he stumbles across a city of animals in the midst of a drought. They name him as the sheriff despite fooling them into thinking he's something that he isn't. Puss in Boots tackles the backstory of the titular character after first being introduced in Shrek 2. Just like the Shrek films, it deals with a lot of old fairy tales, tackling Jack and the Beanstock, Jack and Jill, and Humpty Dumpty. The AMPAS also nominated Kung Fu Panda 2, another of Dreamworks' prized franchises. There is a surprising amount of emotion in the film as Po discovers the truth about his life and what happened to his parents. To round out the Academy Awards nominations, there was a bit of an international flair. Out of France, A Cat in Paris is the story of a heist that is thwarted by a cat burglar, a cat, and a little girl. It's a little shorter than most of the other films but the unique art style makes it stand out. The final nominee comes from Spain and is the love story between the film's titular characters, Chico and Rita. It's another film whose animation style is very unique and it is one of the most mature entries we've ever seen. For the Golden Globes, they stuck with more known studios. A Christmas film is a rare sight on one of these lists but Aardman and Sony brought us Arthus Christmas. Arthur races against time to bring a gift to a girl in England that was missed after a mix-up in the workshop and it takes him on a wild ride around the world with his grandfather and an elf. It was a good year for Nickelodeon as they had two films nominated for a Golden Globe. Based on a comic book series, The Adventures of Tintin adapts a few different stories from Tintin's canon to create a solid adventure title aided by solid motion capture animation. Lastly, Pixar's Cars 2 is the sequel to the original film surrounding Lightning McQueen and his friends. This film goes on an international tour as Lightning races in the World Grand Prix and Mater is mixed up in a spy story. 

Did they get it right? There was a lot to unpack from this year's crop of films. I was pleasantly surprised by the strength of the films. First, Nickelodeon was shown a lot of love with Rango winning the Academy Award and The Adventures of Tintin winning the Golden Globe. To add a wrinkle to it, I wouldn't have picked either to win. Just to make it known, Cars 2 is a terrible movie and the fact that it was nominated is a classic case of studio recognition influencing a decision. My choice would've been Chico and Rita. Its 2D style might look a little rough but it actually adds to the intrigue and the story it tells is phenomenal. The colors are vibrant, the villains aren't over-the-top, and the love story will make you feel every different emotion. It also has some great music in a film where music is very important. Both of the films that won have some good things going for them and I can see why they won. I just preferred this one to the rest of the pack. 

My ballot- 1. Chico and Rita, 2. Rango, 3. The Adventures of Tintin, 4. Kung Fu Panda 2, 5. A Cat in Paris, 6. Puss in Boots, 7. Arthur Christmas, 8. Cars 2

2012

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Brave (Other Nominees: Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wreck-It Ralph, Hotel Transylvania, and Rise of the Guardians)

It was a busy year for the folks at Disney. Three films under the Disney umbrella were nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, the only three to be nominated for both. Tim Burton teamed up with Disney to remake an animated version of his own film from the 1980s, Frankenweenie. An homage to some of the old monster media of the 1800s and 1900s, this film tells the story of Victor Frankenstein as he creates a science experiment to bring his dead dog back to life, creating some serious problems and competition amongst the other kids in his class. Pixar's effort for 2012 sends us to Scotland and introduces us to the newest Disney princess, Merida, in Brave. Among one of Disney's most defiant heroines, Merida bucks the trend of being arranged to marry but has her mother accidentally changed into a bear by a witch in an attempt to change her fate. Disney's final entrant was a love letter to video games, especially the older ones. Wreck-it Ralph follows Ralph, the bad guy in the game Fix-it Felix Jr., as he tries to buck the trend of being a bad guy by proving he is capable of good. The Academy Awards showed some love for stop-motion with their final two nominees. First, they nominated Aardman's The Pirates! Band of Misfits, the story of a group of pirates led by the Pirate Captain as he tries to win the Pirate of the Year Award. They encounter Charles Darwin, who takes a large interest in the dodo the group has mistaken as a parrot and they travel to London while trying to avoid the pirate-hating Queen Victoria. Lastly, Laika's ParaNorman received the fifth and final nomination. Norman is the town outcast who can talk to the dead and it is up to him to save his town from a witch's curse. For the Golden Globes, their final two nominees were Rise of the Guardians and Hotel Transylvania. Dreamworks' Rise of the Guardians takes a more nuanced look at the holiday figureheads and how their magic works as they try to fend off Pitch Black, the boogeyman who is trying to spread fear across the world while eliminating the holidays. Adam Sandler leads his usual group of friends along with Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg in Hotel Transylvania. Sandler plays Dracula as he tries to keep his daughter sheltered from the outside world before a human enters the hotel for the first time ever. 

Did they get it right? Both voting bodies agreed that Brave was the clear winner from this group of films. For the third time in four years, I disagree. While it has grown on me a little in more recent viewings, I don't think it should've won. My vote ultimately would've come down to either Wreck-it Ralph or ParaNorman and I decided on the latter. It's well-established at this point that I'm a fan of stop-motion and I think this is a very good one. My biggest complaint was that the film took a minute to gather some steam but I really loved how this film ended. There isn't a film in this group that is considered a classic, so it's hard to find a definite front-runner. It's a weaker class in that regard but that doesn't mean there weren't some solid films. 

My ballot- 1. ParaNorman, 2. Wreck-it Ralph, 3. Rise of the Guardians, 4. Brave, 5. Hotel Transylvania, 6. The Pirates! Band of Misfits, 7. Frankenweenie

2013

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Frozen (Other Nominees: The Croods, Despicable Me 2, Ernest & Celestine, and The Wind Rises)

Everyone decided to keep things short and sweet. The Golden Globes only nominated three films for their award, all sharing nominations with the Academy Awards. It was a busy year for Dreamworks, getting two films nominated by both the Academy and the Golden Globes. The first was a sequel to follow up one of their most successful films, Despicable Me 2. Gru is back and he is embracing his inner father as he tries to help solve a crime with Lucy, a spy for the Anti-Villain League. His problems come from all angles as a newfound hero and a father. Dreamworks also released The Croods, the first film in what would eventually become another franchise. This film looks back at prehistoric times as Pangaea was splitting and follows the titular family as they encounter a slightly more evolved human and try to survive together. Disney also got in on the fun with Frozen, becoming just the second animated film to gross $1 billion in theaters. The catchy musical features the struggles of two sisters, Elsa, the princess with ice powers, and Anna, the little sister desperate to fall in love. An eternal winter falls upon the kingdom and it is up to Anna, Olaf the snowman, and Hans to break the curse caused by Elsa. The Academy Awards had two more films up for consideration. The first is a watercolor masterpiece from France about accepting those who are just a little different. Ernest & Celestine are a bear and mouse that come across each other by chance and do their best to keep one another out of trouble while showing that bears and mice can get along. The final film is another masterpiece from Studio Ghibli and tells the fictionalized story of Jiro Horikoshi, an aircraft designer for Japan during World War II. The story isn't completely true, taking inspiration from other stories, but The Wind Rises shows a lot of the same charm and heart we've seen from films out of Japan. 

Did they get it right? If I'm being completely honest, I really didn't expect Frozen to win before watching them all. There are some flaws in the story and I don't find the music as great as others do. I will admit that the film overall is good and it grew on me after watching it this last time. Hans is a solid twist villain, Josh Gad makes Olaf one of the best side characters, and the music is undeniably catchy. It faced some stiff competition from foreign entries. At the end of the day, the power of Frozen is just too much for me and I have to say that I agree with the choice. 

My ballot- 1. Frozen, 2. Ernest & Celestine, 3. The Wind Rises, 4. Despicable Me 2, 5. The Croods 

2014

Academy Award Winner- Big Hero 6/Golden Globe Winner- How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Other Nominees: The Boxtrolls, Song of the Sea, The Tale of Princess Kaguya, The Book of Life, and The Lego Movie)

By this point, there appears to be a bit of a formula. Seven films were nominated for an award, three for both the Oscars and Golden Globes, two just for the Oscars, and two just for the Globes. There were plenty of familiar names in this year's batch. Dreamworks put forth its third nominated sequel with How to Train Your Dragon 2. With the dragons now firmly a part of their society, Hiccup and Toothless must help fight off a man who seeks to control all dragons. Disney and Marvel teamed up to create a very unique superhero film. Big Hero 6 begins with a tragedy as Hiro loses his older brother in a fire and seeks revenge as he and his brother's friends become superheroes with one of the best sidekicks in Disney history. The final duel nominee is a stop-motion hit from Laika, The Boxtrolls. While the animation is a little cruder than some of their other works, there is plenty of heart in the story about a kid raised by Boxtrolls who is set on changing everyone's minds about the creatures. The Academy-specific choices once again had an international appeal. Cartoon Saloon released its second film in its Irish folklore series, Song of the Sea. The hard-drawn film is about a boy who discovers his younger sister is a "selkie" who is a part human and a part seal like his mother as he races to save her from meeting the same fate as she once did. Studio Ghibli had another strong showing in The Princess of Kaguya. With the English dub being led by James Caan, Mary Steenbergen, and Chloe Grace-Moretz as the titular princess, it's the story of a girl that appeared one day from a bamboo stalk that quickly finds herself as royalty as she fights the gender norms of a Japanese princess in that era. The Golden Globes' final nominees begin with The Book of Life, a story rich in Mexican tradition about two men fighting for the hand of one woman. The film does a good job of explaining the history and significance of the characters in a beautifully put-together way. Lastly, there is The Lego Movie. Starring Chris Pratt, this film is full of Easter Eggs and small comedic moments that make it a ton of fun. 

Did they get it right? This is the first year where I remember there being some controversy about the nominees. Particularly, there was outrage that The Lego Movie wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. I'm sure there are plenty of other instances where this has happened but this was the first time I was aware. As for the winner, there was some disagreement as to who should win. I think there are several worthy contenders. I tend to be partial to superhero films and while I like Big Hero 6 a lot, I'm going to pick Song of the Sea. Apart from being the most visually unique film, it's also one of the more emotional films on the list. The ending got me a little bit. I think it is the best from a visual standpoint and the story is easy to follow. It's the one film I thought about after watching and felt like a better person after watching it. 

My ballot- 1. Song of the Sea, 2. Big Hero 6, 3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya, 4. How to Train Your Dragon 2, 5. The Book of Life, 6. The Lego Movie, 7. The Boxtrolls

2015

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Inside Out (Other Nominees: Anomalisa, Boy and the World, Shaun the Sheep Movie, When Marnie Was There, The Good Dinosaur, and The Peanuts Movie)

After not releasing a film for the 2014 cycle, Pixar made up for it with two films in 2015. They started the year with Inside Out, easily Disney's most emotionally mature film ever. The story focuses on 11-year-old Riley and the emotions that make up her personality but after Joy, Sadness, and all of her core memories disappear from headquarters, the rest of her emotions must take over while the others try to get back before Riley is gone for good. At the end of the year, Pixar released The Good Dinosaur, the answer to the question "what would've happened if the dinosaurs weren't wiped out by a meteor and interacted with humans?". After being carried away from home by a current as he tried to catch a primitive human that had been stealing their food, Arlo must grow to accept the young child as he tries to find his way home. Inside Out was nominated for both awards while The Good Dinosaur was nominated for the Golden Globe. The other big trend was nominating films with very little dialogue. The Academy Awards nominated two films that are almost entirely gibberish languages being spoken with Shaun the Sheep Movie and Boy and the World. From the same universe as Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep Movie is a stop-motion film featuring Shaun and his flock trying to help their farm owner after he ends up in the hospital with memory loss. It was nominated for both awards and largely is grunting noises. The other film, Boy and the World is about a boy who journeys to the big city and all of the things he encounters along the way. It has a very poignant message about deforestation, arming children, and rebellions, and is all told with a hand-drawn animation style. Rounding out the nominees, Anomalisa was nominated for both awards and is about a man who suffers from the Fregoli delusion as he sees and hears everyone as being the exact same. One day, he hears a woman that sounds distinctly and he immediately falls in love. Studio Ghibli was also back in the running with the Academy Award-nominated When Marnie Was There. It's about a girl suffering some depression and meets a young girl who lives in a marsh house. She quickly realizes the girl isn't real and must uncover who the girl is and why she keeps seeing her. The final nominee for the Golden Globes was a burst of nostalgia in The Peanuts Movie. The entire Charlie Brown gang is back and hits all of the familiar beats in this charming addition to the canon. 

Did they get it right? It was a unanimous decision in Inside Out's favor when it came time to hand out the awards. I concur with this decision. Between the excellent voice performances from the emotions, the well-written comedy, the beautiful animation of the brain, and the excellence of the story, Inside Out is the clear winner. I think the best competition it had was Anomalisa. As the first R-rated nominee, it explored something that I'd never heard of and did so in a very nuanced way. I'll admit it was a little creepy having so many characters have the same voice but it makes a big statement. 

My ballot- 1. Inside Out, 2, Anomalisa, 3. The Peanuts Movie, 4. When Marnie Was There, 5. Boy and the World, 6. Shaun the Sheep Movie, 7. The Good Dinosaur

2016

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Zootopia (Other Nominees: Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, My Life as a Courgette, The Red Turtle, and Sing)

It was a busy year for the people at Disney as they released two films that were nominated for both awards. They began the year by releasing Zootopia, a police procedural in a world where animals all get along. The police force's first bunny cop is put on a case to find a missing otter, so she recruits a shifty fox to help her out. The film explores the vastness of the world it has created with some well-timed humor and tons of beauty. They ended the year with Moana. It's another standard princess movie where the titular Moana journeys across the sea with the help of the demi-god, Maui, to restore the heart of Te Fiti. Moana joins a list of recent princesses who are self-sufficient and strong. There were other strong entries this year for both awards. Kubo and the Two Strings boasts a star-studded cast and tells the story of Kubo as he tries to retrieve his father's samurai armor to fight his grandfather. Laika's stop-motion style is strong with this one and it features two of the creepiest twins we've ever seen. France was a little busy too, earning two nominations of their own. Their first entry was a dual-nominated film about a little kid in an orphanage who accidentally killed his mother during a drunken episode. My Life as a Courgette also sports the stop-motion style in a different way than other films we've seen and has a great charm in its just over 60-minute runtime. France and Japan came together for the Academy Award-nominated The Red Turtle. The largely silent film is the story of a man who is stranded on an island after a storm. The collaboration with Studio Ghibli has the same style as many other films from the studio with a lot of beautiful visuals. The final nominee for the Golden Globes comes from Illumination and it isn't a sequel. Sing focuses on a koala with a struggling theater that he's trying to revive with a music competition. In another film with a loaded cast, there are a lot of covers of popular songs. 

Did they get it right? I think there are three films that I'd give legitimate chances to for the win and at the end of the day, I think the right film won. I'd be comfortable giving this win to Zootopia for the world-building alone but it also features a great cast, some excellently timed humor, and an excellent story. I do think it has a shortcoming or two in the music department but it's hard to deny how great it is. I'd also consider My Life as a Courgette and Moana for the title. While Moana is much better musically, Zootopia does everything else better than its Disney counterpart. My Life as a Courgette is extremely charming and I think it could've won but I would've liked for it to be about 15-20 minutes longer. Some of the plotlines that it has needed to be fleshed out a little better. With that extra time, it probably wins. 

My ballot- 1. Zootopia, 2. My Life as a Courgette, 3. Moana, 4. Kubo and the Two Strings, 5. The Red Turtle, 6. Sing

2017

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Coco (Other Nominees: The Boss Baby, The Breadwinner, Ferdinand, and Loving Vincent)

There was little disagreement between the two voting bodies as the same five films were nominated for both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. They also explored different parts of the world with all five films having different locales. Starting in Spain, we have the childhood story come to life in Ferdinand. Following the titular bull, the story centers around Ferdinand as he tries to get home to his wide-open space and prove that bulls don't need to fight to survive. Elsewhere in Europe, we had history made as Loving Vincent became the first paint animation film ever made. Using the paintings of Vincent van Gogh to tell the story, the heart of the film surrounds the circumstances of the painter's death one year later and the questions about whether he committed suicide or was killed. Moving back across to North America, The Boss Baby stars Alec Baldwin as the titular baby as he tries to uncover why affection towards babies is on the decline. To do so, he must go undercover with a family whose other child is skeptical of the newcomer. From Mexico, Pixar released Coco, a celebration of Mexican culture and the sacred holiday of Dia de Los Muertos. This stunning film explores the Land of the Dead and discusses the thoughts of being forgotten. The final film journeys to the Middle East in The Breadwinner. After her father is arrested, Parvana must disguise herself as a boy to earn money for her family in the midst of wartime in Kabul as she also works to free her father from his unlawful imprisonment. 

Did they get it right? I think this is a two-film race between Coco and The Breadwinner. The other three films are good in their own rights but there are flaws in all of them that ultimately knock them down for me. The two films I think are the best are the two best visually and from a story perspective. They are also the two most emotionally charged films. In the end, I think they made the right choice. Coco is phenomenal in every aspect from the story to the visuals to the music. I'll admit that the music isn't better overall than some of the other recent Disney musicals but there is no doubt a charm to it. The ending is great and it really hits home. It's another in a long line of excellent Pixar films though Cartoon Saloon needs a little more respect for their efforts. 

My ballot- 1. Coco, 2. The Breadwinner, 3. Ferdinand, 4. Loving Vincent, 5. The Boss Baby

2018

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Other Nominees: Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Mirai, and Ralph Breaks the Internet)

Just like in 2017, the same five movies would be nominated for both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. Marvel threw its hat back into the ring in a collaboration with Sony to bring the origin story of Miles Morales to the screen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. In Marvel's first true multi-versal movie, several different Spider-beings are transported to New York and must find their way home while also trying to help Miles come into his own after his universe's Peter Parker dies. It's a visually stunning comic book film with an exceptional cast. 14 years after the first film won the Academy Award, Pixar released Incredibles 2 and flipped the gender roles. Picking up right where the first film ended, the Parrs are forced into hiding again until an entrepreneur and his sister provide them with an opportunity to get back in the game. As Elastigirl sets out to put superheroes in a good light, she's challenged by a villain who promises the enslave whomever she needs to through the television, forcing the family back into action. Disney released another sequel, this time dipping their toes into the World Wide Web in Ralph Breaks the Internet. After Sugar Rush is broken, Ralph and Vanellope head to the internet to get the last steering wheel for the game. Throughout the film, Ralph deals with his insecurities as Vanellope longs for something new and finds it in a new game, much to Ralph's displeasure. He must overcome his fear of losing his friend and accept that a change is needed. Wes Anderson also returned to the chat with another stop-motion film, Isle of Dogs. Set in a futuristic Japan where dogs have been banished due to "canine flu", a group of strays located on an island must help a young boy show the truth behind the current epidemic. He gets some help from an American exchange student as they try to overthrow the dictatorial mayor and prove that dogs aren't so bad. The final film to be nominated was the first non-Studio Ghibli film from Japan, Mirai. It tells the story of a young boy who becomes a brother to a newborn sister that he can't grow to love. Whenever he has an outburst, he is visited by an alternate version of a family member as they try to help him through this new stage in his life. It has a lot of the staples of an animated Japanese film with a very sweet ending. 

Did they get it right? I could try all I want to make arguments for the other four films but the truth is they got it right. Into the Spider-Verse is superior in pretty much every aspect. While I won't lie that Spider-Man is my favorite Marvel character, that doesn't affect my decision. The action, the voice acting, the animation, the emotion, the cinematography, the editing, and the music all mesh perfectly. I did give some consideration to Mirai and Incredibles 2 but this isn't that close. It places high expectations on the sequel films and gives me hope we'll see Miles Morales join the MCU in the near future. 

My ballot- 1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 2, Incredibles 2, 3. Mirai, 4. Isle of Dogs, 5. Ralph Breaks the Internet

2019

Academy Award- Toy Story 4/Golden Globe Winner- Missing Link (Other Nominees: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, I Lost My Body, Klaus, Frozen II, and The Lion King)

2019 was a popular year for sequels as three popular franchises added installments. Dreamworks put a nice bow on one of their best franchises with How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. With Hiccup now in charge of Berk, a new threat forces the group off of their island and into hiding as Hiccup also seeks out a hidden world. Toothless goes on his own adventure after being introduced to a Light Fury and it forces Hiccup to realize that his best friend might be in need of a new beginning too. Pixar created its first quad-rilogy by bringing the toys back for another adventure in Toy Story 4. Now in Bonnie's care following the third film, the gang goes on a road trip with a new friend, Forky, that Bonnie makes during Kindergarten orientation, though he insists he is trash. Forky continuously tries to throw himself away and it leads to Woody and Forky getting separated from the group and going on an adventure that reunites him with an old friend. The Golden Globes also nominated another Disney sequel Frozen II as we return to Arendelle after the kingdom is opened to the world again. The spirits of the forest are awakened and it forces the people of Arendelle out of their homes as the main gang goes to the forest for answers. Elsa and Anna must go on their own quests to discover the truth about the kingdom's past in order to save its future. While not a sequel, Disney continued to remake classics with the Golden Globe-nominated The Lion King. A photo-realistic remastering of the 1994 original, the story is almost entirely the same with an almost entirely new cast. It's the story that you know and love with updated designs and visuals. The remaining Golden Globe nominee that also earned an Academy Award nomination is Laika's Missing Link. Another of their stellar stop-motion films, the story centers around a myths and monsters investigator who tries to get Sasquatch to Shangri-La to be with his kind. They must outrun and outgun a bounty hunter to do so, getting some help from a former lover along the way. The final two films were only nominated by the Academy and are foreign entries. First, from France we have I Lost My Body, the story of a severed hand that tries to find its body after an accident. The story is told from two different perspectives, bouncing back and forth from the hand's journey in the present and in flashbacks as we work up to the accident that caused the severance in the first place. Lastly, we get the rare Christmas film in Klaus as Netflix scored its first nomination for an animated film. In a new retelling of the origins of the holiday, we learn how the traditions of the holiday began with a spoiled postman and an elder woodsman in a town in the middle of nowhere in Scandinavia. It's a film that celebrates the season and could grow into a future staple during the holiday season. 

Did they get it right? There was some disagreement between the voting bodies. The Academy Awards opted for Toy Story 4 while the Golden Globes chose Missing Link. None of the seven films stand out to me as being the clear front-runner. Instead, I'll eliminate a few. I'm not picking Frozen II or The Lion King. I'm not a fan of Disney's remakes and while the original remains a classic, this doesn't have the same spark. Frozen II has some excellent qualities but it also lacks the same power as the first film does. I'm also going to eliminate Missing Link. Laika is known for its excellent stop motion and while this is good, the overall story is lacking despite great voice performances. In the end, I'm picking Toy Story 4. I was very vocal about them making a fourth film after the third one ended so perfectly. I didn't want them to ruin a great story, especially since the Toy Story trilogy might be one of the strongest trilogies in film history. Dare I say that the fourth film ends almost as satisfactorily as the third. It's not as strong narratively and misses some key things like a true villain like the other three, but it still has plenty of good to offer. 

My ballot- 1. Toy Story 4, 2. Klaus, 3. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, 4. I Lost My Body, 5. Missing Link, 6. Frozen 2, 7. The Lion King

2020

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Soul (Other Nominees: Onward, Over the Moon, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Wolfwalkers, and The Croods: A New Age)

A new decade brought about some new films and a few sequels. Six films would get nominated with four earning nominations for both awards. Netflix earned a nominee for the second year in a row with the surprising musical, Over the Moon. The heart of the story revolves around the lore of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, as a young girl sets off to the moon to prove that she's really there. With her annoying stepbrother joining the fun, the film tackles tough subjects like loss and grief, all backed by songs that feel like they came straight from Broadway. Pixar released two films this year, beginning with Onward, another story about dealing with loss as two elves try to bring their father back using the magic that he left them. When the spell only half works, the boys set out on an adventure to finish the spell and get one last memory with him. It's anything but an ordinary mission as Chris Pratt and Tom Holland lead a stunning cast. Pixar's second film, Soul, was initially intended to be released in theaters but was one of several films that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It would be released on Christmas Day on Disney+ and would tell the story of Joe Gardner, a band teacher with aspirations of making big as a jazz musician, like his father. After landing his big break, he falls down a manhole and "dies", being transported to the "Great Before" where he must find his way back while helping a young soul find their purpose. The final dual-nominee, Cartoon Saloon completed its Irish folklore saga with Wolfwalkers. Taking place hundreds of years ago, it's about a young girl who encounters a wolf walker in the woods as she tries to help her father hunt the wolves down, only to be bitten. The girl transforms into one herself and must convince her father and the town that wolves aren't bad and don't need to be killed. For the Academy Awards, Shaun the Sheep made his return in A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon. A young alien crashes near the sheep farm and Shaun takes it upon himself to help him return home. He and the alien must outgun an agent dead set on finding them as they look to reunite the alien with her family. The final film nominated for a Golden Globe is another sequel, this time coming from Dreamworks with The Croods: A New Age. The Croods encounter a more evolved family that knew Guy and his parents before his parents died. They try with everything in their power to get Guy to stay while trying to kick the Croods out of their oasis. An outside power brings the two families together as they must fight off a shared foe as they grow to understand one another. 

Did they get it right?- This one is tough because, truth be told, I'm not the biggest fan of Soul. It's a good movie with a great message but I have some problems with it. I don't love the main characters, the story isn't extremely interesting, and the ending is too abrupt and isn't satisfying to me. Some people might love it. I just don't like it that much. I think every film on this list has its merits and has at least one argument to win. I decided to pick Over the Moon. Visually, it's arguably the most vibrant film on the list and while it gets some bonus points for the songs, the story is what sells me on it. If you can suspend your disbelief that a little girl could build a rocket to space all by herself, you'll really come to enjoy this one. 

My ballot- 1. Over the Moon, 2. Wolfwalkers, 3. Soul, 4. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, 5. The Croods: A New Age, 6. Onward

2021

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Encanto (Other Nominees: Flee, Luca, The Mitchells v. The Machines, Raya and the Last Dragon, and My Sunny Maad)

As the world entered its second year in a pandemic, the movie industry hadn't gotten back to normal just yet. Most of the films made their largest impact on streaming services since no one was going to the theater. Disney cornered the market on most of the nominations with three of the six films under consideration across its studios. There is one small caveat for this year. My Sunny Maad was nominated for a Golden Globe and I couldn't find it streaming anywhere. To keep things fair, I won't be considering it for the award since I was unable to watch it. As for the ones I did see, there was a lot of Disney. Pixar's release during the pandemic was Luca, the story of two sea mothers who try to fit in among the humans in an Italian coastal town. They meet a girl and join a race but must keep their identities secret by avoiding water at all costs. As for Disney's contributions, their first release of the year was Raya and the Last Dragon. It was released on Disney+ and focused on the five tribes of Kumandra as Raya, the princess of Heart, looks to bring together the broken dragon gem to bring back all the people of the tribe that turned to stone. She seeks the help of Sisu, the last dragon, and her powers to get the job done and bring peace to everyone. Later in the year, Disney released Encanto. The Madrigals are a magical family, each with special powers, except for Mirabel. With the family's magic being threatened by an unknown force, Mirabel works to save the magic before everything falls apart. The international film of the group is Flee, a European film that tells the story of one man's journey out of Afghanistan. It's told in an interview format with the film incorporating several different animation styles. It also cuts back and forth between the past and the present, telling the story of his escape and the future he hopes to build. The final film, nominated for just the Academy Award, Sony brought us The Mitchells v. The Machines. Before their eldest daughter goes off to college, the Mitchells travel across the country to take her to school as they go on one last adventure. Unfortunately, they are thrust into the middle of a technological war zone as AI comes to life and looks to imprison all humans to restart a world full of robots. 

Did they get it right?- Encanto has one thing going for it that makes it stand out over the others. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" might be a top-five Disney song and possibly one of the best in the last decade. It's an undeniable earworm that I had in my head for a week after I first heard it. Otherwise, I don't think it's the best film released this year. I don't think the story is as good as some of the others. I've seen it a few times now and I can confidently say that it might be a little too overhyped. I don't even think it's the best Disney film of the year. While Disney does own most of the nominees, my winner isn't a Disney film. I'm picking The Mitchells v. The Machines. Between its beautiful design, its solid action, and its well-timed comedy, how I never watched this before is a mystery. There wasn't a dull moment and it seemed to fly back without any dead time. This deserves some credit for just how good it is and I have no clue how this didn't get nominated for a Golden Globe too. 

My ballot- 1. The Mitchells v. The Machines, 2. Luca, 3. Raya and the Last Dragon, 4. Encanto, 5. Flee, NR- My Sunny Maad

2022

Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner- Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio (Other Nominees: Marcel the Shells with Shoes On, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Sea Beast, Turning Red, and Inu-Oh)

Things started getting back to normal in the world but there has been a new giant in the animation game continuing their rise. Netflix had two films in the running this year. Guillermo Del Toro put a new spin on the story of Pinocchio. It was considerably darker than the original Disney offering and made some serious changes, mostly for the better. It's also done in a new art style that helps to make it stand out. Netflix also helped to produce another film, The Sea Beast. Karl Urban stars in the sea-spanning adventure which is another story about being kind to animals, even if they are bigger than you. It's not breaking any new ground with its story but the animation is beautiful, even for something that is mostly on the water. Japan was back in the running also with a brand-new type of film with Inu-Oh. With more of a rock opera vibe to it, all of the music was really catchy, even if it was in a different language. It's not anything like a Studio Ghibli release, which adds to its charm because it's not trying to be like someone else. Pixar also put out a new story with Turning Red, a story about a little girl in Canada growing up in the early 2000s as she starts to go through changes. It's full of references to the time and features an amazing and diverse friend group as well as a demanding family. The film is little more than your standard Pixar story with its plot but it makes up for it with wonderful characters. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't excited about Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, even if I had no clue what it was about. I had no clue that Marcel was already an established character that Jenny Slate played. I also didn't expect it to be mostly live-action. While it technically meets the criteria to be considered an animated film, it does make you look at it a little differently. Lastly, we added another installment to the Shrek world with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It takes place a few years after the original film and the biggest difference is its animation. The action sequences feel a lot smoother with a slightly anime-inspired style. It also features several more references to classic nursery rhymes and fairy tale characters. It's a vast improvement over the latter Shrek films and the original Puss in Boots film. 

Did they get it right?- The Academy and HFPA agreed that Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio was the animated film of the year. I, in all my vast wisdom, disagree with them. No film exceeded my expectations more than Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. This was far and away the best film of the year from this group and I really didn't think it was close. It might be the second or third-best film in the entire Shrek catalog. If I'm being honest, Pinocchio wasn't even the second-best animated film of the year. I'd consider Turning Red before it. Overall, it was a very interesting year for animated films, though I think the winner was clear. 

My ballot- 1. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, 2. Turning Red, 3. Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio, 4. Inu-Oh, 5. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, 6. The Sea Beast