Which film do you think should win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film?

[monty]

So which one is your fav to win?

[Lonewolf2003]

What is your choice, Monty?

[monty]

I've only watched Kubo, which turned out to be a huge disappointment. It suffers from a weak and uninvolving story, poor characters and too slick CGI-looking stop-motion. It does, however, boast a great end credits sequence.
As for the other noms, I've seen the odd bit here and there. The Red Turtle looks like a definite winner in my book.
Btw, why does Disney animation have such gruesomely annoying songs? Moana seems to be a particularly good example of this...
Also, maybe the Oscars should have a separate category for animation geared towards adults. Those saccharine kiddy productions really get on my nerves.

[epp]

Yeah... Sausage Party is more your style ain't it?

[monty]

Hehe, I was thinking more along the lines of Persepolis, When the Wind Blows and Waltz with Bashir.

[monty]

How Can We Make Adult Animation Truly Adult?

[albajos]

Well, Anomalisa didn't win...

[SkilledLunatic]

If i had to my hard earned cash, I would put my money on Zootopia winning. I've only seen Zootopia and Moana so I can really say what's my pick.

[monty]

No Oscar category has been so controlled by one film company as the animated feature has been by the Walt Disney Company, which has won the Academy Award for eight out of the last nine years. The company is currently favored to win yet again for Zootopia, its ninth win in 10 years.

There is significant reason at this point to question the Academy’s voting procedures and pressure them to institute more fair voting rules that would prevent one studio from owning the feature animation category. A good start would be requiring Academy voters to actually view the films before voting on them, rather than letting their kids tell them who should win, a practice that we have anecdotally heard is widespread amongst voters.

The big snub on this list is Your Name. As we wrote yesterday, “If the Academy doesn’t recognize Your Name with a nomination, it will be impossible to take the category seriously this year.” The level of filmmaking craft on display in Your Name, simply put, was on another level. It boggles the mind that a group of animation professionals were unable to recognize this. Then again, there were likely other factors at play here. The Academy has exhibited a very clear bias toward any Japanese animation that is not produced by Studio Ghibli. In 16 years, they have nominated a Ghibli film six times and never a Japanese feature by any other director.

s

[monty]

I've added a poll for Best Animated Short Film.

[PeacefulAnarchy]

Of the three English language features I'd pick Zootopia. I haven't seen the other two, My Life as a Zucchini is an awful title and I don't like the art style so it will take some praise from people here to get me to watch it. La tortue rouge looks interesting

[SkilledLunatic]

Not to be the devil's advocate here but the filmed did have a very limited release in North America. One week in LA.

[Lonewolf2003]

No Oscar category has been so controlled by one film company as the animated feature has been by the Walt Disney Company, which has won the Academy Award for eight out of the last nine years. The company is currently favored to win yet again for Zootopia, its ninth win in 10 years.

There is significant reason at this point to question the Academy’s voting procedures and pressure them to institute more fair voting rules that would prevent one studio from owning the feature animation category. A good start would be requiring Academy voters to actually view the films before voting on them, rather than letting their kids tell them who should win, a practice that we have anecdotally heard is widespread amongst voters.

The big snub on this list is Your Name. As we wrote yesterday, “If the Academy doesn’t recognize Your Name with a nomination, it will be impossible to take the category seriously this year.” The level of filmmaking craft on display in Your Name, simply put, was on another level. It boggles the mind that a group of animation professionals were unable to recognize this. Then again, there were likely other factors at play here. The Academy has exhibited a very clear bias toward any Japanese animation that is not produced by Studio Ghibli. In 16 years, they have nominated a Ghibli film six times and never a Japanese feature by any other director.

s

Apart from that controlled by should be dominated by, I agree. But this goes for a lot if not all categories.

[Lonewolf2003]

I heard very good things about My Life as a Zucchini. Haven't seem it though.

[ChrisReynolds]

Of the nominations I've only seen Kubo and Zootopia. Of the two I prefer Kubo, but both suffer from bland and safe screenplays despite being visually beautiful and mostly fun to watch. Your Name was far better than either of them.

[monty]

Any thoughts on the voice acting in Kubo, Chris? And did you enjoy the end credits?

[joachimt]

Not voting, because I've only seen Zootopia. I actually watched it coincidentally when I went to the cinema with my daughter about a year ago and this was the best choice at the moment. It was just released a few days ago and I was one of the first checks. Can you imagine? Me, one of the first checks on a major animated movie?!

[max-scl]

Only watched Zootopia which I hope doesn't win, and Zucchini is the only one I really want to see from the rest. I have only heard good things about it.

[dirty_score]

I voted for The Red Turtle which was my favourite animated movie from 2016. A speechless beautiful tale.

But, honestly, the winner will be moana or zootopia because everybody knows that disney already bought that oscar. Even Kubo is better than those 2, especially Moana. That movie is your standard Disney sing-along that hasn't changed it's animation style since Tangled!

The short one will probably go for Piper. The photorealistic animation shows that Pixar are at the top of their game.

[St. Gloede]

I almost saw My Life as a Courgette at the cinema, and I'm really regretting missing it now. I'm also yet to see Moana.

The the three I have seen Zootopia was the clear winner. I love how layered it was in it's discussion of prejudices and discrimination, while also feeling light and fun. A great balancing act, with well done, loveable characters, and it manages to be a very entertaining and even suspenseful mystery. The in-jokes and references might be a bit much, but there is just so much to sink your teeth into here.

Both Kubo and The Red Turtle are beautifully done. Kubo's stop-motion style is almost flawless and I thoroughly enjoyed it, while The Red Turtle has truly striking and beautiful quiet minimalism. Both are however weakened a bit by their plot. Some of the poetic turns in The Red Turtle just failed to win me over, while Kubo's story really just needed a little tuning to be great.

As it stands my ratings are 8.5. 7.5 and 7.

I do really want to see both the films I'm missing, though to be honest the animated film from last year I'm looking forward to the most is Your Name.

[albajos]

Based on iCM Board's Highest Rated Movies the rankings are as follows:

Kimi no na wa. (8.1667) (Not nominated)
La tortue rouge (7,5)
Zootopia (7.3729)
Kubo and the Two Strings (7.3571)
Moana (7.2143)
Ma vie de Courgette (Not ranked)

I've only seen Zootopia myself, and I don't want it to win. Maybe it has an important message, but it's not good as a movie. Drawn out jokes, a mystery we don't care about, and the movie completely misses the point in the nudist camp.

[weirdboy]

I liked Your Name more than any of the movies I've seen on the shortlist.

[SkilledLunatic]

Moana being nominated also shows a lack of creativity. It really is standard fare with a couple of catchy songs.

[Armoreska]

Just watched Kimi No Na Wa, the valentine's-day movie of the year, but I dont think it's the coming of the lord or that much of an unfair exclusion.
Zootopia for now, but need to see this vegie movie.

[Lonewolf2003]

I've only seen la tortue rogue and Zootopia. The first is a beautifull movie I, that's in my all time favorite list. Buy wouldn't be to upset by any Zootopia winning. It's a pretty good movie. I agree with St. Gloedes remarks about it here.

[PeacefulAnarchy]

Just watched Kimi No Na Wa, the valentine's-day movie of the year, but I dont think it's the coming of the lord or that much of an unfair exclusion.

Agreed. It's really very good and I would probably include it in there, but it's not some huge travesty that it isn't.

[PUNQ]

Not seen "Ma vie...", but the rest of a high quality selection where for me too Disney rules.... and they've not bought me. Zootopia at #1 closely followed by Moana. As for Your Name.... did't work for me. Too far-fetched way trying to make a emotional connection. Only a 5/10. I think the the anime fans got too excited about the main character playing with his/her boobs, and that's the reason for it's exaggerated hype.

[monty]

@PUNQ: How about The Red Turtle?

[jeroeno]

I'd like to give it to The Red Turtle because of the Dutch director or to Kubo, just to help out LAIKA but the award has to go to Zootopia. For the animated short award it's easy: Piper all the way.

[PUNQ]

The Red Turtle was definitely good, though I didn't totally love it. Gave it a 6/10. Made me feel lonely. That's what quickly happens when there is not enough noise there. But it's a beautiful story in all it's simplicity.

[max-scl]

I didn't like Piper. I know what people love about it, but I just don't see the point of that style of animation beyond the technical excellence (and that we see in any blockbuster today anyway), and the story is just the typical sweet baby animals Disney thing. I have to check out the other 4 shorts but I don't know where.

[PUNQ]

Of the shorts I've only seen Piper and Pearl, and I give the slight nod to Piper in that battle. Anyone know if the other three (Blind Vaysha, Pear Cider and Cigarettes & Borrowed Time) are available for easy access?

[Armoreska]

Of the shorts I've only seen Piper and Pearl, and I give the slight nod to Piper in that battle. Anyone know if the other three (Blind Vaysha, Pear Cider and Cigarettes & Borrowed Time) are available for easy access?

trade ya all of these for Pearl ;)

[PUNQ]

That one is actually on Youtube - Pearl (2016).

[dirty_score]

Of the shorts I've only seen Piper and Pearl, and I give the slight nod to Piper in that battle. Anyone know if the other three (Blind Vaysha, Pear Cider and Cigarettes & Borrowed Time) are available for easy access?

You can watch "Borrowed Time" here:

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a ... owed-time/

[monty]

That one is actually on Youtube - Pearl (2016).

Cheers. I see it's a 360 Google Spotlight. How do you guys feel about that feature?

[Armoreska]

It's for virtual reality goggles, you know. A bit laggy for me in the browser

[monty]

Probably great for the porn industry, but I can't see animation having anything to gain from it.

[SkilledLunatic]

It's for virtual reality goggles, you know. A bit laggy for me in the browser

A bit? My experience was incredibly choppy. Had to keep pausing it.

Probably great for the porn industry, but I can't see animation having anything to gain from it.

It's a gimmick but I imagine it would be interesting to see yourself in a fantastical/whimsical animation. Wasn't very fond of Pearl though.

[SkilledLunatic]

Of the shorts I've only seen Piper and Pearl, and I give the slight nod to Piper in that battle. Anyone know if the other three (Blind Vaysha, Pear Cider and Cigarettes & Borrowed Time) are available for easy access?

You can watch "Borrowed Time" here:

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a ... owed-time/

Beautiful. Blew Pearl out of the water.