James Harvey
12-12-2001, 05:30 PM
www.zap2it.com reports:
The first-ever animated feature Oscar® category is on, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.
The inclusion of "Jimmy Neutron" and "Marco Polo" is contingent on them playing in Los Angeles before Dec. 31. "Neutron" hits theaters Dec. 21, while the obscure "Polo" is scheduled for Dec. 22.
The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday night to include the Best Animated Feature for next year's ceremony.
The executive committee of the Academy's Short Films and Feature Animation branch decided which pictures were eligible in the category that was first spawned in September 2000.
Nine pictures made the cut: "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius," "Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu," "Monsters, Inc.," "Osmosis Jones," "The Prince of Light," "Shrek," "The Trumpet of the Swan" and "Waking Life." One notable exclusion was Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."
In November, there was some concern that the category wouldn't make the cut as the rules stipulated that there had to be at least eight eligible entries for it to be included in the Academy Awards®. The 13 features that were entered were evaluated to see whether they met two key requirements: they had to have a feature-length running time, i.e., at least 70 minutes long, and be "primarily animated" in the acceptable styles, including traditional cel, computer-generated and stop-motion.
Academy Governor Tom Hanks will chair a 100-member screening committee, half of which will be animators and the other half members of the Academy's other 13 branches. They will watch the nine pictures and select the three nominees, which will be announced Feb. 12 along with the rest of the categories. The winners will be revealed on March 24 at the 74th annual Academy Award Presentation.
Academy President Frank Pierson made it clear that the award wasn't merely about the quality of the animation but of the movies as a whole, meaning the script, score and other aspects will be considered as well.
The animated feature category will mark the Academy's first addition since 1981, when Make-up was included.
The first-ever animated feature Oscar® category is on, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today.
The inclusion of "Jimmy Neutron" and "Marco Polo" is contingent on them playing in Los Angeles before Dec. 31. "Neutron" hits theaters Dec. 21, while the obscure "Polo" is scheduled for Dec. 22.
The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted Tuesday night to include the Best Animated Feature for next year's ceremony.
The executive committee of the Academy's Short Films and Feature Animation branch decided which pictures were eligible in the category that was first spawned in September 2000.
Nine pictures made the cut: "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius," "Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu," "Monsters, Inc.," "Osmosis Jones," "The Prince of Light," "Shrek," "The Trumpet of the Swan" and "Waking Life." One notable exclusion was Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire."
In November, there was some concern that the category wouldn't make the cut as the rules stipulated that there had to be at least eight eligible entries for it to be included in the Academy Awards®. The 13 features that were entered were evaluated to see whether they met two key requirements: they had to have a feature-length running time, i.e., at least 70 minutes long, and be "primarily animated" in the acceptable styles, including traditional cel, computer-generated and stop-motion.
Academy Governor Tom Hanks will chair a 100-member screening committee, half of which will be animators and the other half members of the Academy's other 13 branches. They will watch the nine pictures and select the three nominees, which will be announced Feb. 12 along with the rest of the categories. The winners will be revealed on March 24 at the 74th annual Academy Award Presentation.
Academy President Frank Pierson made it clear that the award wasn't merely about the quality of the animation but of the movies as a whole, meaning the script, score and other aspects will be considered as well.
The animated feature category will mark the Academy's first addition since 1981, when Make-up was included.