This Year's Animated Oscar nominees. [Archive]

MonkeyFunk

01-22-2009, 11:51 AM

"WALL-E" Dominates Animated 81st Oscar Nominations (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=28122)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt (Walt Disney) Dir. by Chris Williams and Byron Howard
Kung Fu Panda (DreamWorks Animation) Dir. by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
WALL-E (Walt Disney) Dir. by Andrew Stanton

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
“La Maison en Pe**** Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato
“Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
“Oktapodi” (Talantis Films) A Gobelins, L’école de l’image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
“Presto” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
“This Way Up”, A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

So Waltz with Bashir didn't make best animated feature (although it is one of the best foreign language noms). It's safe to say that WALL-E has it in the bag.

WALL-E also got nominated for best screenplay, best song, best score and best sound mixing.

mowub

01-22-2009, 12:56 PM

But no Best Picture nomination for WALL-E? Dang.

Baltofan

01-22-2009, 01:40 PM

No Madagascar 2 or Horton Hears A Who for sound and music?

MonkeyFunk

01-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Something that passed me by (props to HG Revolution for picking up on it over at the entertainment board) - Waltz with Bashir is the first ever animated film to get a best foreign language nomination.

That's not too far off from Beauty and the Beast's fabled best picture nom.

soundmonkey44

01-22-2009, 05:15 PM

Wall-E for best animated film hands down..It was the most Beautiful CGI film I have ever seen! EVER!!:D :D :sweat:

stargirl

01-22-2009, 08:24 PM

But no Best Picture nomination for WALL-E? Dang.

You took the words right out of my mouth. :sad:

But I'm still glad the movie's dominating the "Best Animated Film" category! That's something to cheer for!

tb4000

01-22-2009, 09:24 PM

I am actually shocked Despereaux didn't get a nod.

Radical Raven

01-23-2009, 05:56 PM

What about 9.99? I thought that was at least going to get mentioned...

Glad Waltz with Bashir got on, at least.

Dr.Pepper

01-23-2009, 07:21 PM

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Bolt (Walt Disney) Dir. by Chris Williams and Byron Howard
Kung Fu Panda (DreamWorks Animation) Dir. by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
WALL-E (Walt Disney) Dir. by Andrew Stanton

So they only have three nominees? That seems weird

Eddy

01-23-2009, 07:24 PM

WALL-E should have gotten an Best Picture nominee, but I didn't really expect it to since this is the Oscars we're talking about. Nice to see it in so many other categories, though.

Monterey Jack

01-23-2009, 10:48 PM

So they only have three nominees? That seems weird

I'd rather have only three nomination slots than padding the category out with mediocre/terrible movies like Shark Tale and Treasure Planet.

Gokou Ruri

01-23-2009, 11:06 PM

WALL-E seems obvious enough, though I could see KFP getting a sneak win. Bolt has no chance, honestly, unless Miley Cyrus' voice can carry the entire movie.

HomeMoviesFan

01-23-2009, 11:42 PM

WALL-E seems obvious enough, though I could see KFP getting a sneak win. Bolt has no chance, honestly, unless Miley Cyrus' voice can carry the entire movie.

No. Don't even say such blasphemy. If WALL-E doesn't win, it'll be such a horrible upset...

MonkeyFunk

01-24-2009, 04:21 AM

So they only have three nominees? That seems weird

There have to be at least sixteen films submitted for the category to have more than three nominees.

LivelyLorikeet

01-24-2009, 03:03 PM

There have to be at least sixteen films submitted for the category to have more than three nominees.

Oh, that explains it. . . I think there were fourteen films submitted this year.

Lavenderpaw

01-24-2009, 04:25 PM

Wall-E will most definitely win in my opinion.

Light Lucario

01-24-2009, 06:11 PM

While it is too bad that WALL-E didn't get a Best Picture nomination, at least it was nominated for Best Animated Film, as well as some other categories. I hope that it will take the Best Animated Film award since it sounds like the best choice out of the given three.

Tay the Cat

01-24-2009, 06:14 PM

No. Don't even say such blasphemy. If WALL-E doesn't win, it'll be such a horrible upset...

Kung Fu Panda was MUCH better than WALL-E.

If KFP doesn't win...

Movie06

01-24-2009, 07:28 PM

My money's on Wall-E winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Silverstar

01-24-2009, 07:31 PM

My money's on Wall-E winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Yeah, I'd be very, very surprised if Wall-E doesn't take home the golden statuette.

I enjoyed Kung-Fu Panda, but it's not really Oscar material.

Can't comment on Bolt, since I haven't seen it.

Dudley

01-24-2009, 08:36 PM

Out of all the three,
the one who'll win should be Wall-E.

Though KFP was really good,
up in this here neighborhood.

And though this may seem rather cold,
I don't think Bolt should win the gold.

Jave

01-24-2009, 08:43 PM

Dr.Pepper

01-24-2009, 08:47 PM

I want Wall-E to win. I haven't seen the other's so I don't know what they are like.

There have to be at least sixteen films submitted for the category to have more than three nominees.
Oh okay.

Ed Liu

01-26-2009, 02:30 PM

Found this over the weekend on a News crawl on the web (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=28168). Apparently, Andrew Stanton really isn't that bothered by the lack of a Best Picture nomination for WALL-E. Best pull quote about that of the article:

The animated category was initially supposed to empower animated films -- does it now serve to ghettoize them?

It's just a sign that times have changed. Because from the live action side, animation -- and computers in general -- are being used as a tool in so many movies now. The line is just getting so blurry that I think with each proceeding year, it's going to be tougher and tougher to say what's an animated movie and what's not an animated movie. And what I'd love is to get to the point where someone just goes, 'I don't care.' Because I've been at the 'I don't care' point a long time now.

Are you okay with not breaking the glass ceiling at the Oscars?

I've never seen so much buzz about anything we've done like this. All the reviews that have been amazing. And I'll be okay if it doesn't break another glass ceiling. I already get how people feel. That's really, really satisfying.

The other good stuff in the interview is Stanton's view on WALL-E and EVE, but that's a topic for another thread.

Either way, I also think that WALL-E might as well take it home now, if nothing else because the industry buzz making it a possible "Best Picture" nominee means the academy members are going to vote for it in the Oscar that it CAN win now, regardless of how good the other offerings are. Kung-Fu Panda is a very good movie -- the first I've seen out of DreamWorks that seriously challenges Pixar's hegemony of CGI feature-film animation -- but it still doesn't compare to WALL-E. I still haven't seen Bolt, though. I'm not sure if I think it'll be better than WALL-E, as some of its proponents claim, but then again I didn't think any animated film could beat Ratatouille last year until I saw Persepolis.

Tay the Cat

01-26-2009, 02:35 PM

Kung-Fu Panda is a very good movie -- the first I've seen out of DreamWorks that seriously challenges Pixar's hegemony of CGI feature-film animation -- but it still doesn't compare to WALL-E.
Of course -- WALL-E just felt like an art film to me, whereas Kung Fu Panda was really fun to watch and enjoyable. This is why I favor Kung Fu Panda over WALL-E any day.

LivelyLorikeet

01-26-2009, 02:48 PM

"Because from the live action side, animation -- and computers in general -- are being used as a tool in so many movies now. The line is just getting so blurry that I think with each proceeding year, it's going to be tougher and tougher to say what's an animated movie and what's not an animated movie. And what I'd love is to get to the point where someone just goes, 'I don't care.' Because I've been at the 'I don't care' point a long time now."

You know, I'm very glad he said that. With modern films such as Speed Racer (where pretty much everything besides the lead actors was computer-generated) using so many CGI (read: animated) effects, it will soon be impossible to logically divide "live action" and "animation".

Radical Raven

01-26-2009, 05:02 PM

Wall-E IS going to win. Face it. The only reason KFP or Bolt may win would be if the academy wanted to purposely raise controversy. I'd put my Toon Zone account on the stakes that Wall-E is taking the award.

I have'nt even seen the movie yet, but a million internet critics (and a couple million audience members) agree with you hear.

Toony Loon

01-28-2009, 06:23 PM

WALL-E is definitely gonna win. Pixar seems to be the most advanced, most clever, and most innovative animation studio in this present day. KFP was a very good film, but WALL-E will almost certainly win. KFP was funnier than WALL-E, but WALL-E has absolutely beautiful CGI animation. Nothing can stop WALL-E from winning.
Bolt was pretty good; the story, music, and animation was enjoyable (save Miley Cyrus' voice acting).
Again, WALL-E will win it (although in some ways KFP pulls an extremely close second).

judyindisguise

01-28-2009, 07:12 PM

Mad Mod 49

01-28-2009, 07:27 PM

IMO, both Bolt and Panda are superior to Wall*E when it comes to plot, humor and heart, but they don't have the, um...right political slant, or maybe "correct" political slant is the better term...so the robot will probably win the gold.

That actually may be a component to the decision (just like Heath Ledger's death is a component to the Joker nomination), but like the Ledger situation, (though I actually haven't yet seen it) if Wall-E is as good as many claim, then it probably deserves the win.

If Wall-E did win because solely because of the environmentalist slant, then it would be really sad considering the director's interview posted above (according to him, it was never supposed to be a major point to the movie, and it's just got completely blown out of proportion by audiences and critics alike. :sweat: )

HomeMoviesFan

01-29-2009, 12:16 AM

IMO, both Bolt and Panda are superior to Wall*E when it comes to plot, humor and heart, but they don't have the, um...right political slant, or maybe "correct" political slant is the better term...so the robot will probably win the gold.

What you fail to realize is that your opinion is in the minority. Even if I was a bigger fan of KFP or Bolt, I'd be wise enough to look at Rotten Tomatoes and the general opinion and see that the majority is in love with WALL-E. This has little to do with actual politics...

LivelyLorikeet

01-29-2009, 09:29 AM

IMO, both Bolt and Panda are superior to Wall*E when it comes to plot, humor and heart, but they don't have the, um...right political slant, or maybe "correct" political slant is the better term...so the robot will probably win the gold.

Up to a point, I agree with this. Remember 2006, when Happy Feet took the gold over Monster House and Cars? I don't think it was entirely a matter of quality (I thought Happy Feet was so-so at best, and I was rooting for Monster House even though I knew it didn't have much of a chance). I think that the film's environmental message was a big component in its appeal to the Academy.

Tay the Cat

01-29-2009, 10:00 AM

What you fail to realize is that your opinion is in the minority. Even if I was a bigger fan of KFP or Bolt, I'd be wise enough to look at Rotten Tomatoes and the general opinion and see that the majority is in love with WALL-E. This has little to do with actual politics...

Thing is, even many of those who praise WALL-E say it's not a film you can just sit and enjoy and be entertained by it. I agree with them. While I praise it, I wasn't entertained by it in the very least. It was quite a sad movie and I wonder why they even marketed this to kids.

Really, it'll only win because of its message, not the actual quality of the film itself.

Shift

01-29-2009, 10:04 AM

Well, I'm pretty sure its quality won't hurt its chances, either. ;)

Jave

01-29-2009, 10:51 AM

Thing is, even many of those who praise WALL-E say it's not a film you can just sit and enjoy and be entertained by it. I agree with them.What those people mean is that you don't laugh much in the film, which is true, because the movie isn't a comedy. But you can watch a more dramatic film and still be entertained. Just enjoy the film. If you do so, you're entertained by it.

"Entertainment" is overly misused as a word.

While I praise it, I wasn't entertained by it in the very least.Then it probably just wasn't the movie for you. But that doesn't mean it's worse than the other movies. After all it's "Best Animated Film", not "Funniest Animated Film".

It was quite a sad movie and I wonder why they even marketed this to kids.Because... it's filled with funny-looking characters and fantasy elements that kids really ejoy? And yet lots of kids loved the movie. Really, I don't see how a movie being more serious doesn't mean it can be aimed at kids. Kids aren't stupid.

And come on, the movie wasn't SAD. It has sad moments, sure, but it has a happy ending and that's no different than many other Disney films. Look at Snow White or The Lion King. And also, is Wall-E as sad as, say, An American Tail?

Really, it'll only win because of its message, not the actual quality of the film itself.No, it will win because it deserves it. It's a very good film, with a great script, great animation, and great characters. Yes, the movie has a message, but that's hardly what the kids loved the most about it. Tons of kids loved Wall-E and EVE because "they're so cute", or how beautiful the "Space Dance" scene was. THOSE are the endearing aspects of the film: the characters themselves.

If you guys want to like Panda or Bolt over Wall-E, that's fine and all and no one would argue against that. But there's no need to put down Wall-E. It WAS the most acclaimed animated film this past year and the one the audiences overall liked the most. The Academy noticed this and that's why the movie got all those nominations, and it's safe to assume it will win Best Animated Film.

Classic Speedy

01-29-2009, 10:55 AM

And come on, the movie wasn't SAD. It has sad moments, sure, but it has a happy ending and that's no different than many other Disney films. Look at Snow White or The Lion King. And also, is Wall-E as sad as, say, An American Tail? Indeed. WALL-E was one of the more uplifting animated movies I've seen. How they managed to not make a garbage-flooded future Earth depressing is a feat in itself, but the movie's themes of love despite differences and against all odds, and that humanity can rebuild, are very positive. If it depressed me, I wouldn't have watched it more than once.

Tay the Cat

01-29-2009, 12:00 PM

Well, my personal standard for animated movies to be called "best" is that I have to be entertained by it, PLUS have excellent writing, direction and solid, fluid animation.

No, KFP is no WALL-E in terms of animation quality, but just because a movie is visually stunning doesn't mean it's the best.

Also, most of my opinions, if you haven't figured it out already, greatly go against the majority and I don't expect many people to agree with me.

Jave

01-29-2009, 12:40 PM

Well, my personal standard for animated movies to be called "best" is that I have to be entertained by it, PLUS have excellent writing, direction and solid, fluid animation.No argument there. It's just that most people believe Wall-E succeeds in all of that.

No, KFP is no WALL-E in terms of animation quality, but just because a movie is visually stunning doesn't mean it's the best.No argument there either. But no one said Wall-E was the best film JUST because of that, right?

Also, most of my opinions, if you haven't figured it out already, greatly go against the majority and I don't expect many people to agree with me.So? That doesn't really mean anything.

Although "Wall-E isn't going to win because of its quality" is not an opinion, it's a baseless argument, if not flat-out mistaken.

HG Revolution

01-29-2009, 04:59 PM

IMO, both Bolt and Panda are superior to Wall*E when it comes to plot, humor and heart, but they don't have the, um...right political slant, or maybe "correct" political slant is the better term...so the robot will probably win the gold.

OK, I liked Bolt, but it was just a mess of cliches common to animated films thrown together. Ditto Panda. Wall-E may have had some cliches, but they were put together in a way that was much more unique and interesting, so better plot. Wall-E also made me cry where the others couldn't, so it wins heart as well. As for humor, Panda wasn't very funny, Bolt did have a lot of humor I'll admit, but Wall-E was also very funny, moreso in a dark sort of way but in a more thought-provoking way as well.

So, no contest, Wall-E will win. If the Academy was just into political films, then why isn't Waltz With Bashir, a movie much more political than Wall-E (and IMO the second-best animated film of the year), nominated?

Tay the Cat

01-29-2009, 07:17 PM

So, no contest, Wall-E will win. If the Academy was just into political films, then why isn't Waltz With Bashir, a movie much more political than Wall-E (and IMO the second-best animated film of the year), nominated?

Have people actually heard of that movie?

I sure haven't.

Jave

01-29-2009, 10:29 PM

Have people actually heard of that movie?

I sure haven't.Doesn't matter, because the movie was nominated for Best Foreign Film which means the Academy did acknowledge its existance.

I'm pretty sure they put "Waltz" in the Foreign category so they could give the movie some kind of recognition, since it probably was the fourth best animated film in the Academy's eyes, but it wasn't enough for it to qualify.

Mek

01-29-2009, 11:35 PM

If Kung-Fu Panda wins, Hollywood will burn.

... Well, not really, but it would be the Crime of the Century if it did. I'm sure it's not a bad movie by any means (and hey, if my jaded-on-animated-movies dad liked KFP, well...), but WALL-E is so much better and has so much more heart.

GO WALL-E!

HG Revolution

01-30-2009, 09:40 AM

I'm pretty sure they put "Waltz" in the Foreign category so they could give the movie some kind of recognition, since it probably was the fourth best animated film in the Academy's eyes, but it wasn't enough for it to qualify.

Either that, or the fact a few scenes were rotoscoped might have pissed off the animation branch (essentially, the same reason why Waking Life was snubbed in favor of Jimmy Newtron: Boy Genius).

MonkeyFunk

01-30-2009, 01:15 PM

Have people actually heard of that movie?

I sure haven't.

Didn't stop the British Academy from picking it as one of the three best animated feature nominees.

kenjisalk

01-30-2009, 02:29 PM

Yeah, I don't care how you look at it, Wall-e is the superior FILM (the mainstream, as well as a bevy of respected critics agree).

I liked Bolt quite a bit, and enjoyed the animation in Kung-Fu Panda, but Wall-e had not only an amazing script, but wonderful animation, a score that was vital to the film, and just did more for the medium than any animated film in years.

It did so much more in conveying complex emotions and themes with barely any dialog and just character animations, and that's something that hasn't been done in a LONG time.

I guess my film school background makes me view it from a different perspective. KFP and Bolt are cute movies with good animation, but Wall-e is on an entirely different level. It's going to win the award, and it deserves it.