I haven't seen "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" yet (or "Ponyo"), but both "Coraline" and "Up" are superb films. Actually, I believe "Coraline" may be the only movie I saw this year twice at a movie theater.

Coraline is tops for me, one of my favorite movies. Fantastic Mr. Fox slightly edges Up for second place.

I think Pixar will be happy being shut out once again in the Annies like last year if it means they'll get another 5 or 6 Oscar nominations and a win or 2 two. Besides, UP is the only animated movie that will be a major playor for other Oscar nominations beyond animated feature, from sound, score, original screenplay, and potentially, best picture.

I always have a hard time deciding if "the best animated film" should be the best film out of the animated ones, or the one that has the best animation. I tend to lean towards narrowing the field down to the choices that I think are quality films as a whole, and then giving it to the one among those that did the most with the craft. That way, stuff that's really showy but in the service of a weak story doesn't make the first cut, and stuff that has a clever script but is crudely done doesn't quite win out either.

I think both "Up" and "Coraline" manage to be technical masterworks in the service of solid stories and good films as a whole. I'd be pleased to see either one win it (with a slight preference to Coraline, since I think it, and stop-motion, could use the recognition more than Pixar at this point.) "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" was a solid effort and entertaining, but not really award worthy on either side. I hope "Princess and the Frog" is outstanding, but haven't seen it yet…

I don't want to eliminate budget animation from competing entirely, but I guess I do lean that way. I suppose for me, it's like giving a Best Cinematography award to a "found footage" movie… Sure, you could possibly make a great movie that way, but it's likely working despite the crudeness of the craft in question.

Santa, The Fascist Years what a title!

do see cloudy, most fun Ive had at a movie all year, UP for the win as of now, I wouldnt be upset if Corlaine won, Cant wait to see Princess and the frog and fantastic mr fox

Actually there's been tons of good animated films this year. Best is "Up." A close second is "Fantastic Mr. Fox." You're right, Brad, that FMF was an excellent fucking movie. But "Up" just happened to be slightly more fucking excellent. "Wall-E," though is still the best thing to happen to animation for the last decade (decades, even, in plural).

Cloudy w/Chance of Meatballs: A-
Ice Age 3: B+
Coraline: I haven't watch it, but I really want to

I could foresee this happening…

Oscar Animated film nominees:

Coraline
The Princess and the Frog
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ponyo
Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs or Ice Age 3 or 9

As for UP? I think it will be voted into the best picture category and voters will in turn cede it's slot in Animated Feature to another animated film. I think UP gets in because of the Wall-E snub (which was criminal imho), feeling among voters that it's probably high time Pixar gets honored with a spot at the big table with the big boys, and also because it's a superb film in it's own right.

Of course, the Academy could hold out and wait until Toy Story 3 to finally award Pixar it's best picture nomination, but what happens if it falls short of Wall-E, UP, and Ratatouille quality? I know Pixar's track record is superb and chances are that Toy Story 3 will live up and surpass even their loftiest standards, but why even take that chance and wait? Everyone eventually stumbles.

I have to buck the trend on "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" – it had serious plot and tonal issues, and its only cleverness stemmed from the book's original concept (for which the movie can't take credit). No way does it deserve to be considered alongside films like "Fantastic Mr. Fox."

I have to see Fantastic Mr. Fox. Hopefully I can fit it in this weekend. It looks out of the ordinary, and that intrigues me.

Am I the only one who thinks Storyboarding is a ridiculous category? That's like giving an Oscar for Best Scheduling of a Feature Film Production. Or Best Story Pitch (much more important than screenplay – LOL). I just don't get it.

Er… I'd say that, in animation, the storyboarding *is* more important than the screenplay. A significant portion of the film is invented in the process of storyboarding it. You don't do extra "takes", or film scenes from multiple angles and then edit it together in the most interesting way with animation (although that may be more possible now that computer animation is being more and more the norm)… nearly all of the important visual decisions for traditional animation are made during the storyboarding phase.

Most of that goes for any high-end FX extravaganza as well. I'm willing to be James Cameron or Steven Spielberg would leap to defend the artistic necessity of solid storyboarding as well.