Oscar Update: The 'Tangled' Un-'Train'-ed 'Story' of the Animated Race
'Toy Story,' 'Dragon,' 'Tangled,' 'The Illusionist,' 'Despicable' and 'Megamind'
This weekend sees the release of DreamWorks's Megamind and just before Thanksgiving on November 24 Disney will debut Tangled. With these two releases the Oscar race for Best Animated Feature film will be in full swing with only Sony Classics's The Illusionist as the last major contender left to enter the fray, and by that time it's going to be a wild race to the top.
This is a great year for animated films and this is a race that could be more political (at least political in terms of Oscar and industry "political") than we've seen in quite some time. Let's take a closer look.
We'll begin with DreamWorks and Paramount's How to Train Your Dragon, which was released on March 26, and let's be honest, this wasn't what we typically expect from a DreamWorks Animation picture. This wasn't along the lines of the pop-culture obsessed Shrek and was even a step above Kung Fu Panda, the 2008 film that proved the studio wasn't simply a poop-joke away from becoming obsolete.
How to Train Your Dragon had heart instead of just a desire to tell half-baked jokes and the animation was artisitic, minimalistic and, at times, breath-taking. I was fortunate enough to see it in 2D, though there are even champions out there that loved it in 3D, many citing the seashore dragon flight, weaving in and around the rocks as one of the film's highlights. Dragon went on to make over $217 million domestically and nearly $500 million worldwide. It's easily one of this year's top contenders for Best Animated feature.
The next big contender (and probably top contender) is obviously Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 3. This is also where the discussion gets a little tricky and a little "political." The Best Animated Feature Oscar was instituted in 2001, the year Shrek beat out Pixar's Monsters, Inc. for the award. In the eight years since that time six Pixar films have been released and six Pixar films have been nominated for Best Animated Feature and five of those six won, Cars being the lone film to lose out to Happy Feet in 2006. Pixar films have won the last three years in a row, giving the animated studio something of a monopoly on the award. Can such history have an effect on Toy Story 3's ability to make it four years in a row?
In the past three years the only film that really stood much of a chance against any of the Pixar films winning Best Animated Feature was Kung Fu Panda in 2008, but that's only because it performed so well at the box-office and performed something of a controversial sweep at that year's Annie Awards. No one really expected it to beat WALL•E, but I'm just covering all bases. Last year Up ended up winning, but it also became the second animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture, an honor some feel is best left to live-action films alone seeing how animated films have their own category, but I don't think there is an Oscar prognosticator out there that doesn't have Toy Story 3 as one of their predicted ten Best Picture nominees, which is where the discussion continues.
After amassing over $1 billion in worldwide box-office receipts, Toy Story 3 is one of the highest grossing films of all-time (#9 domestically and #5 worldwide). It's the #2 animated film domestically behind Shrek 2 and #1 animated film worldwide. It has a 99% rating at RottenTomatoes making it the best reviewed film in wide release this year, but right there at #2 is How to Train Your Dragon. Is it possible Toy Story 3 could be nominated for Best Picture and Best Animated Feature and still not take home the Best Animated Oscar? Is it possible being nominated for Best Picture will be its reward?
Obviously How to Train Your Dragon is the current film best positioned to beat out Toy Story 3 at the moment, but there are other films out there that could enter the debate.
The only film that comes to mind of those that have already been released that should even be considered part of the conversation is Universal's July release, Despicable Me. A combination of good timing, good reviews and good word of mouth propelled the film to six straight weeks in the box-office top ten and a domestic haul of almost $250 million. I find it unlikely it will be able to take home the Oscar, but it should definitely remain part of the nomination chatter.
As for those films yet to be released, two stand out to me, but you are probably thinking of three at this time.
The one you're probably thinking of that I have already seen and am ready to outright dismiss is this weekend's release Megamind. Critics are currently split on the film and I expect that will continue as reviews continue to come in. My opinion is to tell you this is not a good film by any stretch. It feels like a cheap Monsters vs. Aliens knock-off that's trying to be The Incredibles and in terms of the bad guy turned good, it's already been bested by Despicable Me. If my opinion is worth anything, count it out right now.
As for the two that stand a serious chance, Disney has an absolute winner with Tangled. The trailers don't do this film justice (although the new TV spots are a drastic improvement) and the reasoning is simple, Disney is trying to attract both a male and female audience, scared that if they show too much of Rapunzel the boys will be turned off. Forget about all of that, Tangled returns Disney to their animated roots. This is the first CG movie from Disney Animation that feels like classic Disney. I loved this film, it's a ton of fun and filled with adventure, the perfect mix of villainy and heroism, the animal sidekicks are hilarious and the artistry (the lantern scene is virtually perfect) is top notch. Tangled is a true contender. Is it good enough to beat out Dragon and Toy Story? Eh, that's a tough battle.
The other film that I can't quite decide exactly what we're looking at here is Sony Classics's The Illusionist, something of an animated art house wild card. I saw the film at TIFF and enjoyed it, but it surprised me at just how sorrowful the story is. The best comparison I can think of are two other Sony Classics releases, Persepolis and Sylvain Chomet's previous animated Oscar nominee The Triplets of Belleville. Both films were respected, but neither won the top prize, Persepolis lost to Ratatouille and Triplets lost to The Incredibles. Will Pixar again trump Sony Classics? Will The Illusionist even be nominated? Will it even be released? (For more on that last question click here.)
Right now I have a list of four films up for contention:
- Toy Story 3
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Tangled
- The Illusionist
Unfortunately, unless there are 16 or more animated films in contention, only three receive nominations. Last week I posted a list made by Steve Pond at The Wrap discussing this very dilemma. He has 14 films listed he's quite certain will make up the field and the deadline for submitting entry forms and supporting materials to the Academy was this past Monday, November 1, which means we should have our first list of contenders very soon. Last year the announcement was made on November 11.
Whether the number of nominees is three or five, I still maintain the four films above are the top contenders. Should the total grow to five nominees I'd say Despicable Me becomes my fifth.
As a reminder, here is the list of 14 suspected contenders for Best Animated Feature this year with links to each either here on RopeofSilicon.com or over at IMDb for those I don't have in my database.
- How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks)
- Shrek Forever After (DreamWorks)
- Toy Story 3 (Pixar/Disney)
- Despicable Me (Universal Pictures)
- Alpha and Omega (Lionsgate)
- Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue (Disney)
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (Warner Bros.)
- My Dog Tulip (New Yorker Films)
- Idiots and Angels (Plymptoons)
- Megamind (DreamWorks)
- Tangled (Disney)
- Yogi Bear (Warner Bros.)
- The Illusionist (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Summer Wars (FUNimation Entertainment)
As a result of this article, I have updated my predictions for the animated category so click here to browse those.
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I'm for Toy story animated and best picture. It's strange, I saw dragon without having heard the reviews and thought it was just fine. Without the preconceived knowledge of it being "incredible" I thought it was pretty good. That being said, I'm shocked anyone could think it could give Toy Story a run for its money. While they are a percentage apart on RT the average rating is drastically different. Toy Story having an 8.8 and dragon a 7.9 on the site. Toy Story is by far the best received movie of the year. Last year, the critics pushed Hurt Locker because while most audiences hadn't seen it, it was still the best received movie. Toy Story 3 is the best received movie, even more so than the Hurt Locker. There should be no discrimination just because its animated. It would also represent all three films and Pixar as a whole. If an animated film was ever going to win this would be thee time to do it.
100% agree.
Still, Originality could possibly beat a Sequel
I don't think anything has a chance for best animated feature next to Toy Story 3. Just my opinion. Nice to hear you liked Tangled as well.
It seems to me so far this fall, every movie I've been looking forward to(For Colored Girls, Due Date, Hereafter etc.)haven't lived up to expectations. I guess this fall it might be more about the ones we don't see coming.
I think it's really Toy Story 3's to lose and has been probably before any of the contenders ever came out. I would like The Illusionist to make the nomination cut as well, just to be there.
If there was any Pixar fatigue among AMPAS voters about Pixar winning over and over again, I think it would've reared its ugly head by now. I honestly believe a 4th straight Animated Oscar is in the bag for Pixar, to go along with a Best Picture nomination. The only way I see Toy Story 3 not winning Best Animated picture is if it ends up winning Best Picture.
Which isn't likely as most of the voting panel are actors, and will want to vote more a live action ensemble.
There are 2 or 3 ensemble movies that could beat Toy Story 3.
They are:
1. Inception (Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gorden Levitt, Michael Caine, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy and Marion Coltilrad)
2. The Social Network (Jesse Einsenberg, Rooney Mara, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake)
3. True Grit (Josh Brolin, Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges)
I agree a Best Picture win is not likely. Pixar will just have to make do with a 2nd straight Best Pic nomination and a 4th consecutive Animated Oscar.
To win for a fourth time in a row would be remarkable and not THAT easy considering the very tough competition, but then again, one of the reasons Toy Story 3 is very likely to win Best Animated Feature is that Cars 2 almost certainly won't win next year, so the streak will end anyway. Doesn't hurt TS3 is a well-acknowledged masterpiece.
I really wouldn't be surprised or saddened, however, if either Dragon or The Illusionist took home the award. The former is the best film DW has ever done, and the latter simply looks like a mature, beautiful, nostalgic and touching film – and I'm almost certain it actually is one.
Well, I certainly hope "How do train your dragon" DOES NOT win. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the movie. I was very surprised by it, and I thought it was well-done. Heck, I hope it at least gets the nomination. But honestly, I don't understand all the freaking love some people are giving the film. I mean, at the end of the day…well, dare I say it?…it's just another freaking E.T rip-off.
Right now, I'm seriously rooting for toy story 3, but I want to see Tangled and The Illusionist before I make any final decisions.
Oh, and I think I'm going to pass on Megamind. MEH.
If Toy Story 3 doesn't win Best Animated Feature after Up did, I may literally puke. I'd put TS3 near the top of Pixar's canon, with only Wall-E and Ratatouille above it. Up, on the other hand, I'd put near the bottom, with Monsters, Inc. and A Bug's Life. Those three are the only Pixar films I consider to be disappointments.
I think Dragon could take Toy Story down, but Nick's argument makes sense; Cars is the only Pixar film that seems to be actively disliked (I think it's fine), so the chances of the sequel winning Animated Feature aren't great. Hopefully that will kill any Pixar backlash at the Academy. Plus it wouldn't make logical sense to nominate Toy Story for Best Picture (which almost certainly will happen), not nominate Dragon (which certainly will happen) and then give Dragon the Best Animated Feature Oscar. Not that the Academy has ever shown any evidence of logical thinking.
Toy Story is the highest grossing movie of the year- both domestically and worldwide (and it'll probably stay that way), and it's the best reviewed movie of the year. Dragon and Illusionist are going strong, but they don't quite have that status.
We've been getting a LOT of quality animation recently. Earlier this decade, there's been 1 or 2 great animated movies a year. This year, we have TS3/Dragon/Illusionist getting universal raves, Despicable Me doing very well (I thought it was OK, but everyone seemed to love it) and Tangled is supposedly very good.
I love Pixar. Wall-e is my fifth favorite movie all-time. But I was extremely disappointed in TS3. Pixar usually does a great job of being emotional and heartfelt without being cheesy, but TS3 was overly sentimental. HTTYD, on the other hand? That first big flight sequence, in 3d, is the single best experience Ive had with a movie this year. I cried, and it isn't really an emotional scene. It was just… Awesome. And of course, the rest of the movie was just incredible. Normally, I don't like 3d, but HTTYD benefited massively from it.
Love Pixar. But I don't think TS3 deserves the win.
Looking forward to Tangled, especially for Zachary Levi.
I think giving Toy Story 3 the Oscar for Best Animated Feature is not only awarding the film but also recognizing the past Toy Story 1 and 2 since the category wasn't introduced yet when the first two films were released. Woody and Buzz Lightyear sure did leave a mark in the history of cinema and it is only very appropriate for the Academy to show their appreciation for them.
Well, TS3 may have the top shot, but I hope How To Train Your Dragon wins. I really do. I loved every aspect of the story, the animation was great, and the voice talent did an excellent job. Not to say that TS3 didn't, but I think the characters and their story is just tired.
Having only seen Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon, I can say Toy Story 3 is a superior movie. By no means is 'Dragon' any less, but 'Story' had resonated with my childhood memories, and it dealt with themes about loss, moving on, growing up, etc.
I thought Despicable Me was a very boring movie with terrible voice-acting by Steve Carrell. Have you seen it for a 2nd time? If not, I'd suggest it.
Hey, I have some other Animated movies for that list which I find weird that you left out:
1. Redline ( although I don't know if it has a release yet)
2. Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (This one was released in January… did you see it? I remember you covered some news about it)
3. Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (the last one didn't make the list though, but I'm sure they made sure this one had enough animation to qualify)
…
Anyway, if Tinkerbell qualifies, then surely all other Direct-to-DVD animations qualify, right? Thats like 30 more movies.
Tinker Bell was in theaters for about five weeks. Disney had it running at the El Capitan for exactly this reason. But, to Disney's surprise and great pleasure, the film brought in similar box office numbers as most of their major released feature films…including TS3! But no, straight to DVD films still will not qualify.
On top of that it also got pretty good reviews. Wouldn't be surprised to see them consider a wide release Tinker Bell movie in the future.
I'm betting on either TS3 or Tangled. I saw a screening of it, and it was a masterpiece. WAY better than the Princess and the Frog. I cried at Tangled, but not at TS3 oddly enough. TS3 was really good, one of Pixar's top. The ending was a little sad (my mom cried) and memorable. I also loved it because I loved the original 2 (my childhood :)) HTTYD was Dreamworks best (First Shrek second, why does everyone like KFP???) but not on par with either Tangled or TS3 (animation was pretty, but story wasn't that strong, and has been used tons of times before.)
Despicable Me should fill the 3rd slot, period. It's no Toy Story 3 but I liked it & found it it a bit more enjoyable than HTTYD did. Steve Carrell was absolutely fantastic lending his voice, he NAILED the russian accent. Those minion are scene-stealers. It made lots of money, critics & people enjoyed it. Why shouldn't it be nominated??
I have yet to see Megamind but I think it's clear that won't get nominated, Critics are so-so with it (61% at rotten tomatoes so far). I haven't seen Tangled or The Illusionist yet but I heard both are really good. But for right now, these are my Best Animated Features:
Toy Story 3
How To Train Your Dragon
Despicable Me
I'm predicting it will be Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and Tangled. Shrek Forever After and Despicable Me were alright, but I doubt that the academy will give any nominations to the two. The Illusionist looks SO boring and out-of-date! Here's why I predicted the three:
Toy Story 3 – One of the finest Pixar movies ever made; it's a little bit better than Up. This movie serves as an example to Hollywood about how to make a great second sequel:) It features a fine voice cast, terrific screenplay, fine direction, and good ending that makes everyone crying!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't cry at the ending, but it was good. It's pretty obvious that this movie will be nominated, because it's PIXAR for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How to Train Your Dragon – Best DreamWorks cartoon I ever did see since the first Shrek. Unlike most DreamWorks cartoons, this movie has great voice cast, awesome 3D scenes, beautiful music, brilliant screenplay, outstanding direction, and good artwork. One of my top 5 films of the year:D This is one puts a lot of fierce competition on Toy Story 3.
Tangled – I've already heard some overwhelmingly positive reviews from the early screenings, saying that this IS classic disney. Now I can't wait for the movie to come out. Hope this movie will also be nominated for best song and best score(: I was really ticked off that The Princess and the Frog didn't win any oscars:/ It took me a month to get over it! I just hope that Tangled will do good at the oscars and during the awards season!!:D
Everyone is forgetting "Borrowers Arrietty," form Studio Ghibli.
It's certainly good enough to win Best Animation, but who are we fooling? We all know Toy Story 3 will win it… whether or not it deserves to win is debatable.
I guess Jackboots on Whitehall wasn't eligible.
But then again the best way to describe Jackboots on Whitehall is to imagine what you would get if Team America World Police was set in second world war Britain and featured a huge voice cast ensemble that included Ewan McGregor, Timothy Spall, Rosamund Pike, Tom Wilkinson and Alan Cumming among others.