With no obvious frontrunner coming from the Pixar camp, this year's Best Animated Feature race is more puzzling than it's been in a while. I like that unpredictability on the one hand, but the lack of a truly great animated film this year makes me a little sad, especially considering this is the first year with new rules making it easier for a full slate of five nominees.
Many questions abound here: Can Cars 2 get in on Pixar goodwill alone? What will be this year's The Secret of Kells? And will the animators accept "Tintin" as one of their own? In a field of 18 nominees, I'll highlight eight that seem like genuine contenders (sorry, The Smurfs):
1.) Rango
This is the closest 2011 has come to a great animated film. It's no Toy Story 3, that's for sure. But it is a lot of fun and definitely a little unusual. I'm not sure it's the most critically-acclaimed film on the list, but it has great production values and animation, and it's one of the few really well-reviewed hits in the category.
2.) Arthur Christmas
I had no idea this one had such good reviews! It's rocking a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The only problem there is that audiences haven't received it very well. If that's indicative of some problem the film has connecting with audiences, it could be in some trouble. If it's a marketing thing, like I suspect, it's got as good a chance as any other film.
3.) Kung Fu Panda 2
The first of many sequels/spinoffs in the category this year, Kung Fu Panda 2 has some great reviews and a decent, albeit underwhelming, box office. But sequels have a hard time beating out first features in any category, unless they are exceptional, like Toy Story 3.
4.) Puss in Boots
Not a "Shrek" film, per se, but certainly the two films are cut from the same cloth. I was surprised this one scored so well with critics, considering it just looked like a quick cash grab, but the reviews and box office are too good to overlook it completely. If it misses out, it will be because Dreamworks went all in on Kung Fu Panda 2.
5.) Rio
I couldn't muster up the energy to watch this spring smash hit, but there seems to be some goodwill out there for it. But again, I just can't see it winning, and frankly, the only reason it's so high on this list is because there are so many question marks on the films below it.
6.) The Adventures of Tintin
The most interesting question of all regarding this race is how the Animation Branch of the Academy responds to Tintin's motion-capture style. They're notorious snobs, and as you can tell by my placing it sixth, I'm thinking that sentiment will win out. But the film will almost certainly be a smash hit (it already is overseas), and reviews have been quite strong.
7.) Cars 2
Oh, Pixar. It's been about two weeks since I caught up with Cars 2, and I'm shocked at how immediately forgettable it was. Still, it looked nice and made money. This year, that actually could be enough.
8.) Chico & Rita
The only (relatively) obscure film on this list, Chico & Rita has been quietly building good buzz since its premiere at Telluride in 2010, and its inclusion on the list of eligible animated films has extended its life even longer. I don't know much about it other than the fact that it sounds a lot like Casablanca. But the few people that have seen it have good things to say about it, so it might be able to sneak in.
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