SLAM! Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 (edited) Starting the animated feature thread right after the Annecy Film Festival’s announcement of their feature selection is something that I did last year, and it’s something I want to do again! The chances of a very small film jumping from Annecy to Oscars isn’t as likely anymore—Boy and the World type surprises are rare, and that’s if they happen at all—though Annecy still holds power as Flee premiered at Sundance, used Annecy as a springboard by winning the Cristal, and going on to earn a historic three Oscar nominations. If anything, Annecy introduces Oscar enthusiasts to films that are likely to appear as submissions for the Animated Feature category. In terms of this year’s Animated Feature race, 2022 isn’t pulling any punches at all, with a slew of strong contenders that are likely to overcrowd the smaller titles. Disney and Pixar have three major players in Lightyear, Strange World, and Turning Red, DreamWorks has a potential under-the-radar nominee contender with The Bad Guys, and Netflix is continuing their engagement in the medium with upcoming films like My Father’s Dragon, Wendell & Wild, and Del Toro’s Pinocchio. Plus, Devilman Crybaby director Masaaki Yuasa has a new film, Inu-Oh, that could pull a Mirai if the academy wants to honor the director's work they way they did for Mamoru Hosoda. And that’s just the big stuff! Whatever happens, I think we’re looking at the best year for the category since 2016. Edited May 5, 2022 by SLAM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAM! Posted May 5, 2022 Author Share Posted May 5, 2022 Here's where I'll provide information about the twenty feature films in competition at the Annecy Film Festival. Like usual, the vast majority of these films will not be contenders for the Oscar, but it's always good to examine the state of animation in world cinema as a whole. The Main Feature Competition Charlotte (Belgium, Canada, France)—2D biographical film about a young painter who died in Auschwitz. Premiered at TIFF last year. Now in select theaters. Goodbye, Donglees! (Japan)—Anime film where friends go on a vacation in Iceland. Produced by Kadokawa Pictures, who are known for Stein's Gate. No Dogs or Italians Allowed (France, Italy)—stop-motion period piece where a 20th-century Italian man emigrates to France in search of a better life. Little Nicholas (France, Luxembourg)—adapted from popular French kids books; similar story to Flat Stanley; also screening at Cannes. The House of the Lost on the Cape (Japan)—anime film adapted from a Novel; anime studio is David Productions, who worked on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure; the story "rekindles memories of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami." My Love Affair with Marriage (USA, Latvia, Luxembourg)—film about woman grappling with societal expectations regarding women; also screening at Tribeca. Nayola (Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, France)—three generations of women grapple with war in Angola Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Canada, France, Luxembourg)—adaptation of short stories by Haruki Murakami. The Island (Romania, France, Belgium)—surreal comedy based on reinterpretations of the Robinson Crusoe story; the director, Anca Damian, won the Cristal in 2012 with Crulic: The Path to Beyond. Unicorn Wars (Spain, France)—teddy bears go to war against unicorns; the film is surprisingly graphic; from Alberto Vasquez, the director of Birdboy: The Forgotten Children. Contrechamp Selection (films are more experimental) Aurora's Sunrise (Armenia, Germany, Lithuania)—documentary about a star of silent movies who survived a genocide Home is Somewhere Else (USA, Mexico)—documentary about young Mexicans and undocumented American youths Dozens of Norths (Japan, France)—"an account of people [the director] met in the north"; I don't really know what this one is about... Khamsa: The Well of Oblivion (Algeria)—boy falls in well, gets amnesia, goes on journey; the first Algerian feature film in competition in Annecy's history The Other Shape (Colombia)—"a dialogue-free trip through a hallucinatory world" My Grandfather's Demons (Spain, France, Portugal)—stop-motion film where a woman quits her job in dramatic fashion and goes to see her grandfather Quantum Cowboys (USA)—film combining live-action with animation, two guys go on a wild west themed adventure involving time travel Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish (USA, Netherlands)—filmmaker recalls past to make sense of the present in a world of propaganda images, surrealist collage, and pop-art animation Chun Tae-il: A Flame That Lives On (South Korea)—a young tailor's assistant confronts labor conditions Yaya e Lennie - The Walking Liberty (Italy)—two friends go on a jungle journey in a lighthearted CG film (I don't see any films from this slate of Annecy films breaking through the toughest crowd in years to get an Oscar nomination, but I'll cross my fingers because I suppose anything is possible.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reddroast Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 On 5/5/2022 at 1:45 PM, SLAM! said: Starting the animated feature thread right after the Annecy Film Festival’s announcement of their feature selection is something that I did last year, and it’s something I want to do again! The chances of a very small film jumping from Annecy to Oscars isn’t as likely anymore—Boy and the World type surprises are rare, and that’s if they happen at all—though Annecy still holds power as Flee premiered at Sundance, used Annecy as a springboard by winning the Cristal, and going on to earn a historic three Oscar nominations. If anything, Annecy introduces Oscar enthusiasts to films that are likely to appear as submissions for the Animated Feature category. In terms of this year’s Animated Feature race, 2022 isn’t pulling any punches at all, with a slew of strong contenders that are likely to overcrowd the smaller titles. Disney and Pixar have three major players in Lightyear, Strange World, and Turning Red, DreamWorks has a potential under-the-radar nominee contender with The Bad Guys, and Netflix is continuing their engagement in the medium with upcoming films like My Father’s Dragon, Wendell & Wild, and Del Toro’s Pinocchio. Plus, Devilman Crybaby director Masaaki Yuasa has a new film, Inu-Oh, that could pull a Mirai if the academy wants to honor the director's work they way they did for Mamoru Hosoda. And that’s just the big stuff! Whatever happens, I think we’re looking at the best year for the category since 2016. The director of your name has a new film this year as well 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 Feel like another Disney trifecta + 2 indies like last year is the most likely outcome now that Spider-Verse's out of the question. Del Toro's Pinocchio seems like a strong candidate for one of the indie slots if it holds up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 It is both my expectation and hope that Turning Red wins this Oscar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morieris Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Between hyper-realism but animated and nostalgia, it's Lightyear's to lose. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 Will Disney get 3 nominations yet again? I'm not sure. Turning Red has the critical kudos to get in. Lightyear will probably be popular enough. No idea about Strange World, even though the teaser came out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 My predictions for nominees: Turning Red Lightyear My Father's Dragon Wendell & Wild Inu-Oh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filmlover Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 17 minutes ago, cannastop said: Will Disney get 3 nominations yet again? Sure, why not? Barren year for studio animation overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 2 minutes ago, filmlover said: Sure, why not? Barren year for studio animation overall. There are still some alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAM! Posted June 7, 2022 Author Share Posted June 7, 2022 3 hours ago, cannastop said: Will Disney get 3 nominations yet again? I'm not sure. Turning Red has the critical kudos to get in. Lightyear will probably be popular enough. No idea about Strange World, even though the teaser came out. If any one of them gets cut, I think Lightyear seems like a cuttable film at first glance. Turning Red is culturally important and Strange World has the late release. We could see a Finding Dory situation happen. It depends on the strength of other animated films. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 On 6/7/2022 at 12:56 AM, SLAM! said: If any one of them gets cut, I think Lightyear seems like a cuttable film at first glance. Turning Red is culturally important and Strange World has the late release. We could see a Finding Dory situation happen. It depends on the strength of other animated films. hmm with the middling social media reaction to Lightyear, maybe you're right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Well Lightyear's reviews aren't that bad (84% with a 6.9/10 rating) so I guess it might get a nomination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestPicturePlutoNash Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Lightyear can miss. Mediocre Pixar has before like Good Dinosaur, Monsters U, Finding Dory, etc Winner is still probably Turning Red vs Pinocchio vs Strange World 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannastop Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 18 minutes ago, BestPicturePlutoNash said: Lightyear can miss. Mediocre Pixar has before like Good Dinosaur, Monsters U, Finding Dory, etc Winner is still probably Turning Red vs Pinocchio vs Strange World the only difference is now the entire Academy can have input on what gets nominated, versus just the animation part of the academy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAM! Posted June 17, 2022 Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 9 hours ago, cannastop said: the only difference is now the entire Academy can have input on what gets nominated, versus just the animation part of the academy. They still allowed Frozen 2 to miss though, that could’ve easily overtaken Missing Link 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOVIEGUY Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Apollo 10 1/2 should get nominated. It's really good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AniNate Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Lightyear's definitely missing now 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAM! Posted June 21, 2022 Author Share Posted June 21, 2022 2 hours ago, AniNate said: Lightyear's definitely missing now I saw it today and I can see it missing. I think the film is better than some reviewers would give it credit for, but you’re right, it might be a Finding Dory or Frozen 2 type of miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AniNate Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Sea Beast might end up a factor here https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_sea_beast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
