Since the inception of the Best Animated Feature categories, Disney has reaped 7 nominations, however has not won. This year may change that statistic. Frozen, which is being cited as one of Disney's best films since their renaissance in the 90's, is the clear and definite frontrunner in this category. It is funny, well-written, well-animated, with catchy songs and is the best animated film of the year.
However, there is a spoiler in the category. While there hasn't been as much buzz for this film as his previous two films, Hayao Miyazaki has won this category once before in 2002 for Spirited Away and has announced that The Wind Rises will be his final film. If Oscar voters are feeling sentimental then they may go with this swan song.
Check out my predictions below and all of my Oscar predictions here!
Will Win: Frozen
Could Win: The Wind Rises
Should Win: Frozen
Should Have Been Nominated: Monsters University (mostly for sentimental reasons)
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.
Hah, I love that you kind of split it up into objective reasons and sentimental reasons the different films might win
Actually your a little off. Disney has 7 Animated feature Oscar wins: Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, Toy Story 3, and Brave. Plus they have been also nominated for: Monsters Inc, Lilo & Stitch, Treasure Planet, Cars, Bolt, The Princess & The Frog, and Wreck-It Ralph. Just gonna say get your facts straight. By the way have a feeling Frozen is gonna win in a landslide.
Thanks for the comment, but you’re off as well. Disney/Pixar has won 7 times. Walt Disney Animation Studios has not. All the pictures you listed were done by the joint venture between the two companies. There is a distinctions between Disney and Disney/Pixar.
Point taken.