2015 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature

The Oscar for Best Animated Feature is usually won in a walk. Frozen, Up, Toy Story 3 were all the frontrunners from close to the beginning of Oscar season and pulled it out all the way to the end. The only year in recent memory that the race was unclear was in 2012 when Brave pulled off a win over Paranorman, Frankenweenie, and Wreck-it-Ralph.

This year was looking closer to being another walk when The Lego Movie was released in February, and nearly every Oscar pundit called the race then and there.

Things got a bit awkward when it wasn’t even nominated.

So, it’s looking like the assumed runner-up and Golden Globe winner How to Train Your Dragon 2 is going to take this one. It received strong reviews and has been lauded for its emotional resonance, which continues the trend of past winners that were able to play to both kids and adults. However, the one knock against it is that only one sequel in the history of this category has won, Toy Story 3. It was one of the best reviewed movies of the year and received a Best Picture nomination to go along with its Animated Feature win.

If voters decide to go with the trend of awarding original features, then it’s pretty much open season. Although we could see a shocker like Song of the Sea, I think it’s more likely that the crowd pleaser Big Hero 6 upset How to Train Your Dragon.

Will Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Could Win: Big Hero 6
Should Win: How to Train Your Dragon 2
Should have been nominated: Um… The Lego Movie

[maxbutton id=”3″]