The coveted Oscar for Best Animated Feature, established in 2001, has blossomed into one of the most anticipated and celebrated categories, captivating audiences even as the Oscars’ overall influence wanes. The nominations for this year reaffirm its significance, spotlighting a powerful lineup that pairs the world’s most cherished animation studios with fresh and vibrant talents, spanning a range of artistic styles. The selection is so stellar that any of the five would be a deserving recipient of the golden statuette.
Enter the world of ‘Elemental,’ a Pixar creation that embodies their trademark craft of weaving touching narratives with atypical heroes at the helm. Directed by Peter Sohn, ‘Elemental’ introduces us to a universe inhabited by personified natural elements, with Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis) and Wade Ripple (voiced by Mamoudou Athie) leading the charge. Ember symbolizes fire, and Wade water, making their blossoming romance irresistibly complex and moving. The film is tinged with the drama and emotional pull reminiscent of the finest Bollywood sagas, ensuring viewers reach out for tissues, particularly during heart-rending confessions of love.
Pixar slightly diverges from its classic animation style of clean lines and minimalist expressions. Here, the imagery is softer, edges more fluid, with awe-inspiring animation that masterfully integrates the physics of fire and water movements. ‘Elemental’ positions itself as the perfect cinematic choice for a tranquil Sunday, but don’t forget the tissues.
‘Nimona,’ helmed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, leaps out from the pages of ND Stevenson’s exceptional 2015 graphic novel. The story’s sly, postmodern wit and clever overturning of science versus magic conundrums are only amplified in its motion picture form. The duo presents a twisted superhero narrative where a rogue named Ballister Boldheart teams up with Nimona, a shapeshifting and jovially plump teen with exceptional powers. The film adapts Stevenson’s seemingly simple drawings to bring to life one of the standout young adult (YA) narratives of the past ten years.
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ following the phenomenal success of its predecessor ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ faced an enormous challenge, yet it rose to meet and perhaps even surpass expectations. This chapter sees Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) grappling with the realities of a multiverse filled with Spider-beings while combating a fearsome, dimension-traveling villain named The Spot (Jason Schwartzman). Fans of the visual splendor of the original will find further innovation here, as The Spot’s form evolves from a rough sketch into a clearly defined menace. However, some viewers may be left hanging by the sequel’s cliffhanger ending—a common trope in modern franchising.
Pablo Berger’s ‘Robot Dreams’ stands out as this year’s most poignant and emotional offering. In this silent tragicomedy based on Sara Varon’s comic strip, we find a lonely canine, known simply as Dog, who constructs a robotic companion. The absence of spoken dialogue allows the traditional comic-book-style illustrations to bring forth a tale of friendship, change, and loneliness, reminiscent of enduring archetypes.
Lastly, the surprise return of Hayao Miyazaki with ‘The Boy and the Heron’ feels like an unexpected treasure. Miyazaki, notorious for his picturesque and emotionally nuanced filmmaking, was believed to have retired after ‘The Wind Rises’ (2013). His newest masterpiece transports us to the Pacific War era, where we meet Mahito, a young boy coping with his mother’s death and navigating his father’s remarriage, who encounters a mystical talking heron in an abandoned tower. As always, Miyazaki’s blend of fantastical imagery and realistic emotional conflicts shines in hand-painted frames that utilize watercolors and acrylics to marvelous effect.
As the race for the Oscar heats up, ‘Robot Dreams’ and ‘The Boy and the Heron’ are to be considered the front-runners due to their exceptional craft. Nevertheless, the entire lineup this year is exceptional, with ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ also standing as a worthy potential victor. The admiration for the field is evident, and the Academy’s decision will ultimately highlight the Best Animated Feature from this impressive roster of contenders.