21 Animated Films Submitted for Oscars Consideration

The Oscars time is soon to come upon us! The 85th Academy Awards are scheduled to be held on February 24, 2013. So, naturally it’s only likely that films are soon to be submitted for consideration and voting by the Academy to be included in the hallowed nominations list.

And one category to have its contenders decided is the “Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.” 21 animated feature films from around the world have been submitted and with that amount, we may have up to 5 of them battling for the trophy. We’ll have to wait until January 10, 2013 to discover which 5 they’ll be, but let’s take a look at the 21 films submitted. Just to let you know, I have not yet seen many of these films, so my descriptions will be based on available plot summaries:

1) Adventures in Zambezia

Also known as Zambezia, we see that this computer-animated film was made in South Africa; actually we’ll see that a few of these films are from outside the USA. In this film, a young falcon leaves his home in the desert to discover action and adventure in the city of Zambezia.

2) Brave

Of course we have Disney-Pixar’s entry in the competition in which a young Scottish princess defies a custom and brings upon her kingdom a curse; one that she’ll have to muster up her bravery to undo. 

3) Delhi Safari

We get to one of India’s 2 entries in this category, this one being the first Indian stereoscopic 3D animated film. In this film, a monkey, bear, leopards, and other forest animals decide to go to the Indian Parliament and protest against the people’s destruction of their habitats and homes.

4) Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved book of the same name, a creature called The Lorax tries to convince a businessman to stop cutting down trees to make his products; although, the movie makes this the subplot, rather than the main plot.

5) Frankenweenie

Next is Tim Burton and Disney’s joint feature based on Tim Burton’s short of the same name in which a boy resuscitates his deceased dog.

6) From Up on Poppy Hill

We of course have Studio Ghibli’s film about some Japanese teens who try to save their clubhouse from being destroyed in the 1960’s.

7) Hey Krishna

Also known as Krishna Aur Kans; this is the other Indian film to be submitted for this category, as well as the first Indian stereoscopic animated film. It’s basically about the Hindu deity, “Krishna” in his early years.

8) Hotel Transylvania

We have Sony Animation’s feature film in which Dracula owns a hotel which caters for the likes of all our favorite monsters such as Frankenstein, the Mummy, etc. But Dracula’s greatest challenge occurs when his teenage daughter falls in love….with a human!!! Eerily like Twilight, isn’t it?

9) Ice Age: Continental Drift

Next is the 4th film in the beloved “Ice Age” series and Blue Sky Studios’ claim to fame. After their continent breaks apart, our prehistoric characters must sail the oceans and discover their new world.

10) A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman 

Based on the late Graham Chapman’s autobiography, our fellow members of the Monty Python group pay tribute to their friend by lending their voices in this “untrue story” of one of the founders of the famed group.

11) Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted 

In one of Dreamworks’ Animation’s contenders, our friends from the first 2 “Madagascar” films arrive in Europe. They join a circus and are chased by an animal control officer.

12) The Mystical Laws 

Inspired by the “Happy Science” religious movement, this Japanese anime film incorporates those ideals in the backdrop of a futuristic world in the year 202X.

13) The Painting 

Known as Le Tableau, we have our French representative whose story takes place in the world of paintings: in which the characters are the drawings, in which they fall in love, in which they discover the outside world.

14) ParaNorman 

We have yet another stop-motion animated film which introduces us to a boy with the ability to see and stop ghosts, zombies, and the like.

15) The Pirates! Band of Misfits 

Next is Aardman’s stop-motion production based on a series of books in which a pirate, with the help of Charles Darwin, tries to win the “Pirate of the Year” award.

16) The Rabbi’s Cat 

A rabbi’s cat, after swallowing a parrot and learning to speak, professes his desire to convert to Judaism. I don’t think this requires any more explanation.

17) Rise of the Guardians 

Yet, we have another Dreamworks Animation’s feature in which Jack Frost, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, and the Tooth Fairy get together to defeat the evil Boogeyman.

18) Secret of the Wings 

Disney’s next in the “Tinker Bell” series in which Tinker Bell and her friends try to find the secret of fairy wings.

19) Walter & Tandoori’s Christmas

 Known as Le Noël de Walter et Tandoori and based on the French Canadian show, an inventor named Walter, along with his Indian talking chicken, have to save their town from a big business magnate.

20) Wreck-It Ralph 

Of course, we have to mention Disney’s animated film in their beloved canon, in which a video game bad guy decides that he wants to be a good guy.

21) Zarafa 

Finally, we get to this French film, in which a young boy escapes from slave traders and befriends a giraffe. Together they cross the desert and see many things on their journey.

Anyway, that’s the end of my post here. And my question to you all is, “Assuming we’ll have 5 nominees, which 5 do you think they will be? And which film do you think deserves the least to be nominated?” Leave your answers in the comments please!