By Michael Cavna / The Washington Post
From Pixar to Nick Park, many of the usual suspects are up for an Oscar this year in the culturally and creatively diverse animated film category.
Twenty-five films have been submitted for best animated feature, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” (Illumination), “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (Sony), “Sherlock Gnomes” (Paramount), “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” and “Smallfoot” (Warner Bros.).
The array of titles also reflects the excellence of filmmakers in France, Hungary, Japan, Mexico and Taiwan.
Among them, Brad Bird’s “Incredibles 2” — the sequel to his Oscar-winning 2004 original film — appears best poised to nab a nomination, especially given its dazzling action sequences. Pixar has won the Oscar for best animated feature nine times since the category was introduced in 2001, most recently with its film “Coco” last year.
Elsewhere, two stop-motion features stand a strong chance of a nomination: “Early Man,” buoyed by the reputation of Oscar-winning director Nick Park and his Aardman Animations, and “Isle of Dogs,” from Wes Anderson, who previously received an Oscar nod for his animated film “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009).
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” won’t be released until Nov. 21, but co-director Rich Moore also has a strong track record, having directed the Academy Award-nominated original film “Wreck-It Ralph” (2012) and the Academy Award-winning “Zootopia” (2016).
Notable are twin submissions from Japanese filmmaker Masaaki Yuasa, who directed “Lu Over the Wall” and “Night Is Short, Walk On Girl.”
The other submitted films are: “Ana y Bruno;” “Fireworks;” “Have a Nice Day;” “The Laws of the Universe — Part I;” “Liz and the Blue Bird;” “MFKZ;” “Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms;” “Mirai;” “On Happiness Road;” “Ruben Brandt, Collector;” “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero;” “Tall Tales” and “Tito and the Birds.”
The Academy notes that several of the submitted films haven’t yet had a run in Los Angeles — a requirement to qualify.
The 91st Academy Award nominations will be announced Jan. 22. The Oscars ceremony will be held Feb. 24 in Hollywood.
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