Best Animated Feature Film: Ranking Every Oscar Nominee
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
You will sometimes find some duds in the Best Animated Feature Film category, as the Academy Awards’ voters don’t really want to venture too far out of their comfort zones and resort to some of the weaker family friendly flicks of the year. Other years this category is actually a great introduction to animated features that may have been overlooked by most cinephiles, like the beautifully absurd I Lost My Body, the highly creative Boy and the World, and, one of my all time favourite animated features, the painfully beautiful The Red Turtle. This year plants us right in the middle of both sides of the spectrum. Not a single film here feels like it doesn’t belong or is full-on mediocre or bad, but we’re not exactly getting exposed to the creations of the world either. Instead, we have five animated features that all thrive in their own ways. While this is an award that honours an entire film, I feel like this Oscar also rewards the films with the best animation, strong ideas, and other creative liberties. Here are your nominees.
Biggest Snub: Inu-Oh
While I wouldn’t demand that any of the finalists be removed at once, I would like to use this opportunity to once again bring up how the Academy Awards are quite negligent of the world of anima (outside of when Studio Ghibli releases a film, I suppose). Inu-Oh is a stunning anime feature by Masaaki Yuasa that celebrates art, music, and life. Give it a watch. You may be pleasantly surprised.
5. The Sea Beast
The Sea Beast is easily last, but not because I think it’s a bad film. I like this one quite a bit. I just find it a bit bloated and overlong, but I can acknowledge the ambition behind this feature; it takes me back to some of the adventurous, animated projects of the late 90s and early aughts that never took off like they should have. The animation here is sensational, and I feel like I can feel the digital textures just by looking at them. The Sea Beast is still worth a watch if you haven’t gotten around to it: when the film falters, you will still find the love of an entire cast and crew behind each and every moment.
4. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Don’t attack me for having Puss in Boots: The Last Wish this low. I found the film a little more juvenile in a few minor ways (particularly the comedic elements), which I’m sure isn’t the general consensus surrounding this film. What I will agree with is how mature its serious tones are, how jaw-dropping its storybook-style animation is, and how good a franchise sequel ten years removed from its spinoff first film is. If anything, it’s easily one of Dreamworks’ strongest releases (for sure their best in years), and I will sing this film’s praises at any given moment for defying so many odds; I just preferred the other three nominees just a little more.
3. Turning Red
Of the sillier, more-fun Pixar films, I think Turning Red is one of the better offerings from the studio. It cleverly combines a coming-of-age story with cultural symbolism, animated splendour, and an even larger tale about family dynamics. There’s no clear cut villain, no massive goal (outside of the lead character keeping her transformative powers under control so she can see a boy band in concert, against her mother’s wishes), and no quality that tries to make Turning Red feel larger-than-life. It flat out is life. It just is presented in an interesting way. Turning Red is told with love, nostalgia, and so much imagination. I know it’s been shrugged off a little bit since it’s almost a year old now (and, again, a sillier Pixar film that isn’t one of their top-tier, super-serious masterworks), but I think Turning Red has staying power that will pop up in the consciousness of fans for years to come.
2. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Ah, yes. The little film that could. From a viral YouTube video a decade ago to one of the top indie films of 2022, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On has won over so many audiences across the globe (and it has now made it all the way to the Academy Awards). This stop motion film toys with live action enough that Marcel nearly went against Academy guidelines, but luckily it was considered for a nomination because it absolutely deserves it. The touching story about a teeny, tiny shell (obviously named Marcel) and his ailing grandmother’s quest to be reunited with the rest of their family is adorable. It’s an inspired film in so many ways, from the mockumentary-style filmmaking, to the cute score that sounds like it was created by found objects (much like Marcel’s entire ecosystem). Don’t be deceived, though: Marcel has a lot to say about online culture, communication in the modern age, and the necessity to be surrounded by loved ones.
1. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
As much as I love Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, I’m placing Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio in first by a hair. The stop motion animation here is to die for. The adaptation of the classic story of Pinocchio to fit the era of fascist Italy is so smart, I don’t even know where to begin with that choice. This Pinocchio is definitely darker than most that have ever been made, but it also isn’t edgy. Guillermo del Toro and company have made this story their own: Geppetto crafts the titular child out of the grief surrounding the death of his son, Pinocchio wants to be mortal, not a “real” boy (an essential statement on love for one’s self no matter who they are), he can reach the afterworld and reevaluate his life on multiple occasions. There is so much life and inspiration in this version of Pinocchio that it’s no wonder that the film has made such a splash. In case it isn’t already blatant, this may go down as one of the definitive versions of this often-adapted story.
My review of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Who I want to win: I’d be the most happy with either Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio or Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, but I’ll go with Pinocchio, because 1) I have it ranked at the top of this list, and 2) Guillermo del Toro deserves it after the whole Disney fiasco (also, shoutout to the lack of nominations for that Pinocchio).
Who I think will win: I currently think Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is unstoppable.
Tune in tomorrow for our next Academy Award category! We’re reviewing every single nominee on every weekday.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.