For the young and the young at heart, the Academy Awards has expanded its animated film slate for next year to accommodate two more nominees.
With a record 20 movies submitted for consideration in the 82nd Oscar Awards, the Academy decided to allow five films to vie for the animated category from the usual three movies annually.
In its seven-year history, the only other time when as much movies were nominated was in 2002 (which was also its first year). At that time, Hayao Miyazaki’s fantasy Spirited Away took home the prize against Ice Age, Lilo & Stitch, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and Treasure Planet.
Academy rules states that at least 16 eligible films must be submitted, but this year’s generous collection of movies prompted the Academy to loosen up. It also announced earlier that it will double its Best Picture roster to ten.
The 20 hopefuls this year are led by Walt Disney and Pixar’s box office phenomenon UP, 20th Century Fox’ Fantastic Mr. Fox, DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures’ Monsters vs Aliens and Laika, Inc.’s Coraline.
The other animated films that are trying to make the cut are Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Astro Boy, Battle for Terra, The Dolphin- Story of a Dreamer, Mary and Max, The Missing Lynx, 9, Planet 51, Ponyo, The Princess and the Frog, The Secret of Kells, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure and A Town Called Panic.
The last set of nominees includes Walt Disney’s Bolt, DreamWork’s Animation Kung Fu Panda and Pixar’s Wall-E, which subsequently took home the trophy.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, the 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced while the awarding ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 7, 2010. (Grace R)
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