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Author: VANAS

Why Animated Movies Deserve More Recognition at the Oscars

Table of Contents

1. Why This Year is Huge for Animation
2. The Push for Awards in Animation
3. Why Animated Movies Don’t Get More Attention
4. Why Animation Deserves the Spotlight
5. How Animated Movies Tackle Big Issues
6. Can Animation Break Into Best Picture?
7. Frequently Asked Questions

Why This Year is Huge for Animation

Animation is having a major moment this year. We’ve seen animated movies covering everything from robots and cats to deep emotions that hit home. These films are just as creative and impactful as the biggest Hollywood dramas and musicals, yet they often don’t get the same hype.

This year, though, two big studios, DreamWorks Animation and Pixar, are campaigning for their films, The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2, to not only win Best Animated Feature but to break into the Best Picture category at the Oscars. That’s right—they’re aiming for the top award. And why not? Just because they’re animated doesn’t mean they’re any less awesome. So, is this the year animation finally gets the attention it deserves?

By the way, if you’re interested in getting into Animation, Visual Effects, or Video Games, VANAS Online Animation School offers programs to help launch your career. Check out VANAS.ca for more info.

The Push for Awards in Animation

This year, The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2 are launching big-time campaigns for awards. The Wild Robot even won the Audience Award at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, beating out 122 other movies, including some heavy-hitting live-action films. That’s a huge deal! Imagine a robot movie beating out a historical epic or a major musical. This just shows that animated films are totally capable of standing out alongside live-action films.

And it’s not just the big studios. IFC Films, a smaller distributor, is pushing for Memoirs of a Snail, an animated movie aimed at adults, to get a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Usually, if an animated movie gets a screenplay nomination, it’s from Disney or Pixar. But this time, there’s a chance for an indie animated movie to break through. The excitement is real!

Why Animated Movies Don’t Get More Attention

Animated movies are so much more than “just for kids,” but unfortunately, that stereotype sticks. Many people assume that because a movie is animated, it’s automatically meant for children. But that’s just not true. Think about movies like Coco and The Breadwinner—these films tackle serious topics like family, death, and culture in ways that go way beyond a simple kids’ movie.

Making an animated movie is also a massive project. It requires everything from storyboarding and voice acting to the tech work of rendering entire worlds from scratch. Just because it’s animated doesn’t make it any less complicated or impressive than a live-action film.

Why Animation Deserves the Spotlight

So, why does animation deserve more credit? Animated movies are creative in ways live-action films just can’t be. With animation, artists can bring anything they imagine to life—whether it’s a world where emotions have their own personalities (Inside Out) or a world of talking animals (Zootopia). These stories go beyond what’s possible in the real world, allowing creators to show us things we’d never otherwise get to see.

One movie hoping to break new ground is Piece by Piece, an animated documentary. Yep, that’s right—a documentary in animation. Only one animated film (Flee, from Denmark) has ever been nominated for Best Documentary Feature, so if Piece by Piece makes it, it would be another big win for animation.

How Animated Movies Tackle Big Issues

Animated films often dive into complex themes that resonate with everyone, not just kids. For example, The Wild Robot explores the idea of humanity and self-discovery, while Inside Out 2 looks at managing emotions, something that everyone can relate to. And who says animation can’t be deep?

Even though animated films deal with real issues, the Academy and other award groups tend to overlook them when it comes to categories like Best Picture. That’s unfortunate because animation is a powerful tool for storytelling—it can make you laugh, cry, or think about the world differently. Animated films deserve to be seen as equals to live-action films.

Can Animation Break Into Best Picture?

Ever since the Oscars expanded the Best Picture category to allow up to 10 nominees in 2009, people have been predicting that animation would finally have a chance. Some animated movies, like Soul, Pinocchio, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, have come close, but it’s still rare for an animated film to break into the Best Picture lineup. In Oscar history, only three animated films—Beauty and the Beast, Up, and Toy Story 3—have made it into the Best Picture category.

Wouldn’t it be cool to see an animated movie take home that top award? It would be a groundbreaking moment, especially if a popular, high-grossing film like Inside Out 2 makes it in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don’t animated movies get more recognition?

• Animated films often face the stereotype of being “just for kids,” which can lead to them being overlooked for major awards. But as more animated movies tackle complex themes, they’re starting to change this perception.

What are some animated films that have been nominated for Best Picture?

• Only three animated movies have ever been nominated for Best Picture: Beauty and the Beast, Up, and Toy Story 3. Hopefully, more will join them soon.

Do animated movies get nominated for other major categories?

• Yes, animated movies have been nominated in categories like Best Original Screenplay (e.g., Toy Story) and Best Documentary Feature (Flee). However, these nominations are still pretty rare.

Is it harder to make an animated movie than a live-action one?

• Both have unique challenges, but animated movies require a lot of technical work, like storyboarding, voice acting, and rendering visuals from scratch. It’s a highly creative and technical process that deserves just as much recognition.

Animation is a powerful medium that brings unique and unforgettable stories to life. Whether it’s a tale of a robot discovering itself or a documentary told through animation, this art form has so much to offer—and it deserves the spotlight.

To explore your passion for animation, VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs to help you launch your career. Visit VANAS.ca to learn more.