Animation and the Academy
The academy's relationship with the animated field has been a neglectful one. As of 2011 only three films have been nominated for Best Picture. That figure would be four had the Academy exhibited better judgment in their selection of films in 2009 (WALL-E should have easily slipped by The Reader). With the addition of the ten slots rule an animated film has made it to the big dance two years in a row.
Whether or not more nominations will yield a win is yet to be seen, but this year seemed like the best opportunity for an animated film to take the prize. Toy Story 3 was met with almost-universal acclaim and - up until the inclusion of The Social Network and The King's Speech - was many critic's number one film.
UP was my favorite film of last year and had I an ballot I would have placed it firmly at #1. Another deserving candidate would have been Beauty and the Beast, but Silence of the Lambs had everything all but sealed early on. For many animated films are easy to discriminate against because they do not know how painstaking it is to make an animated feature. Some don't care to find out.
Who knows? Maybe next year will be the year, but more likely it will be a long time before we hear an animated film take home the Best Picture Oscar. But that day will come.
(Courtesy: Border Stylo)
(Courtesy: Border Stylo)
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