(Source: www.animated-news.com)
Cars now has serious competition on Oscar night. While Disney/Pixar's animated flick earned kudos from the National Board of Review, Warner Bros.' Happy Feet pulled some big-time support from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, which named the movie 2006's Best Animated Film. The LAFCA gave Cars the runner-up spot.
Not only that, the American Film Institute put out its Top 10 Movies of 2006. Here's the complete list:
- Babel
- Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Dreamgirls
- Half Nelson
- Happy Feet
- Inside Man
- Letters From Iwo Jima
- Little Miss Sunshine
- United 93
As you see, Cars didn't even make the list. What does this mean for Oscar night? If Happy Feet continues its run at the Annies, then John Lasseter and Pixar can pretty much give up, since the Annie winner has always taken home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film in previous years.
My thought? Cars' rep as one of Pixar's second-tier efforts is pretty much set in stone, both from a critical and box office perspective, while Happy Feet has pulled in both critical plaudits for its animation and controversy for its environmental message. AMPAS voters may look at Disney and Pixar and say, "You've won before; don't get cocky" while honouring Happy Feet will be a nice middle finger for America's Right Wing and the Bush administration.
So here's my prediction: when it comes to animation Oscar, think Happy Feet.
