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2005 Animated Feature Oscar Analysis

2005 was actually one of the best years up until this point for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film category. What we have here is one solid Ghibli outing, and two great stop-motion vehicles, directed by Tim Burton and Nick Park respectively. Yes, in what is truly a rare phenomenon, one hand-drawn movie and two stop-motion ones were nominated with no CGI flick in sight.

My Ranking of the Nominees:

3. Howl’s Moving Castle

It feels very weird putting a Studio Ghibli film last, but I had to do it as this is one of their most overrated entries in my opinion. Yes, the world building, attention to detail and the animation are truly mesmerizing as is the central relationship in it, but the movie leaves a lot of plot points and explanations unanswered and it’s overall a much messier, infinitely inferior version of ‘Spirited Away’. I am glad they nominated it, but still there were a handful of better Ghibli films that did not receive a nomination.

2. Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride is, like the movie above, much better upon second viewing. Though it has its smaller problems such as the middle section and some unnecessary music here and there, the movie overall is a visual and atmospheric treat that remains one of the better efforts from the wonderful Tim Burton. The ending is truly moving, the entire premise is downright splendid for this medium and the execution is more than solid with gorgeous-looking bluish black-and-white animation and a fantastic titular character.

1. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is an immensely enjoyable, charming, endearing and just such a wonderful film filled with exquisite animation, such lovable characters, very good plot and some goofy humor. The third act isn’t as great, but this is still one of Aardman’s very best movies with entertaining and humorous results. It has a big heart and it is just so lovable in almost every regard. I am so glad that the Academy fully recognized this movie as the shift from short to feature medium was almost seamless for this duo. It was clearly the best animated film of this entire admittedly weaker year for animation.