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2008 Animated Feature Oscar Analysis

2008 wasn’t the greatest year for animation, but it does have its hidden gems. Of course those gems weren’t nominated for the Oscar. Instead, we got one of the most typical US-centered slates that contains a Disney, a Pixar and a DreamWorks feature. Though the right movie won, the other nominees could have been better chosen.

My Ranking of the Nominees:

3. Bolt

Bolt is a lot of fun, there is no denying its entertainment factor. And its cutesy factor of course. If you are an animal lover and especially a dog and cat person, you’re gonna love this movie. However, it’s just not one of the better dog-centered animated films. It never reached ‘101 Dalmatians’ or ‘Lady and the Tramp’ classic status. Its plot is pretty forgettable when all is said and done, and though I liked all of the characters, I found the technical aspects and the entire movie far from memorable. It’s the weakest nominee here.

2. Kung Fu Panda

The original Kung Fu Panda movie is by far the best one in the franchise that clearly struggled afterward. It’s actually quite sophisticated and spiritual in some of its themes while its animation is gorgeous and wonderfully Eastern in its influences. The action is the selling point as it’s exhilarating and brilliantly executed. However, the movie became too kiddie-oriented and goofy in its second half with all of that humor and tonal inconsistencies. It’s overall one of the better DreamWorks flicks, but not one of the best.

1. WALL-E

If you thought that romance and science fiction do not get along well, you should think again because WALL-E is here to stay. It’s the kind of movie that appeals to both kids and adults, which Pixar does best. Its animation is state of the art gorgeous and the movie is quite sophisticated in its themes. But above all else, it features two instantly recognizable main characters who share wonderful interactions together. Its silent first half was impressive and risky for a major studio animation, but it paid off significantly, leading to one of the bravest, most rewarding films from the studio and a worthy Oscar winner for sure.

Films That Should Have Been Nominated:

Sita Sings the Blues – Artist Nina Paley is one of the most underrated when it comes to animation. Her films are very unique and different. Sita Sings the Blues remains her finest effort so far with such a distinctive style to it and a plethora of interesting themes well explored. It also serves as a very fun musical.

Horton Hears a Who! – Blue Sky Studios is an inferior animation studio that produces sequel after sequel. But this one is different. This movie actually serves Dr. Seuss justice by bringing his source material and his sensibilities wonderfully to the big screen with great character designs, humor and storytelling. It’s a hugely underappreciated flick.

Ponyo – Ponyo is such a charming, cozy and wonderfully endearing family film. It has its problems such as some of the character designs and the unoriginality of the plot, but still Miyazaki added enough quirks and interesting ideas to make it his own story. Ponyo and Sosuke are lovely  characters and their wonderful interactions are the highlights here.