Originally Posted By dagobert DM 2 is nominated? Really? The first one was terrible with all these stupid jokes. We didn't even bother to watch the second one.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Miyazaki-san is retiring. Need I say more?> If only Academy members who were involved in animation voted for this award, I'd say WR was a shoo-in, for just that reason. But, as with Best Picture, doesn't every Academy member get a vote here? I could be wrong, but I think so. And that reduces the chances of WR. I would think it would be neck and neck between WR and Frozen. E&C was wonderful, but neither seen by many people nor made by a retiring legend. I'm surprised MU didn't get the nod too. I thought DM2 would get a nod, not because it was particularly good, but just because it made soooooo much money. I think the biggest grossing animated film has gotten a nom every year since the category started, no? I thought Croods would be the one to get shut out.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>But, as with Best Picture, doesn't every Academy member get a vote here? I could be wrong, but I think so.<< Bingo. Many of the votes will come from people whose only interest in animation is using the screener DVDs to keep their kids quiet. I once read that an alarmingly high percentage of Academy members let their kids do the voting in this category! I doubt they're going to pick "The Wind Rises" over Olaf and the Minions. (Although if the screener for "Ernest and Celestine" has an English track, look out!) The "retiring legend" already has a Best Animated Feature Oscar. WDFA doesn't.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <The "retiring legend" already has a Best Animated Feature Oscar. WDFA doesn't.> True. Although they may figure WDFA has a zillion more chances and HM, if indeed he retired, would not. Oscars can be very sentimental that way. Of course, if he's not retiring, that kind of renders that moot.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Hard to overcome all that, unless you're "Spirited Away" … and "The Wind Rises" isn't quite on that level.>> I always struggle to compare fantasy and non-fantasy movies. Both Up On Poppy Hill and The Wind Rises are both great movies and very comparable to Spirited Away.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Of course, if he's not retiring, that kind of renders that moot.<< AFAIK, *HE* hasn't said he's not retiring. It's mostly his colleagues saying they don't believe it. Someone from Disney's awards promotion department needs to tell them to shoosh. And he only retired from directing features, not from working altogether. I believe he even said in his announcement that he was going to continue drawing manga. A bit too busy to go off on a Googling expedition at the moment though ...
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Both Up On Poppy Hill and The Wind Rises are both great movies and very comparable to Spirited Away.<< I don't think so, in that both of those rely on "cheap melodrama" for much of their appeal - heartstring tugging with sad music. Not that he's bad at it. Heck, he's FANTASTIC at it. But I put that at a lower quality level, just in general, than the goings on in his earlier works.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <AFAIK, *HE* hasn't said he's not retiring. It's mostly his colleagues saying they don't believe it. Someone from Disney's awards promotion department needs to tell them to shoosh.> Assuming Disney wants Frozen to win, I'd say they need to tell his colleagues the opposite - talk that up. Then promo can say Hey, didja' hear he's not retiring? All his buddies say so. No need to give him the Oscar this year - he'll have plenty more chances. Meanwhile, have you guys seen Frozen? GOOD, huh?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 < heartstring tugging with sad music.> My favorite parody thereof, directed by none other than Spike Jonze: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBqhIVyfsRg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...hIVyfsRg</a>
Originally Posted By leemac <<I don't think so, in that both of those rely on "cheap melodrama" for much of their appeal - heartstring tugging with sad music.>> That's been a hallmark of Ghibli since forever. Poppy Hill is probably the least sentimental movie from the studio that I can remember in a long time.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>That's been a hallmark of Ghibli since forever.<< Not the Miyazaki ones. Even Totoro, which has a TB patient as a major character just like "The Wind Rises", doesn't milk it the way "Wind" does. Heck, Naoko was added to "Wind" for the SOLE PURPOSE of being a TB patient - and she's a totally invented character in an allegedly biographical movie! I thought "Poppy Hill" was totally cheesy and not that well-directed. We'll have to agree to disagree on that one, I guess. (It was directed by Goro.)
Originally Posted By mawnck >>So does Get a Horse have any chance at winning?<< I haven't seen the others. But, yes.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "I haven't seen the others." I don't know when I've been more disappointed in you than I am right now.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I don't know when I've been more disappointed in you than I am right now.<< Think how disappointed I am in the shorts festivals I went to in 2013! There's usually a package screening of them at a local theater before the ceremony. I'll weigh in on my thoughts if I can get to it. Although this category is nothing if not unpredictable.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead Frozen is recent and a blockbuster. I would be really shocked if it lost. I think WR and E&C are more likely to split the non-Frozen vote than give Frozen any competition. And I really think the MU snub is Hollywood's way of telling Pixar to get back to making art. I will admit I may be projecting.
Originally Posted By mawnck <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/award-season-focus/monsters-university-director-dan-scanlon-responds-to-not-being-nominated-for-oscar-94855.html">http://www.cartoonbrew.com/awa...855.html</a> By the way, Pixar was completely shut out. No noms for anything. The last time that happened was 2000.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Nominee Statement from Director Hayao Miyazaki “I and my colleagues are deeply honored that the Academy has chosen to nominate The Wind Rises, my last film, for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. It is indeed a privilege for all of us who worked on the film to see it get this acclaim from so far away. I am, personally, very gratified to receive such an honor, and wish to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Academy and thank everyone who has made the film such a success. I hope that many people will see the film after it opens in North American theaters soon.”<< Statements from some of the other nominees are also at the link: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.cartoonbrew.com/award-season-focus/animation-oscar-nominations-full-coverage-94788.html">http://www.cartoonbrew.com/awa...788.html</a> (and now I REALLY want to see "Feral") <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://danielsousa.com/feral.html">http://danielsousa.com/feral.html</a>
