October 22.2024.
The 2025 Oscars: A Competitive Year for Best Animated Feature
The 2025 Academy Awards promise a thrilling competition for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, featuring both familiar faces and bold newcomers. The field showcases an impressive array of visual styles, storytelling approaches, and emotional depths, reflecting the creativity and innovation of today's animation landscape. Nomination voting takes place from January 8-12, with official Oscar nominations announced on January 17, 2025. The 97th Oscars ceremony will air live on March 2, 2025, on ABC. Let's delve into the most likely contenders and some underdogs who could surprise us.
Frontrunners: The Animated Features Leading the Race
1. Inside Out 2 (Pixar/Disney)
Pixar is back in the spotlight with Inside Out 2, a sequel to the beloved 2015 film that captured hearts and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The follow-up explores 13-year-old Riley's life, this time delving into the emotion of anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, who leads a stellar cast that includes Amy Poehler (Joy), Phyllis Smith (Sadness), and Lewis Black (Anger). With Inside Out 2 making a record-breaking $1.6 billion worldwide, the film's commercial success adds to its momentum as an Oscar favorite.
The new director, Kelsey Mann, brings fresh energy while expanding the film's imaginative world. Key additions include Riley's “Belief System” and “Sense of Self,” vividly rendered environments that contribute to the story's thematic depth. The visual nostalgia of “Bloofy's House,” Riley's favorite 2D preschool show, adds a charming retro touch, enriching the animation with a blend of modern and classic elements.
2. The Wild Robot (DreamWorks/Universal)
DreamWorks' The Wild Robot stands out as the most prominent non-sequel contender, directed by Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon). Adapted from Peter Brown's illustrated novel, the story follows Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong'o), a robot that learns to survive on an uninhabited island alongside its animal inhabitants. The heartwarming relationship between Roz and an orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor) adds emotional weight to the film.
DreamWorks achieved a remarkable aesthetic by embracing a hand-drawn style reminiscent of Tyrus Wong's watercolor backgrounds in Bambi. Utilizing modern technology, the studio hand-painted the environments, creating a fusion of traditional 2D animation with cutting-edge techniques that give Roz and the animals a textured, organic look. The film's exploration of the relationship between technology and nature feels timely and relevant, making it a strong competitor.
3. Memoir of a Snail (IFC)
Memoir of a Snail, this year's Annecy Cristal winner, is a deeply personal claymation feature directed by Adam Elliot, known for his unique style of monochromatic stop-motion. The story follows Gracie (voiced by Sarah Snook), who narrates her life in letters to her favorite snail, Sylvia, while dealing with trauma and longing for her twin brother Gilbert (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Elliot's mastery of melancholic storytelling is evident, and the film's distinctive visual style sets it apart in the crowded race.
4. Flow (Sideshow/Janus Films)
Latvia's official submission for the International Feature Oscar, Flow is a dialogue-free adventure directed by Gints Zilbalodis. The story revolves around a group of animals—a cat, capybara, lemur, stork, and dog—surviving on a boat in a post-flood world. The film's immersive camera work, combined with a soft CG rendering achieved through Blender, gives it a dreamlike quality that enhances the emotional experience. The attention to visual storytelling and world-building could attract voters who appreciate more experimental animation.
5. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Aardman/Netflix)
Aardman Animations' beloved characters Wallace and Gromit return in Vengeance Most Fowl, a stop-motion adventure involving a rogue “smart gnome” and the reappearance of the villainous Feathers McGraw. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, the film combines classic British humor with Aardman's signature claymation style. The nostalgia factor, along with its clever plot, could give it an edge in the race.
Dark Horses: Potential Surprises in the Animated Feature Race
1. Ultraman: Rising (Netflix)
Directed by animation veteran Shannon Tindle, Ultraman: Rising reimagines the iconic Japanese superhero for a new generation. The story follows Ken Sato, a baseball player turned kaiju-fighting hero, who struggles with the responsibilities of fatherhood and heroism. With stunning 2D aesthetics influenced by manga and anime, coupled with ILM's VFX expertise, the film's visuals could sway Academy members who appreciate animation with a distinct artistic flair.
2. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (Ketchup Entertainment)
This Looney Tunes film marks the franchise's first fully 2D-animated theatrical feature, starring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they uncover an alien mind-control plot. Directed by Pete Browngardt, the film stays true to the slapstick humor and animation style that made Looney Tunes iconic. While it might not have the emotional depth of some other contenders, its nostalgia and entertainment value make it a potential surprise nominee.
Other Notable Contenders
Moana 2 (Disney)
Initially conceived as a Disney+ series, Moana 2 evolved into a full-fledged feature film following the success of early development. Directed by David Derrick Jr. and co-directors Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, the sequel takes Moana on a quest to find the lost island of Motufetu, with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Maui. The lush animation and rich cultural storytelling could earn it a spot among the nominees.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros.)
Kenji Kamiyama's The War of the Rohirrim delves into the history of Middle-earth with a focus on Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan. The 2D animation, combined with performance capture and Unreal Engine technology, brings a distinct visual style to the franchise. While its darker tone might limit its appeal to broader audiences, it stands out for its ambitious storytelling and stylistic choices.
The Glassworker (Pakistan)
Representing Pakistan, The Glassworker is a hand-drawn 2D animation directed by Usman Riaz. The story revolves around a young glassblower named Vincent and his father, Tomas, who navigate the challenges of running their workshop amid an impending war. Its visual beauty and heartfelt narrative could make it a surprise contender.
Critical Analysis: The Evolving Landscape of Animated Films
The 2025 Oscars' animated feature category showcases a diverse range of storytelling techniques, from big-budget sequels like Inside Out 2 to innovative independent films such as Memoir of a Snail. The field highlights how animation continues to evolve, blending traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology to push the medium's boundaries. Pixar's return to form with Inside Out 2 and DreamWorks' artistic leap in The Wild Robot are particularly noteworthy, as they signal a resurgence in quality from the industry's giants.
However, the rise of smaller studios and international films adds a new dynamic to the competition. Features like Flow and The Glassworker demonstrate that compelling stories and unique visual styles can stand toe-to-toe with mainstream offerings, broadening the scope of what animated storytelling can achieve.
This year's animated feature race feels especially invigorating, with many films challenging the boundaries of the medium and daring to tell emotionally resonant stories. Inside Out 2 seems poised to dominate, yet it's the diversity of films—from indie projects like Memoir of a Snail to international entries like Flow—that truly showcases the growth and depth of animation as a cinematic art form.
Conclusion: Who Will Win?
While Inside Out 2 appears to be the frontrunner, other films, such as The Wild Robot and Flow, have strong cases to make. With such a varied field, the Best Animated Feature Oscar could go in an unexpected direction, rewarding boldness and creativity.
What do you think?
Which film are you rooting for to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar? Do you prefer sequels or more original stories in animated films? Let us know your thoughts!
