The Annies have a hit-or-miss record with predicting the Oscars and their top categories can rarely suggest a change in direction but can affirm a frontrunner.
ANNIE AWARDS
Best Animated Feature
The Boy and the Heron (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Nimona
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter)
Suzume
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wesley Lovell: Will the critics’ choice, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continue its relative dominance or can The Boy and the Heron turn things around. A Boy and the Heron win might suggest that but Spider-Man is the far more likely winner.
Pete Patrick: It will either be The Boy and the Heron or Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. I’m going with the former rather than the latter but either could win.
Thomas La Tourette: This feels like it is Spider-Man’s to lose, and that seems unlikely. There could be a sentimental push for Miyazaki Hazao’s probable final film, The Boy and the Heron, but I expect Spider-Man to win.
Best Animated Feature – Independent
Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia (RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
Four Souls of Coyote
The Inventor (RU:Wesley)
Robot Dreams (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
White Plastic Sky
Wesley Lovell: With one Oscar nominee against a slate of non-nominees, Robot Dreams undoubtedly has the edge, but The Inventor could surprise.
Pete Patrick: The Oscar nominated Robot Dreams probably has the best chance at winning here with the Ernest & Celestine sequel as likely as any to upset.
Thomas La Tourette: I have heard good things about Robot Dreams, so I will choose it to win.
Best Animated Short Subject
Carne de Dios
Daffy in Wackyland
Humo (RU:Wesley)
Pina (RU:Peter, RU:Thomas)
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
Wesley Lovell: War Is Over! is the only Oscar nominee of the bunch, which gives it an edge; however, without having the direct competition, it’s impossible to say if any of these other titles will win out in the end.
Pete Patrick: The Oscar nominated War Is Over! should be the front-runner. I’ll go with Pina as the closest runner-up.
Thomas La Tourette: I will go with the Oscar nominated War Is Over! to win. It is the only one of them I have heard of.
Best Animated Special Production
Invincible: Atom Eve
Shape Island: The Winter Blues
The Smeds and the Smoos (Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie (Peter)
The Velveteen Rabbit (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Wesley Lovell: This bunch isn’t as Oscar-packed as it has been in the past, so a guess is all I can make.
Pete Patrick: I really have no idea – just going with the familiar Snoopy and Velveteen Rabbit here.
Best Character Animation
The Boy and the Heron (Peter, RU:Thomas)
Elemental (Wesley, Thomas)
Nimona (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
Suzume
Wesley Lovell: Elemental has the benefit of being a unique environment with unique characters. Boy and the Heron is a traditional anime effort while, so I’m doubtful of its potential despite being one of the two Oscar nominees for Animated Feature in this category.
Best Character Animation – Live Action
Ahsoka
Cocaine Bear
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
The Little Mermaid (RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (RU:Peter)
Wesley Lovell: Guardians of the Galaxy has the Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects while none of the others do. It’s possible the television program Ahsoka could top all the other film nominees, but it’s difficult to know for sure.
Best Character Design
Elemental (RU:Peter)
Merry Little Batman
Nimona (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Thomas)
Wesley Lovell: While I’m tempted to go Elemental here, Spider-Man is certainly a fascinating feature. As is Nimona, so it might be a toss-up with Elemental a very close third in my estimations.
Best Storyboarding
The Boy and the Heron (Wesley, Peter, RU:Thomas)
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Thomas)
Nimona (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Robot Dreams
Suzume
Wesley Lovell: If there’s a place that 2-D animation has an advantage, it’s this category. There are no Disney or Pixar works to win in a romp, so we’ll go for the more popular The Boy and the Heron, though I could see any of the others winning as well.
Best Direction
Pablo Berger, Benoît Feroumont – Robot Dreams
Nick Bruno, Troy Quane – Nimona
Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Thomas, RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Hayao Miyazaki – The Boy and the Heron (Wesley, Peter, RU:Thomas)
Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wesley Lovell: While this category doesn’t split often, I can’t imagine it not splitting now. While Spider-Man is popular, Hayao Miyazaki is revered. I can see him easily winning this.
Best Voice Acting
Jack Black – The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Wesley, RU:Peter)
Tresi Gazal – Migration
David Hornsby – Merry Little Batman
Hokuto Matsumura – Suzume (RU:Thomas)
Chloë Grace Moretz – Nimona (Peter, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
Wesley Lovell: The Annies have gone in strange directions with this category, so never count out someone like Hokuto Matsamura. I think Jack Black probably has the best claim to this award because of all the weaknesses of Super Mario Bros., his performance was not among them. Then again, Chloë Grace Moretz could be a stealth choice as could any of the others.
Best Writing
The Boy and the Heron (Wesley, Peter)
Nimona (Thomas, RU:Peter)
Robot Dreams (RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Suzume
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wesley Lovell: Once again, Miyazaki has the upper hand, especially without Spider-Man here and with such a deft hand at world building, I’d be surprised if The Boy and the Heron didn’t win.
Best Music
The Boy and the Heron (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Elemental (RU:Thomas)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
Suzume
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wesley Lovell: Three of these titles were in competition for the Oscars, Boy and the Heron, Elemental, and Spider-Man were major players this year; however, none of them made the Oscar nominees list for score. I’d suggest that Spider-Man had the most precursor support but watch out for Joe Hisaishi who is a legend among fans of anime in general and Miyazaki in specific.
Best Editorial
Elemental (RU:Wesley)
Leo (RU:Thomas)
Nimona (RU:Peter)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wesley Lovell: The most action heavy is usually the winner here and Spider-Man is certainly well regarded in that respect. Of course, Nimona and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles also featured heavy action sequences. In the end, I doubt either of them prevails and Elemental could rep one of the few Disney/Pixar wins of the night.
Best Production Design
The Boy and the Heron (Peter, RU:Wesley)
Elemental
Nimona
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (RU:Thomas)
Wesley Lovell: It’s a tough call. All of them have a chance and while Spider-Man might seem familiar thanks to its predecessor, it’s still a beautiful design palette. I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of the others win either.
Best FX – Feature
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (RU:Thomas)
Elemental (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
The Peasants
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Wesley, Peter, Thomas)
Suzume
Wesley Lovell: Best Animated Feature usually carries home the most awards of the night and in terms of effects, Spider-Man was a finalist for the Oscar, so if it didn’t win, I’d be surprised. The water and fire effects in Elemental could surprise though.
