The primary predictor of the Animated Feature Oscar, the Annies are not the most accurate but they usually have some insight into the Oscar race. That said, they are much less accurate with the Animated Short Film category but still interesting.

ANNIE AWARDS

Legend:

Winner Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette

Runner-Up Predictions:
Wesley Lovell Pete Patrick Thomas LaTourrette

Best Animated Feature

The Bad Guys 2 Nil
Elio WL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP
Zootopia 2 TL

Wesley Lovell: It’s not inconceivable that another film could win (Elio maybe?) but this looks to be KPop‘s to lose.
Pete Patrick: Everyone else is saying K-Pop, so I guess there is no contest here.
Thomas La Tourrette: I think they will go with KPop Demon Hunters over Zootopia 2. I do not think the others stand a chance of winning.

Best Animated Feature – Independent

Arco WL PP TL
I’m Frankelda Nil
Lost in Starlight Nil
A Magnificent Life WL TL
Scarlet PP

Wesley Lovell: This one is easier to predict because there’s only one Oscar nominee on the list and it’s well regarded, so while it could go to A Magnificent Life or Scarlet, I seriously doubt it.
Pete Patrick: Oscar nominated Arco probably has the best shot at this one.
Thomas La Tourrette: I will go with Arco which managed an Oscar nomination which none of the others did.

Best Animated Short Subject

Cardboard Nil
The Girl Who Cried Pearls WL PP TL
Ovary-Acting Nil
Pillowzzz Nil
Snow Bear WL PP TL

Wesley Lovell: The sole Oscar nominee on the list is also the most likely.
Pete Patrick: The exquisite Oscar-nominated Girl Who Cried Pearls should take this one easily.
Thomas La Tourrette: The Girl Who Cried Pearls did pull off an Oscar nod which gives it more of a chance of winning. Many people thought Snow Bear might be nominated which is why I put it in second.

Best Animated Special Production

Adult Swim’s The Elephant WL PP
A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice Nil
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland WL TL
Not Just a Goof TL
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical PP

Wesley Lovell: This is a pure guess. None of these sound like a particularly dominant candidate.
Pete Patrick: I have no idea – just guessing on this one.
Thomas La Tourrette: I know nothing about these, so this is purely a guess.

Best Character Animation

The Bad Guys 2 Nil
Elio WL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP TL
Zootopia 2 Nil

Wesley Lovell: A case could be made for any of these, but I think it comes down to the top two nominees of the year with KPop edging out Elio and Zootopia 2.

Best Character Animation – Live Action

Captain America: Brave New World PP
How to Train Your Dragon WL TL
A Minecraft Movie WL
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age Nil
Superman PP TL

Wesley Lovell: This is a tough competition but the numerous dragons of How to Train Your Dragon seem more likely, but don’t count out the boxy Minecraft Movie mobs.

Best Character Design

Elio WL PP TL
Fixed Nil
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants Nil
The Twits Nil

Best Direction

Arco Nil
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Nil
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain WL PP TL
Scarlet Nil

Wesley Lovell: This typically goes to the eventual top feature winner so KPop is likely to beat out Arco with only Scarlet also being nominees in the top categories.

Best Writing

Elio WL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP
Scarlet Nil
Zootopia 2 TL

Wesley Lovell: This is where Elio could pull an upset on KPop. That said, it’s not a bet I wish to make.

Best Storyboarding

Arco Nil
The Bad Guys 2 Nil
Elio WL PP
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP TL
Zootopia 2 WL TL

Wesley Lovell: The storyboard artists at Disney tend to have the edge in this category and while Zootopia is their prestige pic, I’m leaning towards the Pixar entry, Elio.

Best Music

Arco Nil
Elio WL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP TL
Zootopia 2 Nil

Wesley Lovell: Music was such a crucial element to KPop that I can’t imagine it losing.

Best Editorial

Arco Nil
Elio WL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain PP TL
Olivia & las Nubes Nil

Wesley Lovell: With the successful editing of the film to its music beats, KPop would seem like a no-brainer.

Best Production Design

The Bad Guys 2 Nil
Elio WL PP TL
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP
The Twits Nil
Zootopia 2 TL

Best FX – Feature

The Bad Guys 2 Nil
Elio WL TL
In Your Dreams Nil
KPop Demon Hunters WL PP
Zootopia 2 PP TL

Wesley Lovell: More effects is always better and KPop would likely win that battle with all its city-wide pulsing effects.

Best Voice Acting

Arden Cho – KPop Demon Hunters WL PP TL
Remy Edgerly – Elio WL PP
Lil Rel Howery – Dog Man Nil
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan – The Twits Nil
Craig Robinson – In Your Dreams TL

Wesley Lovell: This is always one of the most difficult categories to predict. Any one of these could win but the popularity of KPop might end the discussion immediately.