Oscars Predictions: Best Animated Feature

Oscars Predictions: Best Animated Feature – ‘Soul’ Opens for Audiences on Disney Plus and Awards Voters

Variety’s Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year’s contenders in all categories. Variety’s Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.

AWARDS COMMENTARY:

When assessing the competition of any animated feature race, Pixar is always a studio to put your money on as the favorite. With the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the cinematic year, it’s become more of a level-playing field with beloved films like “Wolfwalkers” from Apple TV Plus and GKIDS looking to get their first trophy and “Over the Moon” from Netflix looking to take advantage of a split vote between Pixar’s “Soul” or even “Onward.”

Best Animated Feature awards history:

The animated feature category was introduced in 2001 when “Shrek” was the first awarded. There are five animators that have won this award twice: Brad Bird, Pete Docter, Jonas Rivera, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich. Bird and Docter are also among the most nominated with three, along with Ron Clements, Dean DeBlois, Travis Knight, Hayao Miyazaki, Rich Moore and Chris Sanders.

By Clayton Davis/Variety