2007 Animated Short Oscar Shortlist (from Cartoon Brew)

[Roachford]

Circulating amongst animators this week was the shortlist of possible Oscar nominees in the Animation Short Film category. The final nominees, chosen from this list, will be announced in February. Till then, here's what Academy members will be considering:

The Danish Poet by Torill Kove (NFB)
Everything Will Be OK by Don Hertzfeldt
Family Ties: Dreams & Desires by Joanna Quinn
Guide Dog by Bill Plympton
Lifted by Gary Rydstrom (Pixar)
Little Match Girl by Roger Allers (Disney)
Maestro directed by Géza M Toth
No Time for Nuts directed by Chris Renaud & Mike Thurmeier (Blue Sky)
Tragic Story with Happy Ending by Regina Pessoa
One Rat Short by Alex Weil

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2006_12.html#002579

[Zensho!]

No ONE MAN BAND??

that's craziness! and what's this Lifted short??

Crazy

[jstaub]

Hey Zensho, One Man Band was nominated last year - Lifted is this year's Pixar entry directed by Gary Rydstrom.

[ZooRocket]

Too bad we didnt get to see The Manits Parable up there... surprising to me to considering all the awards it won.

[Zensho!]

Really? Wow, I feel dumb, I thought that One Man Band was playing with Cars, so it was a 2006 short.

doh

[lmartell]

As long as it plays the festival circuit it can get a nod. Yeah too bad Mantis isn't shortlisted. I figured the academy would be all over a movie like that.

[jstaub]

Thanks guys. Actually, the only way to qualify for the Academy Awards is to win an Academy Qualifying festival (the cream of the crop on the world festival circuit), OR screen for paid admission in Los Angeles County for 3 consecutive days (this is the route that all of the major studios take...for example, One Man Band screened semi-secretly in LA for 3 days last year so it could qualify).

The Mantis Parable qualified for the Oscars 3 times-over last year by winning 2 Academy Qualifying festivals AND screening for paid admission in LA...however, since it qualified last year it is not allowed to compete again.

:)

[Roachford]

Best animated feature film of the year:

“Cars” (Buena Vista) John Lasseter

“Happy Feet” (Warner Bros.) George Miller

“Monster House” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Gil Kenan


Best animated short film:

“The Danish Poet” (National Film Board of Canada)
A Mikrofilm and National Film Board of Canada Production
Torill Kove

“Lifted” (Buena Vista)
A Pixar Animation Studios Production
Gary Rydstrom

“The Little Matchgirl” (Buena Vista)
A Walt Disney Pictures Production
Roger Allers and Don Hahn

“Maestro” (Szimplafilm)
A Kedd Production
Geza M. Toth

“No Time for Nuts” (20th Century Fox)
A Blue Sky Studios Production
Chris Renaud and Michael Thurmeier

Full list:
http://www.oscars.org/79academyawards/noms.html

[lmartell]

I wonder why they only nominate 3 features? I figured that Over the Hedge would have made the list.

I'm also kind of surprised that they nominate so many studio-shorts. Maybe I'm just bitter but it always gets me when I see some really good independent shorts made for less than $5,000 have to go up against million dollar productions done in a couple of months. I love those shorts and the fact that the studios are still making them, but I guess it just doesn't impress me that these guys were able to put in a little bit of time, a whole lot of money, and then grab Oscar nods from people who spent years of their lives getting their shorts finished. It's like if Spielberg decided to take a million dollars and throw together a short film in a week. Would he get nominated for an Oscar?

OK... yeah I guess I'm bitter. Oh well... back to day #863 of production on my short. :(

[AnimWatch]

I wonder why they only nominate 3 features? I figured that Over the Hedge would have made the list. It has to do with the number of films that qualify overall. If they have 15 qualified films, they can have 5 nominees. Less than 15, they can only have 3.

Evidently Luc Besson's "Arthur and the Invisibles" was judged at the 11th hour to not actually be an animated feature because the percentage of that film that was actually animated wasn't enough to qualify it as such, so that brought the shortlisted films down under that 15 film ceiling, and presto. 3 nominees instead of 5.

And if they get less qualified films, the next thing they go to is a Special Award. Perhaps a fishnet-stocking-clad leg lamp?

HERE (http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117953539.html?nav=toonpreview)'s one of the many articles trying to explain the Academy's arcane, bizarre and seemingly arbitrary rules. It was written before Besson's film got dropped, so it's particularly interesting to me.

[ZooRocket]

I love those shorts and the fact that the studios are still making them, but I guess it just doesn't impress me that these guys were able to put in a little bit of time, a whole lot of money, and then grab Oscar nods from people who spent years of their lives getting their shorts finished.

You also have to realize that these studios are making these shorts just for the purpose of grabbing oscars. As to where an independant film maker is not making a film just for that purpose, although im sure it is on their mind after the fact.

[Zensho!]

I dunno. For me, the animated shorts category holds more weight than the feature category. I mean... maybe I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but isn't the animated oscar a bit insulting?

"Oh, how cute, these animated films want in on the Oscar action... Well, since it will never win against our REAL films, we'd better make this special award just for them."

I just read a short summary of the award on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Animated_Feature

Oh well. I mean, it's not like the Academy always picks the REAL winners :) (come on! Shrek over Monster's Inc? Titanic? Shakespeare in Love? Return of the King?? -- although I know I'll get some flak for the last one).
In the end, it's just an arbitrary popularity contest dictated by a select group of people who claim to have the qualifications and credentials to let us know what the best movies are. oh, that happened to follow their rules for consideration.

[AnimWatch]

I think most serious film artists consider the Oscars to be a joke.

Until they win one.

[AnimWatch]

isn't the animated oscar a bit insulting?

"Oh, how cute, these animated films want in on the Oscar action... Well, since it will never win against our REAL films, we'd better make this special award just for them." In a way, yes. But also, how many animated features do you think are actually strong enough to compete on a level playing field as real movies against non-animated films? They counted 15 features this year in the running for an animated feature Oscar. Of those shortlisted, seriously, how many were good films in their own right?

“The Ant Bully”
“Barnyard”
“Cars”
“Curious George”
“Everyone’s Hero”
“Flushed Away”
“Happy Feet”
“Ice Age The Meltdown”
“Monster House”
“Open Season”
“Over the Hedge”
“Paprika”
“Renaissance”
“A Scanner Darkly”
“The Wild”

I think when an animated film is really working well, it can be very powerful, and can resonate at a level that appeals to a wide audience - adults as well as kids (see The Incredibles).

But I think when it comes to story, animated features tend to get a bit of a pass from the public, at least here in America. It's almost as if, so long as the film entertains the kiddies, it's OK if the story is weak, or arbitrary, or doesn't make any sense. It's harder to get away with that on a non-animated film, but of course, throw enough special effects at the screen, and you might get away with it (see your average summer blockbuster).

Perhaps many people view animated films as just one long special effect. How many times have you come out of an animated film shaking your head at the mess you've just seen, only to hear people talking about how gorgeous the graphics were? (Those leaves looked so real!)

So, the real question in my opinion, is whether many animated films are good enough to deserve Oscars in general. I really don't think animated features are pushing story as hard as they could, or should. Still, when you see an animated movie nominated for Best Picture overall, like Beauty and the Beast was in 1991, then you've got an animated film that's really earned the right to an Oscar. Since it lost the award to Silence of the Lambs, I wonder if the Academy looked at that faceoff (no pun intended) and wondered if it had been a fair fight and started thinking about an animated feature subcategory?

Food for thought, anyway...

[Zensho!]

I guess that's rub isn't it? There are a few animated movies that come along that TRULY deserve some sort of recognition or award. But for every one of them there are DOZENS of utter crap.

What happens when all you get is utter crap for the entire year. What are you going to do? NOT give out an award for best animated feature? I guess we're gonna have to give it to "Animal Barn 3."

I appreciate the academy's gesture of REALLY wanting to give out their prestigious award to an animated movie, but can't bring themselves to, so they make a whole category for it, so they can finally give them one and not feel bad for doing it. It just cheapens it for everyone.

I mean seriously, how good does it feel winning an Oscar when your "equal in competition" was Shark Tales.

(Of course, in all reality, it probably feels good enough :)

[Mikael P.]

I've found a few of those shorts online.

The Danish poet (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3011488620865796582&q=the+danish+poet )


The little matchgirl. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAHzqNSRDHg&eurl=)


Meastro (http://dekku.blogspot.com/search?q=maestro)

Anyone's spotted some of the others?

[Roachford]

I dunno. For me, the animated shorts category holds more weight than the feature category. I mean... maybe I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but isn't the animated oscar a bit insulting?


It certainly seems to be for animators:
http://www.keithlango.com/wordpress/?p=478

[Roachford]

You can watch clips from the short films here:
http://www.awn.com/oscars07/

[lmartell]

OK, I'm over my little bitterness spat. Sorry about that! :) That's a really interesting article. I guess you also have to take into account that although there's always a lot of hooplah around the oscars, it really is just a bunch of guys sitting around patting themselves on the backs.

--
EDIT
--
Removed duplicate post as requested. -Og

[TeviH]

There was a time when there was no specific oscar for animated films, and the films were of a certain quality... But then, they never really won oscars. If the studios and the general public could wrap their heads around the idea that animated films don't have to be children's stories...

There have been efforts to break this mindset, but it has always failed. Until then, there will be an animated oscars rewarding annoying kiddie films.

[edit]

I really liked maestro...

though I thought it was somewhat predictable, what with all the visual and audio cues - gears, mechanical clicking, etc - but I think it was still fun and entertaining. Don't think it was at all oscar-worthy. Cute student film at best

[AnimWatch]

You can watch clips from the short films here:
http://www.awn.com/oscars07/ After seeing the clips (or in some cases, the whole film) what do you guys think of these films?

I'm predictably excited to see the rest of the Pixar short. I thought the Blue Sky short was really great, the first thing I've seen from them that I felt was at that Best of the Best caliber across the board.

The others, I dunno. Not connecting with me today. I'll have to revisit.

[Mathias]

No time for Nuts was definatly a great fun short as far as entertainment goes.

The Little Match Girl felt like a good adaption of HC Andersens story but didnt really connect with me during my viewing.

I have yet to see Lifted and Pixar rarely dissapoints me.

The Danish Poet, I dont really know. I generally find the animation like that unappealing. Many animated shorts from Scandinavia have "that" look. In my opinion animation IS storytelling and making it look like a five years old drawing kind of is a put off for me, but that is only my own personal preference.

I liked A tragic story with a happy ending by Regina Pessoa even if it didnt get nominated.

Not sure wich one I would like to see "win". Its hard to judge different films that stand well on their own but still are very different inbetween of eachother and also do that in a fair way.

I see the Oscars as a fun gimmick. Its fun but still cant take it all that serious.
Having people loving the film or that it would mean or move anyone would be the ultimate award. Its easier for me to judge different components in a film rather than the full product.

[AnimWatch]

The Danish Poet made me very impatient, and I didn't like it very much, although I feel a little guilty saying it.

[Zensho!]

The Danish Poet made me very impatient, and I didn't like it very much, although I feel a little guilty saying it.

I gave up after the first minute when I realized there were 14 more I'd have to sit through :(

[AnimWatch]

Maestro - wow. I did not like that one bit. Decent quality of rendering, but the character design is very poor and you see the punchline coming from just about the start.

Tevi, you said it looked like a student film, and I think that's not far off the mark.

I wonder why this film got shortlisted, let alone netted a nomination?

[AnimWatch]

I gave up after the first minute [of the Danish Poet] when I realized there were 14 more I'd have to sit through :( Well, yeah. But that's what I mean. I feel bad. It's like there is no place for the slow-paced Examination of Life.

It turns out to be a nice piece, but if it were mine, I'd have wanted to edit it down to 5 minutes or so. But then you lose something from the longer format. (Hopefully, that something is not just boredom).

And I know my European Brothers would just say I'm too much the impatient American for my own good. But to them I would say... life is short.

[TeviH]

Maestro - ...

I wonder why this film got shortlisted, let alone netted a nomination?

It was just the only film left that made through all the stupid hoops of requirement to make it to the final judging round...

:D

I had zero patience for The Danish Poet. I also gave up after a minute realizing I had to sit though 14 more... And the "quality" of the animation was extremely sub-par. Sure, story is the main thing, withouth which there's no film, but for cryin out loud I'm sure they could've put a little effort into their drawing and animation...

Should I say it again? After it's been said a hundred times, by me and by everyone on the boards? Okay, fine, one last time for me...

...The Oscars are a joke. Fun. Cute. But definitely not to be taken seriously.

I'm done with this topic. Seems like it comes up every time the Oscars do.

[AnimWatch]

Oh, hey, Tevi - what do you think of the Oscars?

[Mikael P.]

Interesting reading the opinions here. I'll just chime in with my completely contrary stance.
I am guilty of being european and very scandinavian, to me the danish poet was one of the more interesting shorts there.
I don't see any of the styles as "better" like they are put here. Just different stylistic choices. To me if you make the images simpler you concentrate more on the actual storytelling and give more openings for your own imagination.
Why every animator should strive to become an animator of the disney style I fail to understand.

The rest of the shorts I was able to catch I agree with you lot on more or less.

[lmartell]

I just went back and watched them again. Was it just me or did they change the animation on the last shot of scrat? I seem to remember a slightly less PC version last time... :)

[lmartell]

I know I just posted a similar response on a different thread, but I just want to say that those clips they have up are really not very representational at all of the actual films. For some of them it's like they just snipped a random section out of each and posted it online. Especially Danish Poet and Maestro. I hated the clips but I loved the films. Just goes to show how bad marketing can completely misrepresent a good movie.

http://www.magpictures.com/profile.aspx?id=7bbddf08-5843-42cb-b62a-16eb7f38fa36

[Zensho!]

So congrats to the Danish Poet.

maybe i'll give it another shot...

[Zensho!]

Oh, and I guess to Happy Feet too. Who would've thought?

[AnimWatch]

HERE (http://animwatch.animationblogspot.com/2007/02/26/my-night-with-the-animated-nominees/)'s my take.

*shrug*

[TeviH]

Do sense a little sarcasm in that little rant?? Maybe a hint of bitter disgust?? ;)

[AnimWatch]

Sarcasm? Yeah RIGHT!!!!

Bitterness? Sez you, fella!

eh.