You Heard It Here First...

Depending on the release date of Miyazaki's 'Ponyo on the Cliff' (Top Right), I'm willing to make a VERY early prediction on the animated film Oscar nominees for the 2009 film year. They certainly present a much more exciting prospect than this year's shortlist (with the glorious exception of 'Wall-E'). In terms of the win, Pixar always has the upper hand but 'Coraline' should be the spoiler and one should never discount Miyazaki who managed to take the 2002 award for 'Spirited Away' in an overwhelming (and rare) example of quality over box office. 'Coraline' director Henry Selick looks like he's going to deliver another masterpiece in the mold of his previous 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'. That classic did not win best animated feature because the category didn't exist in 1993. The Oscar's late arrival on the band wagon got me to thinking which films I would have selected had the category been initiated a decade earlier...

1991: Beauty and the Beast

1992: Aladdin

1993: A Nightmare Before Christmas

1994: The Lion King

1995: Pocahontas OR Toy Story (I grew up on both)

1996: James and the Giant Peach

1997: Anastasia

1998: Mulan

1999: Princess Mononoke (US release-Japan 1997)

2000: Chicken Run

2001: Monsters Inc. (I've never gotten the 'Shrek' love)

2002: Spirited Away (greatest animated feature of all time!)

2003: Finding Nemo

2004: The Incredibles

2005: Howl's Moving Castle

2006: Happy Feet

2007: Ratatouille

2008: gotta be Wall-E

2009: ????