Countdown to Oscar Night: Animation

Animated Feature
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
 Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

This category has the distinction of having two of my favorite films of 2017 and two of my lest favorite nominated films of this season. The Boss Baby and Ferdinand are inoffensive and bland. They both have their moments, but they do nothing to escape the notion that animated films should be dumbed-down fairy-tales made for children. This is a stigma that animation has been trying (and succeeding for the most part) to escape ever since Pixar made grown men cry about toys and Miyazaki made it okay for anyone to wish they could find Totoro bouncing about in the forest. Loving Vincent is a technical marvel with every frame being a painted masterpiece inspired by Van Gogh himself. The story lacks a bit, but it's worth a view just for the visual treat.

Which brings us to my second and third favorite movies of 2017. Coco proves that Pixar isn't quite done telling perfect stories in the best looking ways possible. I was a little worried when 20th Century Fox beat Pixar to the theaters with a very similar story in The Book of Life. Those worries were compounded when The Book of Life turned out to be an excellent film that still hasn't gotten the credit it deserves. Pixar had never done a musical before, or a movie centered around humans... and they seemed like they were content churning out Cars sequels... could this be the end???  Nope. Coco is fantastic. Original, hauntingly beautiful, perfect casting, songs that stick with you for months, and a heart as big as the love between Ellie and Carl.

And then there's The Breadwinner. I was worried that I was going to miss this one because it didn't get a theatrical release in NC, and wasn't scheduled for DVD until sometime in March. Thank you Netflix!!! In a surprise release last week, Abby and I were able to check out the newest offering from Oscar favorites Cartoon Saloon (Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea). The Breadwinner is the story of Parvana, a young girl in Afghanistan struggling against poverty, oppression from the Taliban, and the impending US invasion following 9/11. It is beautiful, heartbreaking, and inspirational as the story is told parallel to the story Parvana is telling her little brother to distract him from his morose surroundings. This film is a masterpiece, and hungers to be seen.  Go.  Now.  It is on Netflix.

My Ballot
Coco
The Breadwinner
Loving Vincent
Ferdinand
The Boss Baby

My Pick to Win
Coco

Shamefully Snubbed
Mary and the Witch's Flower


Animated Short
Dear Basketball
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes

For the first time in my 25 year (or so) history of obsessing over Oscars I have watched all 5 nominated animated shorts prior to the awards! Thank you internet! This is probably the most eclectic category in the entire 2017 Academy slate. In the order listed above you have Kobe Bryant, frolicking frogs, an anthropomorphic pile of lost items, a father and son bonding by packing suitcases, and Roald Dahl fairy tale mashup. Conventional wisdom would be to pick the Pixar offering (Lou), but something tells me the voters won't be able to resist a Kobe's heartwarming love letter to basketball. The animation is beautiful and the score was written by Mr. Movie Score himself, John Williams. Only 3 more steps for Kobe's EGOT!

My Ballot
Dear Basketball
Lou
Garden Party
Revolting Rhymes
Negative Space

My Pick to Win
Dear Basketball

Shamefully Snubbed
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