……………………………………………………….

2002 Animated Feature Oscar Analysis

2002 was a strong year for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, certainly a major improvement over the previous year. The field was expanded from three to five nominees and we get both Disney movies of the year which was interesting, one DreamWorks picture, one Blue Sky Studios film and a Studio Ghibli masterpiece. Most of these films are pretty good and there weren’t any truly weak movies here.

My Ranking of the Nominees:

5. Treasure Planet

This is a pretty strong slate so by no means do I consider Treasure Planet a bad film, but it is the weakest of this bunch in my opinion. Yes, the anime-inspired animation is gorgeous, the friendship between the two main characters is beautiful and the movie has a big heart and is maybe even underrated in its own right, but it remains just a solid Disney flick and not a great one because the supporting characters are so weak, the action is overly abundant and the pacing is pretty bad.

4. Ice Age

I do realize that the first Ice Age movie is pretty much a rip-off of ‘Monsters, Inc’ in the baby department and, yes, historically it’s very inaccurate and silly, but it’s great for children and even for adults having in mind that the humor, dialogue and voice acting are all very strong. In particular its adventure elements really worked for me as the road trip feel to it is successfully achieved. The characterization is excellent as Scrat, Manny, Diego and Sid are all instantly memorable. It’s the only truly good movie in the franchise and thus the only nominated one.

3. Lilo & Stitch

Lilo & Stitch doesn’t scream Disney classic for me, no question asked. Its pacing is very problematic and overall the movie is competent without ever reaching true greatness. But it’s by far one of the best efforts from Disney’s Second Dark Age as the animation is charming, the Hawaiian setting is well utilized and its two main characters are different enough to stand out from the Disney crowd. It’s a wonderful family film with a big heart and a great emphasis on the importance of family.

2. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

The beginning of this movie is prolonged and the songs are very much so-so, but Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is otherwise a DreamWorks classic in my opinion and it ranks among their most underappreciated efforts. The hand-drawn animation is realistic, the score is excellent and one of animation’s best plus the characters are strong. It’s also a beautiful movie that is very moving in its third act and epic in scope. For anyone who considers themselves an animal lover, this is a must see for sure.

1. Spirited Away

Stunningly animated, impressively imaginative, superbly scripted and amazing in the protagonist’s rich, well developed personal journey, Spirited Away is an undisputed classic not just of anime and animation, but of all films period. The score is one of the greatest film scores ever composed, the movie is both weird and emotional, and it remains epic in scope, runtime and storytelling. This level of filmmaking has rarely been seen so both Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli should forever be proud for what they created here. Thankfully, the Academy even could not fail to honor this movie and it remains the only non-American animated film to ever win an Oscar problematically, but fittingly enough.

Film That Should Have Been Nominated:

The Cat Returns – The Cat Returns is very rushed in pace and short in runtime, but wonderful in its well developed characters, imaginative in its storytelling and so good in its great humor. It’s both adventurous and enchanting. For all of those reasons, it remains one of Studio Ghibli’s most underrated movies and it definitely should have been nominated this year.