The Race for Best Animated Film of 2022 is Getting Interesting with Contenders from Disney, Netflix, A24 and DreamWorks

Turning Red Among Contenders for Best Animated Feature of 2022

Disney’s Oscar hopeful, Turning Red, is competing for Academy Awards attention with other animated movies this year, including films from studios such as Netflix, DreamWorks and A24.

This year’s Best Animated Feature Oscar is a little bit of a toss up at this particular time. While the smart money should be on Disney’s Turning Red, it’s impossible to count out such animated heavy-hitters as Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Sea Beast. There are a couple of other unlikely contenders like The Bad Guys or Charlotte, but those two movies seem less likely to make the final cut given their less than stellar standings in preliminary awards races.

Why are the odds on Turning Red? It won many fans this year on Disney Plus and created groundbreaking characters that were awe-inspiring and unique. Disney also typically takes home the Gold in this category. However, there is a pesky tiny shell with one eye named Marcel who is sneaking right up on Turning Red and ready to shake up the race for Best Animated Feature. A24’s little movie that could, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, didn’t make a lot of money at the box-office but did well, overall, and people who saw it absolutely loved it. It has “Oscar underdog” written all over it. Also, it’s a very touching story that will appeal across the board to all ages of Academy voters.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is certainly not to be counted out of this race either. When del Toro made Nightmare Alley last year, that film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Could del Toro’s name on this version of Pinocchio make it a shoo-in to win? Not really, but a nomination is almost guaranteed for the Netflix release. Netflix also has The Sea Beast which has received great notices as well. However, if only one Netflix movie is getting in the race, it’s going to be Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

The just released Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a DreamWorks animation title, has received accolades from both critics and audiences to a terrific level of success making it the likely contender to make the top 5. Antonio Banderas had a jolly old time as the swashbuckling cat and while a nomination is very likely, this prequel probably will not ultimately win the award.

Turning Red could still emerge victorious, however, despite the terrific nature of its competition. This title is a Disney movie which is a nice factor to have on its side as well as wonderful, groundbreaking messages of acceptance and family love at its helm. Don’t disqualify Marcel the Shell with Shoes On or Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, though. It’s a nice slate of animated movies this year and all eyes will be on this Oscar race, for certain.

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