Oscars Considering 20 Animated Films

A record 20 titles will be considered for Best Animated Feature Film in next year’s Academy Awards, a stark reflection of this year’s colorful craze.

Since more than 16 films qualify this year, the panel of judges will also be choosing among five nominees instead of the usual three. The only previous year in which there were five nominees was in 2002.

The films in consideration all vary in style and reception, from the Pixar box-office favorite Up to Hayao Miyazaki’s critically acclaimed Ponyo. Other nominees include Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Disney’s A Christmas Carol and Coraline, among others yet to hit the box office such as Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Princess and the Frog.

A final list of nominations for the 82nd annual Academy Awards will be announced Tuesday, Feb. 2. The awards ceremony, hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, airs Sunday, March 7.

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