The Boy, The Heron and The Spiderman (2024 Academy Award for Best Animation Feature Breakdowns & Predictions)
Although often overlooked, the category of Best Animated Feature is my favorite category of the Academy Awards. As hard as I try, I can’t see every movie that is nominated in every category. However, Best Animation is one area that I feel like I have an invested interest in and knowledge of what constitutes a winning film.
Last year, we were gifted with a plethora of excellent animated features. Besides the eventual five nominees, there were several that shouldn’t’ be forgotten. The Super Mario Bros. Movie with its star-studded cast became one of the top earning movies at the box office for the year, being a mainstay in cinemas for months. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem had a beautiful art style that in my opinion was worthy of a nomination on its own. Netflix’s Leo touched the hearts of so many at the end of the year. And Disney’s Wish…also happened.
Regardless, at the end of the day only five movies can be nominated. Join me, as I go over each of this year’s nominated films’ chances of winning, my feelings about the film and, ultimately, who I think will take home the award.
The 2024 Academy Award Nominees for Best Animated Feature
Nimona
Produced by: Karen Ryan; Julie Zackary; Roy Lee (Distributed by Netflix)
Trailer: https://youtu.be/f_fuHRyQbOc?si=t8lR4cu2cCL2Mrm5
Description: A knight is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he's sworn to kill.
Why It Could Win: This film’s animation style, combined with an amazingly adapted script tells a remarkable story while also maintaining serving as an allegory for the struggles of minority communities, especially members of the trans community.
Why it Won’t Win: This film’s earlier calendar release could hurt its chances, combined with a field of other powerhouse contenders decrease its potential of winning.
My Opinions: I cancelled my Netflix subscription right before this movie was released and single handedly was my biggest regret of cancelling. Fortunately, Netflix released the entire movie briefly on YouTube. I loved this movie. I don’t think it’s going to win, but if it did, it would be an amazing upset and a huge slap in the face of Disney. This movie started production with Blue Sky Studios (A Disney Acquired Property), however when Disney shut down the studio, they decided they wanted nothing to do with this project. Jokes on them, Disney doesn’t have a short or feature nomination. But seriously, this is a great movie, with wonderful representation, that would be great for the whole family.
Winning Possibility: 40/100. I doubt it will win but could be a surprise dark horse winner.
Robot Dreams
Director: Pablo Berger
Trailer: https://youtu.be/0CHV_ZDlhrA?si=xHKIGoM6L68FRg9j
Description: In 1980s New York City, Dog assembles Robot as a companion, and they become best buddies. On a Labor Day outing to Coney Island, Robot's metal parts rust, and he can't move.
Why It Could Win: Of the critics that have seen this movie, the majority have been completely charmed by the earnestness of the film.
Why it Won’t Win: Although everyone in the Academy has the opportunity to see this film, most will likely vote for one of the other powerhouse nominees that have had a more widespread distribution.
My Opinions: I’m going to be honest. I don’t know ANYONE that has seen this movie. When the nominees were announced, I was among many asking the question: What is Robot Dreams? It looks delightful, but despite all my efforts this is the first nominee in years that I have not seen prior to the ceremony. I, like so many others, will have to wait till May when it finally gets a more widespread distribution.
Winning Possibility: 15/100. I am giving this movie a low chance of winning. If I had seen it, maybe it would have been higher, but it’s still not one of the top nominees.
The Boy and the Heron
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Animation Company: Studio Ghibli
Trailer: https://youtu.be/t5khm-VjEu4?si=cz6tkTl0gx69S4h5
Description: Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.
Why It Could Win: Praised by both critics and audiences, The Boy and the Heron is one of the best films created by legendary director Hayao Miyazaki. A beautiful story of cross dimensional travel is only made more complete by its beautiful animation. Additionally, the rumors of this film being Hayon Miyazaki’s final film (which has since been debunked) could sway voters to select this as the winner.
Why it Won’t Win: One of the biggest faults of the movie is that the movie’s plot can be considered and viewed as slightly too abstract. As this particular race is between two powerhouse contenders, it’s possible that voters could just as easily select the other contender, Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse.
My Opinions: This movie is likely one of my top three movies of 2023, regardless of genre. I have stated previously in other writings that I love theatre and films in which a normal person is thrown into extraordinary circumstances. You can either succumb to the pressures of changing realities and let it consume you or you can face the new worlds and explore its riches. The Boy and the Heron embraces the adventure while simultaneously telling a story of deep emotional resonance.
Winning Possibility: 90/100. The only other film that could beat it is Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse.
Elemental
Producing Company: Pixar/Disney
Trailer: https://youtu.be/hXzcyx9V0xw?si=28fzwBZAQkJO6coD
Description: In a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.
Why It Could Win: For decades, Pixar has stood for quality films. Elemental is the latest in the streak with fantastic animation.
Why it Won’t Win: Although the animation in this film is good, the story leaves something to be desired.
My Opinions: I think that Elemental is fine. Personally, I wasn’t overly impressed by either the animation or Pixar’s take on the star-crossed lovers trope. Personally, I think this is almost a pity nomination. If this movie had not been nominated, it would have left the Walt Disney Company with no animation nominees in a year that they company was highlighting as their centennial of animation. The visuals are fine, but Pixar has done better in both visuals and storytelling in movies that were released over a decade ago.
Percentage: 15/100. I’ll be honest, I don’t see any way that this movie could win.
Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse
Producers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Distributed by: Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Sony Animation Studios
Trailer: https://youtu.be/shW9i6k8cB0?si=FxGXKLAJaspwYqCS
Description: After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man (Miles Morales) is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders. He must soon redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
Why It Could Win: The groundbreaking, award-winning animation of this film’s predecessor (Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse) is expanded and pushed to the limits of what is possible in the field of animation. The film is easy to watch and for most is considered the assumed winner.
Why it Won’t Win: The film’s production was rushed in order to make a mostly unrealistic release date. Due to this rush, some elements such as the sound mixing is not always consistent throughout the film. Additionally, if voters take into consideration the horrendous working conditions forced upon the animators, that could be enough to prevent it from winning the award. Lastly, the movie ends on an enormous cliff hanger, which although not an official disqualifier, does not help its chances of winning.
My Opinions: For the majority of the year, this movie sets the bar for what to beat for best animation. I am in love with the watercolor style of animation that dominates the first half hour of the film. I think that it is a great adventure. Its story might not be the strongest, leaving too many questions left for its sequel to answer.
Winning Possibility: 90/100. I have given this film the same odds as The Boy and The Heron, as I feel that it is that close. If this wins, I will not be surprised and will be a recognition of the back breaking work of its animators to bring this beautiful work to screens.
And now, in my opinion, the award goes to:
OVERALL LIKELY WINNER: The Boy and The Heron
This year’s race has always been between two films: The Boy and The Heron and Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse. Both films excel in the medium of animation and are crowning examples of modern cinematic animation. I think a few key elements push The Boy and The Heron into winning this award.
First, quite simply, it tells a better story. While the film’s somewhat abstract plot contains several time traveling and cross dimensional shenanigans, in the end the story beautifully concludes with a satisfying ending for both the characters on screen and the audiences who witnessed their journey. Spiderman Across the Spider-Verse had several compelling story moments, but in my opinion, simply didn’t have as strong of a story. I felt that it left the audiences with too many unanswered questions not including it’s large, unsatisfying cliffhanger with no discernible date for the story’s conclusion.
Second, The Boy and The Heron is more aligned with the types of films that the Academy of Motion Pictures typically gives awards to. There is nothing inherently wrong with any genre of film. However, when one looks at the Academy’s history of award distribution there is an undeniable trend to award more dramatic and artistic films than those of other genres. One of the reasons why Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse was so history making in its award was that it crossed that genre divide giving a superhero film a win. Can history repeat itself? Yes. Will history repeat itself this year? My guess is no.
Lastly, and potentially the most impactful to this year’s Oscars race: Release Dates and Controversies. Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse was released in early June. Early release dates used to be a killer for nominations, most nominated films are released towards the end of the year, so they remain fresh in the minds of voters when nominations are announced. The category for Best Animation is a little different with nominees coming from a wide distribution of dates throughout the year. With Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse being released in June, it allowed all the stories of the workplace conditions set upon the animators to become more widely distributed. With the writers and actor strikes stopping virtually all work in Hollywood, this allowed the story to linger throughout the Summer.
Had Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse been released late in December, the stories of the workplace conditions would not have likely leaked/been released till after voting had begun. Alternatively, had the release date been pushed back to a December release, the animators would not have been as forcibly pressured subsequently removing conditions that created the controversies in the first place.
I recognize that this has mainly focused on why Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse won’t win and less on why The Boy and The Heron will win. Succinctly, The Boy and The Heron is the better movie. Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse is a good movie, but telling a complete story goes a long way with Academy voters.
BUT WHAT IF I’M WRONG: Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse Wins
It’s award night and Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse wins, I get a text message from an angry reader gloating at my failed prediction. What am I going to do? Nothing. Look, there is a very real possibility that Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse may win. I don’t want to say it’s a coin flip, because I don’t think that it is a full fifty-fifty odd, but its close.
Why would Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse win? It’s a great film. Its visuals are just so gorgeous and, at times, truly groundbreaking. I think that Spiderman is more approachable for voters and the general public to view and understand. I will not be upset if Spidey wins.
Additionally, the way that Academy voting works (ranked voting if you’re not familiar) there is a real possibility that the vote distribution works out in a fashion that Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse could easily come out on top. There could be enough votes taken from The Boy and The Heron and given to Nimona or Robot Dreams, that in the end Spiderman has no competition.
There may be voters that do not care about working conditions or don’t factor that into their ultimate decision. Judge the art on the art alone, not the drama behind it.
Lastly, there are going to be voters that just like Spiderman (the character); and that’s okay. You are allowed to like what you want. So, if Spiderman: Across the Spider-verse wins, great. It was one of my favorites from last year. These are, at the end of all things, just movies.