A Promising Start

The “Best Animated Film” category at the Oscars appears to be a step in the right direction, in regards to the process of legitimizing the animated film industry. Close-minded individuals should take note that the Animation will be suppressed no more. Now that Animation is on the verge of being recognized, maybe it is possible that they might select quality animated films and recognize them with Oscars, also. Giving out Oscars to the most popular animated films will only serve to shut out more deserving films.

“Shrek” wasn’t a bad movie. Actually, it was pretty good, parodying animated movie conventions. “Shrek” fits much into its ninety minutes--the funny animal sidekick, the obligatory villain, the beautiful princess, an epic cast of characters--who all serve to mock the Disney-fied tried-and-true formula of making animated pictures.

“Monsters, Inc.”, the penultimate of animation, is an orgy of artistry, so much so that one could overdose on the visuals. On the DVD, which comes out September 17, I plan on pausing every scene of the film so that I may take it all in. I can’t get over the designs of Mike and Sulley, and the very human face of Boo. Check out the film’s enemy, Randall--he’s a hoot in more ways than one.

I’m still not sure why “Jimmy Neutron” was nominated. I mean, it sure wasn’t a shoo-in for the award. Everybody knew that “Shrek” was going to win--after all, DreamWorks paid $220,000 for a three-page spread in the New York Times. Plus, the studio posted glaring “For Your Consideration” advertisements in almost every major publication.

Recognizing animated films with Oscars truly indicates that Hollywood is finally giving a long-denied honorable mention to animated films. Notice, though, the term “honorable mention”. Unless animated films can compete with live action films in the coveted “Best Picture” slot (Like “Beauty and the Beast” did, once upon a time), their honoring of animated films will not be looked upon as anything of strong significance.

Questions/comments? E-mail me at mrallennys@aol.com

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