Gasikara Kolotora sy Kolontsaina

Most of the Oscar races are so wide open right now that speculating about them would be pointless. But one category has grabbed my interest, because academy rules have made this competition as fierce as Thunderdome. Only in this case, the chant would be "Ten films enter, three films leave." Last week the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 10 films were eligible for the animated feature Oscar. When the category was created in 2001, the academy stipulated that only three films could be nominated if fewer than 16 are eligible. I have seen six movies on the list and consider five of them worthy of a nomination. The one I consider unworthy, "Madagascar," almost certainly will be one of the nominees. In alphabetical order, here are the eligible films: "Chicken Little," "Gulliver's Travel," "Hoodwinked," "Howl's Moving Castle," "Madagascar," "Robots," "Steamboy," "Tim Burt

The Academy followed up its announcement regarding the Best Documentary contenders with the 10 films that will contend for the Animated Feature Oscar. There were no notable omissions, and with such a low number of eligible animated features, relative to the “live-action” variety, almost all were included. However, Valiant--about a pigeon-turned-hero during World War II--is a surprising inclusion since it was widely panned by critics and largely ignored by audiences. The same goes for Steamboy, about a boy inventor in 1860s Britain, which hardly got any play in the U.S. There seem to be a few frontrunners vying for the coveted top three spots in this relatively new category. Madagascar, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit all have the upper hand, but there is room for a few surprises, including Hoodwinked, which is being released Christmas weekend. Here are the contenders: Chicken Little Gulliver’s Travel Hoodwinked Howl's Moving Cas