2011 Oscar Nominees

Best Animated Film

 

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon entertained not just children, but adults as well. The message—about a boy who earns respect when he makes friends with a supposedly fearsome enemy—touched audience’s hearts. Dreamworks, the studio that gave us Oscar-nominated classics such as Kung Fu Panda and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and the Oscar-winning Shrek, proved in top form with this feature. In a year that produced many high-quality animated features, this one definitely earned the accolades it has received.

 

The Illusionist

From France, The Illusionist is an emotionally-charged, wonderfully told tale of a down-on-his luck magician who buys new clothing for a poor little girl who thinks he really is magic. She believes he conjures her new things out of thin air, and to keep the illusion alive, he secretly works the night shift at a gas station. The animation doesn’t have the polished look of the American entries in this category, but it has just as much heart.

 

Toy Story 3

Even though Toy Story 3 reached theaters over 10 years after the first sequel, audiences hadn’t forgotten how much they loved Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of Andy’s toys. Critics praised this one too, proving that sequels can be as artistic, if not more so, than the original movies on which they’re based. Toy Story 3 may have been a little darker than the previous installments, but it was just as adventure-packed and heartwarming, with plenty of laughs.

By Alexandra Heilbron