Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Feature

This year, Oscar nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 23rd. I’ll be offering detailed predictions in most of the major categories, saving some of the biggest categories for last.

Last year’s nominees: Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, My Life as a Zucchini, The Red Turtle, Zootopia

This year’s locks: Coco, The Breadwinner

Very likely: Loving Vincent, Ferdinand

Possible: The Lego Batman Movie, Despicable Me 3, The Boss Baby, The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, Mary and the Witch’s Flower

Unlikely: Cars 3, Captain Underpants, The Lego Ninjago Movie, The Girl Without Hands, The Star

The rundown: This category seems to have four films charging ahead, and I’m not sure any of them will be snubbed even though that’s happened a lot in the past few years. I’ve still seen just tow of these films, but I’m sure I’ll catch a few of the others closer to when or after the nominations are revealed. Coco is a sure thing, and I’d say that The Breadwinner is too. Loving Vincent shouldn’t have much trouble making the cut, and I think Ferdinand is good to go too. Now the question is whether Golden Globe nominee The Boss Baby can actually become an Oscar nominee or if it will be ousted by another film. The Lego Batman Movie has buzz, but the original in its series was shockingly snubbed a few years ago, and The Lego Ninjago Movie is also in contention. Despicable Me 3 has a good shot given that the second – but not first – of its series was nominated back in 2013. Cars 3 isn’t likely because only the first – and not the second – was included back in 2006. Artsier contenders like The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales and Mary and the Witch’s Flower have an uphill battle but could show up.

Forecasted winner: I think this goes to Coco without any real competition.