The race for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is shaping up as one of the most unpredictable categories of the season, pitting major studio franchises against gritty independent stop-motion projects. Leading the early conversation is Laika’s upcoming stop-motion feature Wildwood, slated for release on October 23, which awards pundits have pegged as an early frontrunner.
The Independent Contenders Leading the Race
Directed by Travis Knight, Wildwood follows a teenager who descends into a magical forest to rescue her brother from dark forces. Every previous feature from the independent stop-motion studio Laika—including Coraline and Missing Link—has landed an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. One awards insider notes that the studio is unique in its independence: “They should lean into the fact that Laika is the one of the only independent animation studios in America, and is probably losing money. It’s almost charity work — they’re employing so many people and keeping this industry alive, and people want to support that.” The film’s dark imagery and mature themes have earned it a PG-13 rating, setting it apart from traditional family fare.
High-Profile Studio Sequels and Auteur Projects
Major studios are bringing heavy hitters to the competition, led by Walt Disney Co. with the inclusion of Toy Story 5. Pixar’s previous entries in the franchise, Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, both won the trophy for Best Animated Feature. However, Pixar’s beaver-centric March release Hoppers has largely slipped from the active awards conversation as the studio campaigns heavily for its blockbuster sequel. Meanwhile, DreamWorks is pushing its Filipino folklore-inspired feature Forgotten Island, though low box office tracking may hamper its long-term momentum.
Auteur animation is also making a strong bid through Netflix’s release of Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn, which arrives on December 18 alongside an awards-qualifying run. The stylish noir detective thriller stars Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson. Bird, a two-time Oscar winner who’s behind Pixar hits like The Incredibles and Ratatouille, rejected the notion that animation must target young children, telling Page Six Hollywood, “Not every animated film has to be made for five-year-olds. I just reject that.” Given Bird’s industry track record, Ray Gunn is widely viewed as a near-certain nominee.
International Contenders and Aardman’s Return
International and stop-motion titles continue to hold significant sway with the Academy’s animation branch. Aardman Animation enters the race with Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker. With the last two Shaun the Sheep films earning nominations and creator Nick Park holding a strong reputation in the UK—especially following Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl winning the BAFTA in 2024—the film has a clear path forward. An awards source points out that voters frequently recognize international outliers alongside mainstream favorites, noting this year’s submissions include the French-Belgian production Iron Boy and the multi-national co-production Julián.
