In my opinion, I think Ratatouille is the best animated film of the year (so far), and I am hoping it wins the “Best Animated Feature” award at the Oscars. Do you guys think there’s going to be tough competition this year? Any animated movie coming out later this year that’s supposed to be really good?
After seeing Ratatouille, i thought that it was the best movie this year. Before I saw Ratatouille, i thought it would have some tough competition with the other good animated movies, but Ratatouille just completely blew me away. i think it will take the “Best Animated Feature” award, no questions asked.
Welcome to pixar planet slyfence.
First and foremost, welcome to Pixar Planet, slyfence! I hope you find your stay here enjoyable. Please remember to close the swinging doors behind you and care not to tred on the rats. 
Secondly, I whole-heartedly agree with your statement/opinion. Ratatouille will, more than likely, beat out its other computer-animated competitors at the Oscars; however, anything can happen. Shrek the Third would, I think, be the biggest competitor of the lot, but I really do have very high hopes for Ratatouille. But, again, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens…
Have a wonderful time on Pixar Planet! 
– Mitch
Thank for the welcome! I’m pretty confident that Ratatouille will take home the award (Pixar is the only animation studio that can make a good film these days). The only film I am worried about is “Beowulf”. I really have no idea what it’s about, other than the fact that Robert Zemeckis is directing it. Still, I’m not sure if the film would qualify, since they’re using motion capture techniques, like Polar Express.
I agree with you, Slyfence. Pixar is one of the few that can make a good movie. I haven’t heard of Beowulf before, but I hope it does poorly! (I’m being honest! 
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I don’t think it qualifies, based on the anouncement that motion capute no longer counts as a form of animation. So I think the rat’s safe for now. 
Beowulf should be out as a MoCap film though it should be an excellent film nonetheless. Even if it did make the cut though I don’t believe it would be a threat but I can’t say for sure until I see it. Bee Movie could also be a threat if Seinfeld has any pull but that’s a real long shot since I believe his ties in the Academy are minimal.
The only real threat to Ratatouille is Shrek the Third. And this really isn’t because it’s of the same caliber as Ratatouille but more because the last Shrek film was beaten out for the award by a Brad Bird/Pixar film (The Incredibles over Shrek 2). However - since Shrek beat Monsters Inc in '02, hopefully that effect should be null and void though I fear the short term memories of Accademy members.
I also take heart in the fact that the Accademy seems to really like Brad and even more so now that he’s comitted to joining them in the live-action realm.
Lets break it down some.
Pros:
1 - Ratatouille was better than Shrek 3 period.
2 - The Academy likes Brad Bird, esp with him entering live-action.
3 - The Shrek franchise has already won once in the category.
4 - The Shrek franchise will continue so it’s not their last chance.
Cons:
1 - Shrek will likely end up with a bigger box office.
2 - Bird has already beaten a Shrek film once.
Neutral:
1 - Pixar got shafted in '07 (this could be a sign of the Accademy working against Pixar or it could give Pixar an edge in '08).
2 - Pixar has 2 awards in the category to DreamWorks 1 and is the only company with multiples (this shows Pixar’s strength but the Accademy could be leary of letting them take a 3-1 lead especially when they have the opportunity to tie the two big companies at 2 all.
3 - Disney/Pixar Execs are still the most powerful people in Hollywood (they could use their influence to get the award or the Academy could rebel against their power - part of what cursed Cars last year).
Does anybody have a link to the announcement that motion capture doesn’t qualify as “animation”? I’d love to see it! Wahoo.
EDIT: I found this link at the official Academy of Motion Picture and Sciences website:
oscars.org/80academyawards/rules/rule07.html
Is "frame by frame technique a new qualification? That’s awesome!!
Dash - Nice run-down there, Dash. I am firm in my belief that Ratatouille will kick Shred the Third’s butt, no matter what the consequences. Then again, anything can happen. But really, there is no competition between the two. Ratatouille takes the cake and a good percentage of people have already figured that out by now…
As is explained in the quote provided by TheIncredible, motion capture applies to a certain extent. For a film with motion capture to enter into the competition, it must follow the afore-mentioned rules.
– Mitch
The only serious challengers are : Persepolis and Paprika both are foreign pictures.
Beowulf is out ; Shrek the Third is a lesser product compared to its predecessors.
So if not a win there no doubt Ratatouille will get a nomination, but in what other categories do you think this pic deserves a nom?
I haven’t seen it yet so I can’t express a fair and complete prevision, but for what I know here are my guesses:
Picture-Directing-Editing-Score-Sound Editing-Sound Mixing-Original Screenplay-Original Song-Art Direction-Cinematography + a special award for Voice Acting(from the Board of Governors).
Saluti a tutti
Claudio 
Good question!
For nominations…
Animate Feature is a definite.
Sound Editing and Mixing are likely on both ends.
Score should be a no brainer but we said that with The Incredibles too - it’ll be hard to ignore this time around though.
Original Screenplay esp since Brad has been nominated here once already.
Original Song because this is just the kind of song the Academy loves.
Of course the Academy doesn’t like to consider animation for Best Picture or Director nor for any of the other big acting or visual categories so I think these are the ones to aim for.
If Shrek The Third wins, I’m gonna tear my hair out!
If Shrek the Third wins I will stage a protest. But you have to give the Academy more credit than that… When are the announcements?
I want Ratatouille to win simply cause Cars didn’t win last time.
I disagree - I would want Ratatouille to win because it deserved to win. Not just because Cars didn’t win last year.
Let me rephrase, I want Pixar to win 
But ya they should also win cause it was a well animated movie
What about the story, huh?
I have to agree with Rachel. I love Pixar, so I always want them to do well, but even if Ratatouille was released by Dreamworks (God forbid!), it still deserves this award.
In my opinion Shrek 3 is a total washout. No hopes what so ever. The only, and I mean only way it would even be in the running would be if all the other movie this year blew even worst. Sure the animation wasn’t too bad, but their story was poorly thought out and strayed from what made it awesome in the first place. I have faith in DreamWorks, but they need to start giving their plot lines more time to mature.
And don’t count out Surf’s up. While Sony isn’t know for their Cgi’s and it didn’t do well in the box office it was still a fantastic movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if it beat out Ratatouille for sound related awards. And like Ratatouille it showed great heart with phenomenal animation to back it up. Not to sound turncoat but I wouldn’t be too terribly upset if it beat out Ratatouille in some categories (though I’d much prefer Remy & Co. to take the Oscar for best animated.)
I think Cars had a better story. I covered this in another thread. I think they left out some things they would have made the movie more complete.
However, I think Ratatouille does have the best plot out there compared to other animated movies released this year. So yes based on plot I think they have the advantage as well.