Oscars: 20 Animated Films Submitted for Academy Consideration

A bumper crop of 20 animated feature films have qualified for Academy Awards consideration, triggering the possibility that when the Oscar nominations are announced Jan. 15, there will be as many as five nominees in the category.

Under Academy rules, if there are 16 or more animated features in a given year, then the animated feature film awards screening committee may nominate up to five of the films.

This year's submissions include box-office hits like DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon 2, which has collected $615 million worldwide, and Warners' The Lego Movie, which has grossed $468 million worldwide. It includes upcoming movies like Disney's Big Hero 6, opening Nov. 7, and DreamWorks' Penguins of Madagascar, due to hit theaters Nov. 26. While CG-animated movies dominate, there are also examples of stop-motion animation like Focus' The Boxtrolls as well as hand-drawn work like the GKIDS releases Song of the Sea and The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

Several of the films that have not yet had Oscar-qualifying theatrical engagements must complete that requirement to advance in the voting process. The selection committee will now screen and score the films, which will determine the nominations.

Films submitted for best animated feature may also compete in other categories like best picture, provided they meet the requirements in the other categories.

The list of 20 films that have been submitted for consideration that the Academy released on Tuesday follows:

Big Hero 6

The Book of Life

The Boxtrolls

Cheatin’

Giovanni’s Island

Henry & Me

The Hero of Color City

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return

The Lego Movie

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Penguins of Madagascar

The Pirate Fairy

Planes: Fire & Rescue

Rio 2

Rocks in My Pockets

Song of the Sea

The Tale of Princess Kaguya