Gorgeous and critically-acclaimed animated films likeThe Wild RobotandFlowcould break a longstanding precedent at the 97th Academy Awards. Established in 2001, the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature has highlighted some of the 21st century’s best animated fare. However, the category has been largely dominated by a singular force in previous years, with the Academy having a clear affinity for the works produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.
While Disney and Pixar have inarguably earned their frequent accolades from the Academy thanks to the strengths of their films, that domination givesthe success of rival films likeThe Wild RobotandFlowa particularly exciting element. The awards gain some fun suspense when there’s a chance of upended expectations. While Disney is still very much a contender for that category heading into the97th Academy Awards, the critical acclaim and award success of two beautifully animated competitors could ensure that a lingering animation trend with the Academy Awards is finally broken.
FlowAndThe Wild RobotBeing The Front-Runners Subverts Typical Expectations About Disney Animation
FlowandThe Wild Robotbeing strong contenders for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards could continue an exciting animation streak at the film industry’s biggest night.The Wild RobotandFlowhave been doing incredibly well with critics, with both films earning an impressive 97% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. Both films were front-runners in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the Golden Globes, withFlowultimately pulling ahead and winning the award.
David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller
Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham
Aardman Animations/Netflix
Both films have won several precursor awards as well,which is usually a good indicator of a film’s potential at the Oscars.The Wild RobotdefeatedFlowfor the Astra Film Award, while both movies have earned accolades from critics groups across the United States.Flowis even being considered for Best International Feature Film, serving as Latvia’s submission for that category. Both movies are among the best reviewed films of 2024, giving them a real edge over the rest of the competition.
This also givesFlowandThe Wild Robotsome potentially vital momentum heading into 2025, which could translate into more awards for either (or both) films. That could be a notable advantage to both films when the Academy Awards roll around, and it could be a crucial aspect of the films potential success at the Oscars. This is because either film winning the Oscar would carry on a recent trend in the animation category at the Academy Awards, one that actually subverts typical expectations about one studio’s domination in that field.
The Academy Has Historically Favored Disney/Pixar Movies For Best Animated Feature
Walt Disney Pictures Has Earned 15 Out Of 23 Academy Awards For Best Animated Feature
The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was established in 2001 at the 74th Academy Awards. Of the 23 films that have won that award since then, the majority have been Disney Animation and Pixar Animation productions.Studios that fall under the Walt Disney Pictures banner have earned 15 Best Animated Feature Academy Awardssince the category was established in 2001. In fact, Walt Disney Pictures has only failed to earn a nomination in the category twice, in 2005 and then over half a decade later in 2011.
Inside Out 2is still considered a strong contender for the [Academy Award for Best Animated Feature], especially given the film’s massive box office success and broad appeal.
This makes it hard to count the studio out of the running completely, as Walt Disney Pictures could still earn a win at the 97th Academy Awards.Inside Out 2is still considered a strong contender for the award, especially given the film’s massive box office success and broad appeal. The same could be said forMoana 2andMufasa: The Lion King, although the overall weaker critical reception to both of those films make that less likely.
By contrast, the understated silence ofFlowand sci-fi elements ofThe Wild Robotwould typically make them riskier bets compared to a reliable company like Walt Disney Studios. However,FlowandThe Wild Robotearning accolades and awards at earlier ceremonies ahead of the Academy Awards doesn’t bode well for Walt Disney’s chances with the 97th Oscars. While there’s a chance thatFlowandThe Wild Robotcould split the Academy vote and leave the door open forInside Out 2to sneak the win,the growing acclaim for both of the former films makes that seemingly unlikely.
There Could Be A Non-Disney Animated Feature Win For The Third Year In A Row With The Wild Robot Or Flow
Disney Has Never Been Shut Out Of The Animated Feature Category For More Than Two Years At A Time
Only 8 non-Disney related films have won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. DreamWorks earned the first iteration of the award in 2001 withShrek. Hayao Miyazaki won in 2002 forSpirited Awayand 2024 forThe Boy and the Heron, while Aardman Animations won in 2005 forWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Directorial passion projects like George Miller’sHappy FeetandGuillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochioearned the award in 2006 and 2023 respectively. Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount earned a win in 2011 withRango, while Sony took the prize for 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
This means it’s actually been a few years since the Academy Awards gave Walt Disney Pictures their most recent feature-length animation Oscar forEncantoin 2022. If Walt Disney Pictures fails to win Best Animated Feature for a third time in a row,that would be the longest gap in the studio losing that award since the category was established. Unfortunately for Disney, momentum seems to be building behind bothThe Wild RobotandFlow, which could set the stage for more experimental animated fare that’s been shut out before by Disney’s dominance to take the spotlight.
DreamWorks earning another Academy Award forThe Wild Robotwould be a fitting full-cycle moment for the studioafter the announcements that DreamWorks is shifting away from fully in-house production moving forward.The Wild Robotis one of the best DreamWorks films and one of the studio’s most successful films in years. The confirmation of asequel toThe Wild Robotwould make a win all the more important, as an Oscar win could help establish it as a marquee franchise for the animation studio, similar to the focus thatShrekandHow to Train Your Dragonpreviously received.
By contrast,Flowhas become a front-runner with critics, with many citing the film’s independent origins and focus on artistry above all else as reason for the Academy to honor it.The smaller production behind the film givesFlowa more inspiring real-life narrative, which can often be a quietly important factor in pulling ahead within the world of entertainment awards. While Disney’s animated films from 2024 were strong,FlowandThe Wild Robot’sability to upend tradition would make their potential wins at the 97th Academy Awards more exciting for the state of animation.
The Wild Robot
Cast
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
Flow
Flow (2024) follows a solitary animal named Cat who must find refuge and collaborate with other species on a boat after a great flood devastates their home. As they sail through mystical, overflowed landscapes, the group navigates challenges and dangers while adapting to a transformed world.
