Animated Thoughts: 2013 Academy Award Nominees

Well, the 2013 Academy Awards nominees were announced today. For the two animated sections that I personally follow, they are:

Animated feature film:

• Brave (Disney-Pixar)
• Frankenweenie (Disney)
• ParaNorman (LAIKA)
• The Pirates! Band of Misfits (Aardman/Sony)
• Wreck-It Ralph (Disney)

Short animated films:

• Adam and Dog (Lodge Films)
• Fresh Guacamole (PES)
• Head over Heels (National Film and Television School)
• Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" (Gracie Films)
• Paperman (Disney Animation Studios)

While I haven't seen "Frankenweenie", "Adam and Dog", or "Head over Heels" yet, I'm rooting for Disney this year. Both "Wreck-it Ralph" and "Paperman" were far and above two of the best animated films I saw in 2012. In my opinion they're the best out of the films selected for the Oscars--though I reserve the right to update my choices after seeing the three films that I haven't watched yet.

For those who haven't seen all the animated short films, the Detroit Institue of Art's Film Theatre has an annual screening in February where they show all the short films nominated for that year's Academy Awards--split into two sessions: animated and live-action.

Event details can be found here and the schedule at the DIA/DFT is as follows:

2013 ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATED SHORT FILMS
Friday, February 01, 2013 – Sunday, February 17, 2013 Detroit Film Theatre

• Friday, February 1 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 2 at 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 3 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• Friday, February 8 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 10 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
• Friday, February 15 at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, February 16 at 7:00 PM
• Sunday, February 17 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM