Just like every year since 2001, the 2022 Academy Awards will also include the category of Best Animated Feature Film. This year, the competition seems extremely high, and it’s impossible to guess which of the five nominated movies will take the Oscar. Each of them features drastically different stories and settings, but they all share positive reviews and ratings both from critics and audiences.
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As such, it’s difficult to pick the best of these movies, and it depends on each viewer’s individual taste. The best movies nominated for this year’s Oscars all have the rating of 90 percent or more on Rotten Tomatoes, but there can be only one winner at the Academy Awards.
5Encanto: 90 %
The new Disney movieEncantoscored a high Rotten Tomatoes rating both with critics and viewers, who gave it 93 percent. The movie is not only visually beautiful, but also creates a strong story and compelling characters. It revolves around the Madrigal family, all of whom have special magical powers, except for Mirabel. However, when their powers gifted to the family by their house start waning, it’s up to Mirabel to figure out what’s going on and fix things.
The movie takes the time to flesh out the characters, both the leads and the supporting roles. Mirabel is a sympathetic and relatable character, since she proves that a person can be a hero whether they have special powers or not.Encantohas a strong chance to win the Oscar, especially if the powers behind the decision go for the ultimate feel-good animated movie. It helps that it has already won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Movie, which is always a good sign when it comes to the Oscars.
4Luca: 91 %
A lot of animated movies take place in the United States, but others have the power to introduce audiences to a new culture or a place.The story ofLucatakes place in the Riviera in Italyduring summer. A young boy named Luca is experiencing wonderful holidays with his new best friend Alberto. The only potential problem is that Luca isn’t human. Instead, he’s a sea creature that disguises itself as a human boy. This gives the movie the ideal opportunity to show all the small and bigger things that make life wonderful, from ice cream to the power of friendship.
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Lucashows in a subtle way that it’s important to tolerate others who are different, as long as they’re not hurting anyone. Luca is a good person who wants to know the world a bit better, and it’s magical to discover Italy through his eyes. The story takes place in 1959, andcreates an atmosphere of times long past. The movie is a must-watch in the cold winter for those who want to remember how careless and happy summer can be, especially if they have their best friend by their side.
3Raya And The Last Dragon: 94 %
Dragons are one of the most popular and iconic fantasy creatures, regardless their country of origin. Inspired by South Asian culture,Raya and the Last Dragontakes place in a world torn apart. It’s up to young Raya to unite the world and save everyone. She can only do so by finding the last surviving dragon, but even if she manages this, her path still won’t be easy. Before she can achieve her goal, Raya first has to learn to trust people again, and that might present the biggest challenge for her.
The movie is full of action, humor, and complex characters that develop as the story progresses. The more cynical and distant Raya stands in clear contrast to the friendlier, more trusting dragon Sisu, and the two make an unforgettable duo. What’s more, it’s captivating to discover the world where Raya lives, because even while torn apart and damaged, it’s still beautiful.Raya and the Last Dragonis one of the movies that audiences liked even more than critics, as they gave it the rating of 97%.
2The Mitchells Vs. The Machines: 97 %
It’s not always easy for young people to get along with their parents, especially if they want to be more independent and start a new life. Katie Mitchell is all ready to go to her new art school, and fulfill her dream of being a director. But before that happens, she has to get through a road trip with her family — and right now, Katie doesn’t exactly get along with her dad. That alone would be complicated enough, but thenan invasion of robots happens, and suddenly it’s up to the Mitchells to save the world. The movie manages to build tension-filled action scenes, and gives enough space to the relationships between the characters and the way they develop and change.
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A bit similarly toLuca,The Mitchells vs. the Machinesalso puts emphasis on the strength of relationships, except this time between family members. The Mitchells are in many ways relatable, which makes it easy to cheer on them and wish them success. The movie contains a lot of little jokes and references. Some are impossible to notice the first time, so it’s easy to come back to it later and watch it again.
1Flee: 99 %
Of all the animated movies nominated for Oscars this year,Fleestands out among the rest. And not just thanks to its high ratings by the critics (the audience gave it 92 percent) but alsobecause it’s a documentary, not a fictional story. Animated documentaries don’t usually win the Oscars, but if the Academy wants to go for something different,Fleehas a chance. It centers on Amin Nawabi, a 36-year-old academic, who struggles with painful secret that he’s been hiding for 20 years. He’s afraid that it might ruin the new life he has built with his husband.
The movie gently demonstrates the impact secrets can have on people’s lives. If the audience wants to learn more about life in Afghanistan via the unique perspective of one man who had to leave the country,Fleeis an ideal movie. Even if it doesn’t win the Oscar for the best-animated picture, it has already left its mark in the history of animated documents.
