Hey, no shade.
This year feels different.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Dir.
Credit: FOX Searchlight; Sony Pictures Animation; GKIDS
Word of mouth quickly spread since the creative teamdebuted the first half hourofSpider-Verseat New York Comic Con.
It’s a superhero movie that pokes fun at the tropes and origin stories repeated ad nauseam.
(“With great power comes great…” “Don’t finish that sentence!")
Sony Pictures Animation
It did something different.
Other big studio releases you won’t want to count out:Smallfoot,Dr.
Seuss' The Grinch, andTeen Titans Go!
GKIDS
Isle of Dogs
Dir.
(Dogs = Bad.)
The process is like “moving sculpture,” as Anderson’s animation worker bees describe it.
Sony Pictures Classics
In 2009,Fantastic Mr. Foxlost the Oscar to Pixar’sUpand Anderson himself has yet to receive an Oscar win.
It’s been long overdue.
Another stop-motion contender:Early Man.
Mirai
Dir.
It makes sense that his sister is named Mirai, meaning “future.”
Tito and the Birds
Dir.
It’s a film about fear.
Mass hysteria spreads through the city of 10-year-old Tito like a contagion, one made more dangerous by fear-mongering.
But it’s palatable for children with its bold animation.
Ruben Brandt, Collector
Dir.
The man referred to by the title ofRuben Brandt, Collectoris a psychotherapist specializing in art as treatment.
At the same time, art is his nightmares.
Ruben Brandt, Collectoris a dark horse entry this awards season.
Other dark horses:On Happiness Road,Lu over the Wall, andMFKZ.
