Animated Feature Films

Animated Feature - Brad Bird, John Walker and Nicole Paradis Grindle

Incredibles 2 brings our superhero family back on screen even though superhero-ing has been made illegal.  Not to worry, Winston Deavor, PR tycoon, wants to win the world back to the side of heroics and invites literal super mom Elastigirl to become the focus of a campaign of do-gooding.  That means former superhero Mr. Incredible must become stay at home superdad.  But all is not as it seems and an evil plot by super villain Screenslaver turns the lives of the Incredibles family upside down.  Thankfully the incredible kids have a plan to rescue their parents, and the world.  Delightful film.

Animated Feature - Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson

Original Score - Alexandre Desplat

Dog flu has hit the town of Megasaki, Japan and the mayor has banished all dogs to Trash Island.  Dogs who have lived in the lap of luxury with doting owners must now find a way to make it in this less than ideal place, and the only way to survive is with friends by your side.  But the mayor's nephew refuses to give up his beloved dog, and he embarks on a journey to save the canine.  When he arrives on Trash Island, the nephew is joined by a small gang of dogs who help him look for his friend.  

I'm not usually a big fan of Wes Anderson films, but as for his animated choices, I'm now two for two (see Fantastic Mr. Fox).  This was an extremely quirky little movie with a big time voice cast including many of Anderson's go to actors (Ed Norton, Bill Murray, Bob Balaban, Frances McDormand), with a fun little cameo by none other than Yoko Ono.  It's an odd duck, but a beautiful one.

Animated Feature - Mamoru Hosoda and Yuichiro Saito

Every year there is one of these Studio Gibli anime rip off films that never fails to disappoint for being a disappointment, and this year the winner of that category is Mirai.  I watched this entire film yesterday and I still don't really know what it was supposed to be.  It started off ok with big brother, Kun, and the arrival of his baby sister, Mirai.  He's less than thrilled about a sister who has come to steal his thunder and the attention of his parents, and he retreats to the backyard which opens some sort of magical garden in which he meets his dog personified, his baby sister from the future, some of his relatives in the past, and a completely bonkers timeline come alive.  Mirai is best saved for your next hallucinogenic night. 

Animated Feature - Rich Moore, Phil Johnston and Clark Spencer

Ralph Breaks the Internet is the second of our nominated animated sequels.  Best friends Ralph and Vanellope discover the world of the internet when a part from her game Sugar Rush breaks.  They must venture into the vast world of the web to retrieve a part to fix the game and return her to her very known and repetitive universe.  But the internet is a big place (cue a million product placements) and soon Vanellope discovers that she craves variety and excitement.  Ralph worries that his best friend might be moving to a place that he can't join her.  There is a particularly hysterical scene in which Vanellope discovers the assorted Disney princesses, and that alone makes the whole movie worth it.  Having said that, I loved the film, and I was even disappointed when the signature "I wish" song didn't get nominated for Original Song.  This was a terrific film, though I highly recommend seeing the Wreck It Ralph first.  And, please heed my warning to stay until the very end of the film.  It's worth it.  

Animated Feature - Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Miles Morales gets bitten by a radioactive spider only to become... well, you know the drill.  But spidermen... uh, spiderpeople... uh, spiderbeings abound in the multi-verse, and together they must defeat a host of Marvel bad guys whose thirst for world domination and wealth beyond measure must be thwarted, lest the world implode.  The film itself is radioactive, in a good way.  It is exciting, the animation is incredible, and the story is beyond clever.  But this film is best suited to Marvel fans who will get the jokes, the references, the Stan Lee cameo.  As a member of the Marvel fan club, I thought this one was an absolute winner - and very well could be come Oscar night.