HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 - 1 nomination

Animated Feature - Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold

Hiccup and Toothless are back and now that they have made peace between Vikings and Dragons, they have moved on to exploring the world.  The find an ice cave filled with amazing dragons and something even more significant - Hiccup's mother appears who we thought long dead.  Together, they must all protect the dragons from the evil Drago who wants to control the dragon species and therefore, the world.  All of Hiccup's friends are back in this sequel, which means we get to hear from the likes of TJ Miller (ahem, in TWO Oscar nominated animated films), Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, and they all bring the funny that they brought in the first installment of this story.  Also a key plot point in the film is the deep control that the alpha dragon has over all dragons, and whether friendship and love are enough to overcome one's DNA - can Toothless surmount his dragon programming and remember his bond with his best friend?  Is it fair to hold Toothless accountable for actions he committed while under the alpha dragon's spell, or are there some things that are simply unforgivable?

These are the themes that fill How to Train Your Dragon 2, while also being a visually stunning work of animation.  The story is compelling, the characters are well drawn and surprisingly complex for an animated film, and it's just a delight to watch.  Of course, dragon anthropologists may dispute some of the details of the dragon portrayals and the descendants of the evil dragon in the film have yet to issue comment, but overall, I'd call it a terrific film well worth the watch.

BIG HERO SIX - 1 nomination

Animated Feature Film - Don Hall, Chris Williams and Roy Conli

Big Hero 6 is the story of precocious Hiro Hamada, a kid with a talent for robotics, who teams up with a group of smart scientist kids to fight evil in their city.  They are joined by Hiro's brother's invention, Baymax, a super puffy robot whose mission is to maximize the health of those under his care.  Baymax's protective instincts and kind "heart" make him ripe for coming to the aid of these young smarties who use their brains and scientific skills to equip themselves to be superheroes.

A particular standout in the cast (as always) is T.J. Miller who voices Fred - the goofy rich kid who gets the symbolism of what they are doing, noting training sequences as comic book references and has a particular glee in what the team is doing to fight crime.  He is the comic relief to Hiro's intensity, and he does it brilliantly.

Big Hero 6 was a standout in the animated full length feature genre this year.  I was truly delighted by it.  It's a movie that works as much for adults as it does for kids.  It's funny, it's sweet, and it approaches the super hero genre in a different way.  We have not seen this exact story a million times before.  From the day I saw it, I knew it would be nominated for this Oscar category.  Whether or not it grabs the gold, I highly recommend seeing it.

Watch the trailer (and don't forget to watch the movie until the end for a post-credits scene)