Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin seems a clear favorite for the prize. However, its motion-capture technique has raised doubts concerning its eligibility as an animated feature.
The 18 submitted features are:
- The Adventures of Tintin
- Alois Nebel
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- Arthur Christmas
- Cars 2
- A Cat in Paris
- Chico and Rita
- Gnomeo and Juliet
- Happy Feet Two
- Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil
- Kung Fu Panda 2
- Mars Needs Moms
- Puss in Boots
- Rango
- Rio
- The Smurfs
- Winnie the Pooh
- Wrinkles
The films still must be reviewed by members of the Academy's short films and feature animation branch to make sure they fulfill various criteria: For example, animation must figure in 75 percent of a film's running time, and the animation must employ a frame-by-frame technique, since the rules specify that “motion capture by itself is not an animation techinqiue.”
Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.
The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
