FOREIGN TOONS COLOUR OSCAR'S PALETTE

Of the 19 films that were announced overnight as 2013 contenders for the Feature Animation Academy Award, international cinema represented itself glowingly with nine works from seven countries (including Canada's The Legend of Sarila; pictured, below) submitted for AMPAS member consideration.

Following in the footsteps of the live-action Best Film category, the animated film Oscar race often reflects box office dominance over artistic endeavour. In 2005, eyebrows were raised when Aardman Animation’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (pictured, below) trumped both Howl’s Moving Castle and Corpse Bride; last year, Pixar took home its 7^th trophy for Brave, bettering the arguably superior Frankenweenie and ParaNorman.

One thing is certain – the Oscar apple never falls far from the LA animation tree. Hayao Miyazaki’s 2002 masterpiece Spirited Away, produced by his Japanese company Studio Ghibli, is still the only foreign film to score the big prize (Brit Nick Park’s Aardman outfit was a Dreamworks Animation partner; 2006's Happy Feet was Oz-made but US-backed). Of the 44 nominations bestowed since the award began in 2001, only eight have been from overseas territories.

When the Oscar nominations are announced on January 16, tradition dictates that the likes of Monsters University, The Croods, Despicable Me 2 and Epic will feature prominently. But there are some fine works for the Academy members to consider from off-shore animation artisans…:

Ernest and Celestine (Dirs: Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner; France)
Adopting a gentler water-colour palette, this adaptation of Belgian children author Gabrielle Vincent’s series of books is already a sensation internationally, boasting festival wins at Cannes, Dubai and Seattle in addition to it’s Cesar for Best Animated Film (pictured, right).

The Fake (Dir: Sang-ho Yeon; South Korea)
The latest from the director of The King of Pigs debuted at Busan to a critical reception that underlined the film’s relentless bleakness but praised its artistry. “Though the narrative feels pregnant with rage, his approach never seems to be colored with anger, rather his touch is marked by a sadness”, said Twitch.com.

Khumba (Dir: Anthony Silverston; South Africa)
Cape Town-based Triggerfish Animation secured top-tier voice talents (Liam Neeson, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Richard E Grant) to ensure their ambitious $20million African adventure, about a zebra missing half its stripes determined to find its place in the world, found favour with international audiences.

The Legend of Sarila (Nancy Florence Savard; Canada)
The animated industry of The Great White North rolls the dice on its first stereoscopic 3D effort, a vast adventure set against the dwindling natural resources of the wild, beautiful hinterland and of how the native Inuit people, led by three determined youngsters fighting a spiritual force, must learn to cope.

Rio: 2096 A Story of Love and Fury” (Dir: Luiz Bolognesi; Brazil)
Best Feature winner at the revered Annecy International Animated Festival, documentary maker Luiz Bolognesi feature debut takes on a ‘Cloud Atlas’-like narrative that explores a romance set against 600 years of Brazilian history. A heady, adult-oriented mix of traditional cell and state-of-the-art CGI animation.

Apostolo (Dir: Fernando Cortizo; Spain)
The lone stop-motion animated work in contention, Cortizo’s feature debut is a dark, gothic fantasy. The tale of three escaped criminals searching for hidden booty in the oddly eerie enclave of Xanaz, it both beguiles discerning young viewers whilst offering social satire for adults to contemplate. The score is by legendary composer, Phillip Glass.

Three films from the Japanese Animation Industry
Given the traditional love for the artform held by the population of Japan, it is no surprise to see three works in contention for Oscar glory. This year’s breathtaking works from the spiritual home of international animation are The Wind Rises (Dir: Hayao Miyazaki), an autobiographical account of Jiro Horikoshi, designer of Japanese fighter planes in World War II; A Letter to Momo (Dir: Hiroyuki Okiura), a child’s supernatural odyssey which pays particular homage to the great Spirited Away; and Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie – Rebellion (Dir: Akiyuki Shinbo), the third instalment in the popular anime adventures of everygirl-warrior, Madoka.