10 Anime Films That Were Unfairly Snubbed at the Oscars

The Academy Awards are a celebration of film-making, awarding the best films in several categories for their excellence. From time to time, an anime film enters the running after receiving a nomination. Fans can’t help but cheer for their favorite movies to have a chance at an award. However, they’re usually met with disappointment.

While several anime films could beat the odds and receive an Oscar for their performance, more often than not, fan-favorite films are beaten by Disney or Pixar. While this should be forgiven if it only happens occasionally, it often feels as though anime films are snubbed by the critics and judges at the Academy Awards. It’s only natural that fans feel bitter.

10

Summer Wars Could Not Defeat Toy Story’s Nostalgic Pull

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards

Summer Wars took a fan-favorite Digimon film and turned it into an original feature film. The movie had a stunning story, beautiful visuals, and a sense of nostalgia dear to millennial hearts. However, while this should have been enough to score this film the Oscar it deserved, it was instead beaten by Toy Story 3.

It seems only natural that a Pixar film franchise as popular as Toy Story would capture the critics’ attention. Critics found few, if any, flaws with it. However, those not so keen on Toy Story 3 will realize the film is just more of the same that its fans expect. Turning a franchise movie into an original product simply seems a much more novel idea. Sadly, the judges didn’t agree regarding Summer Wars.

Summer Wars

Release Date

August 1, 2009

Runtime

1 hour 45 minutes

Cast

9

The Red Turtle was too Quiet Compared to Zootopia’s Roar

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 89th Academy Awards

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

The Red Turtle is an underrated co-production with Studio Ghibli. The film had a fairytale-like quality to it reminiscent of Japanese folklore, paired with a love story that ends in tragedy. It was well-loved by critics for the beauty and storytelling Studio Ghibli is known for. While it may not have become a Ghibli classic, it deserved far more attention than it received.

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Paired against big-name competitors like Zootopia and Moana, even a collaboration with Studio Ghibli like The Red Turtle had its work cut out for it. Despite all its beauty, The Red Turtle simply couldn’t capture the judges’ eye quite like Zootopia could. It’s truly a shame, as Zootopia was more of a political message than a beautiful film. However, Disney will always be more recognized than even Studio Ghibli.

8

The Tale of Princess Kaguya was Defeated by Disney’s Big Hero 6

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 87th Academy Awards

The Tale of Princess Kaguya was a beautiful film by Studio Ghibli that adapted traditional Japanese folklore into a thrilling movie ending in tragedy. It stood apart from other films with its unique art style, looking more like something out of a traditional painting. However, some found the film too slow to truly capture the audience’s attention, although Studio Ghibli fans would argue with that claim.

Instead, the victor was Big Hero 6. The movie took two big names — Marvel and Walt Disney — and paired them together for an action-packed film exploring loss and heroics. While the film wasn’t bad by any means, it was just another superhero film during an era where far too many were released. The Tale of Princess Kaguya stood out with its unique art-style and touching story, yet it sadly never stood a chance.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Release Date

November 23, 2013

Runtime

2 Hours 17 Minutes

7

The Wind Rises Was No Match For Frozen’s Sweeping Snow Storm

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards

The Wind Rises may not have been the best Studio Ghibli film, but it’s notable for being the studio’s attempt at following a historic figure. The film featured a tragic romance and anti-war themes. Its protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi, came to regret making beautiful planes as they were created for war. It was a touching film with the visuals Studio Ghibli was known for.

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Unfortunately, its chances came to a screeching halt when paired with one of Disney’s most famous movies of recent times, Frozen. Although Frozen was just another Disney princess movie, it was over-hyped and over-celebrated, ignoring past Disney movies in favor of claiming this was the first to not need a love interest or the first to celebrate sisterly love. The Wind Rises may have flown high when it came to a meaningfully beautiful movie, but even Studio Ghibli couldn’t compete with the likes of Frozen.

The Wind Rises

Release Date

July 20, 2013

Runtime

126 minutes

6

Tokyo Godfathers Could Not Swim Fast Enough to Beat Finding Nemo

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 76th Academy Awards

Tokyo Godfathers is a stunningly underrated film, even by those who are anime films. This Christmas movie has stunning representations, relatable protagonists, and even beautiful visuals. Few films use lighting to help set the mood, like Tokyo Godfathers does. It was ahead of its time, especially with a transwoman protagonist in its main trio, which may have given Finding Nemo the winning edge.

Finding Nemo may have had great 3D animation for the time it was released, but it was a simplistic film about a father trying to find his lost son. The movie may have had funny moments, but it could hardly compare to the realistic struggles faced in Tokyo Godfathers. Sadly, though, Pixar and Walt Disney had the upper hand this time around, as they usually seem to regarding the Academy Awards.

5

When Marnie Was There’s Opportunity Was Turned Inside Out

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 88th Academy Awards

When Marnie Was There is a touching Studio Ghibli film about overcoming one’s insecurities through bonding with others. The visuals were among Studio Ghibli’s finest and the story was touching, even if confusing because of Marnie’s relationship with the protagonist. When Marnie Was There is one of Studio Ghibli’s finest modern films, but it was still beaten by Inside Out.

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Inside Out may have been a relatable movie about accepting one’s emotions as they grow up, but its 3D visuals seem mundane in comparison Studio Ghibli’s stunning 2D animation. There’s a reason Ghibli is known for its visuals and animation, after all. When Marnie Was There may have touched the hearts of those who watched it, but Inside Out had a greater reach as a Pixar and Disney film. With a heavy heart, Studio Ghibli lost the competition yet again.

When Marnie Was There

Release Date

July 19, 2014

Runtime

103 Minutes

• Sara Takatsuki

  Anna Sasaki

• Nanako Matsushima

  Yoriko Sasaki

• Susumu Terajima

  Kiyomasa Oiwa

4

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion’s Spell was Nowhere Near Disney’s Frozen

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 86th Academy Awards

Anime franchise films rarely make it to the Academy Awards, but Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion was a rare exception. This film uses beautiful visual metaphors to represent Homura’s grief at losing Madoka and the desperation it put her through to try to “fix” things. Although the movie may have seemed eccentric and out there, its abstract design elements were part of what made the Puella Magi Madoka Magica series so remarkable.

Unfortunately, the judges who were to choose the best animated feature that year likely had never heard of Puella Magi Madoka Magica before and decided not to give this film the time it truly required. Although watching the series beforehand was needed to fully comprehend the film, it wasn’t required to see just how beautiful it was. Unfortunately, Disney had the upper hand and the reach to do what Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion could not and came out on top with their Disney princess film, Frozen.

3

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Didn’t Have Enough Soul to Compete

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train is another anime franchise film that made it to the Academy Awards. It was well-loved by critics and at the box office for its stunning visuals and action-packed fights. It became the highest-grossing R-rated animated feature, bringing the best of the Demon Slayer franchise to the big screen for its massive audience.

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Somehow, though, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train was beaten by the Disney and Pixar film Soul. Although the film was highly-rated by the critics, many audiences moved on quickly from a film about an African-American pianist grappling with his mortality after falling into a coma. It left little cultural impact and soon seemed to fall out of the populace’s memory. Despite this, Soul was still the judge’s choice, leaving fans frustrated to see such a popular anime film fall to another Disney film.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train

Release Date

October 16, 2020

Runtime

1 Hour 57 Minutes

2

Princess Mononoke was too Political for the Oscars

Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 70th Academy Awards

Princess Mononoke is one of the rare anime films not nominated for the best animated feature. Instead, this film got a higher honor, applauded as a well-made international feature film. Even now, Princess Mononoke is celebrated as one of Studio Ghibli’s finest works. However, even with all its action and anti-war meanings, Princess Mononoke was snubbed from an Oscar win.

Instead, it was beaten by a film called Character produced in the Netherlands. It was a drama based on a best-selling novel. Perhaps this was what gave an otherwise forgettable film the edge over one of Studio Ghibli’s finest creations. Even now, Princess Mononoke is applauded by anime fans as a classic. Sadly, that wasn’t enough to beat the Dutch film no one talks about anymore.

Princess Mononoke

Release Date

July 12, 1997

Runtime

133 Minutes

1

Howl’s Moving Castle’s Curse Didn’t Match Up to The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 78th Academy Awards

Howl’s Moving Castle is known as one of the most beautiful Studio Ghibli films and one of their most touching love stories. Based on Diana Wynne Jones’ novel of the same name, this film brings together elaborate locations with charming characters and a sense of magic. Together, the wizard Howl Pendragon and hat-maker Sophie complete each other and gain the courage to pursue the future.

However, this stunning 2D masterpiece was beaten by one of the lesser Wallace & Gromit films. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit may have sunk their time into stunning claymation, but its story was lacking. Fans of the series consider it to be one of the weaker films in the series. Despite this, it seems claymation was popular that year, with Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride also being nominated. Although Howl’s Moving Castle had a more touching story, it wasn’t enough for the film to take the prize against the classic claymation franchise.

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