We usually predict which movies will win and which won’t win an Oscar, but this is merely an acknowledgment that is sometimes true and other times false. Therefore, this article highlights six surprising winners of the Oscar Best Animated Film Award that, despite not securing accolades like the Golden Globe and Annie Awards, have emerged as top choices for the Academy Awards. Moreover, we mention the most-voted film nominated for this award but could not achieve victory, despite who won. Get Ready to open this surprise package!
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Oscar Best Animated Film
1- Brave
- Year of Winning: 2013
- IMDb: 7.1/10
- Release Date: June 10, 2012
- Available On: Prime and Disney Movies
During the Oscar Awards 2013, viewers expected Wreck-It Ralph to win the Best Animated Film. When the results were revealed, Brave, directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, unexpectedly took home this title. The story follows Princess Merida, an adventurous and strong young girl passionate about archery. Living in ancient Scotland, she celebrates her birthday with her father, King Fergus, and mother, Queen Elinor, who gifts her a bow and arrows.
But her mother thinks this gift is inappropriate for a princess. However, her life changes when she must go through her family tradition, in which suitors from various clans compete for Merida’s hand in marriage. After learning this story, the plot takes a diverse turn that highlights her bravery and her self-discovery of her true personality.
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2- Big Hero 6
- Year of Winning: 2015
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Release Date: October 23, 2014
- Available On: Prime and Disney Movies
When Big Hero 6 won the Oscar for Best Animated Film, How to Train Your Dragon 2 was also released, offering a more adventurous follow-up narrative to season one. Despite this, the story presents a new vibrant plot featuring a 14-year-old robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamada. Amid some legal troubles, his older brother Tadashi told him to stop this and took him to his institute.
There, he introduces Hiro to his brilliant friends and to an inflatable healthcare robot he designed, inspired by Baymax. As usual, the plot takes a tragic turn when an accident claims the life of his older brother. To discover the truth behind this incident, Hiro embarks on an adventure with Baymax and Tadashi’s friends while learning the real meaning of heroism.
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3- Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The audience believes that Howl’s Moving Castle takes pride this year in holding the Academy Awards trophy, but, as expected, you can’t assume the future, and the comedic narrative of Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit claims the title. Nick Park created it, infusing humor and charm into the story of a brilliant inventor named Wallace and his clever, non-talkative dog, Gromit.
Mainly showcasing the weird staff, Wallace’s quirky inventions lead to unpredictable outcomes. Both the clay-animated characters navigate the journey of their unbreakable bond with a lot of laughter and comedic moments. This combination wins the hearts of viewers around the world.
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4- The Boy and the Heron
- Year of Winning: 2024
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Release Date: July 14, 2023
- Available On: Prime
In 2024, The Boy and the Heron won a Golden Globe and also earned a chance to feature as the Best Animated Film at the Oscars. This victory surprised many, as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse captured fans’ attention by showcasing their beloved characters in the animation universe. The winning narrative follows the deeply emotional story of Mahito Maki, who, after losing his mother in a tragic fire, is forced to live in the countryside with his father and a new stepmother.
Despite his inability to overcome that indication, one day he encounters a mysterious personality named Heron, who fills his life with magic and danger. Heron takes him to an unfamiliar nearby tower and invites him to embark on a journey together, promising to help him bring back his stepmother. After hearing this, he accepts the proposal and navigates a path filled with love, complexities, and adventure.
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5- Rango
- Year of Winning: 2012
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Release Date: February 14, 2011
- Available On: Prime
An unexpected winner among the Oscar Best Animated Films, Rango showcases a thrilling adventure through its special story. In the same year, the makers launched Kung Fu Panda 2, the most watched and lovable movie, and fans assumed it had a great chance to win the award; however, it did not happen. Rango features a chameleon as the main character, who reflects his lonely enjoyment while spending his life in a glass aquarium as a pet.
One day, while traveling alone on a busy highway, Rango finds himself lost in the vast Mojave Desert. This adventure leads him into a life where he needs water and sees all other creatures searching for it. At first, he struggles to survive in the dusty town of Dirt, but he later emerges as a hero through his journey of self-discovery and bravery.
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Hope You Love These Susprining Titles!
Analyzing this list, we conclude that not only do famous and most-watched movies get selected for the Oscar, but also out-of-the-box and creative plots win the award for Best Animated Film. This victory makes them popular features and attracts audiences who attend to see films like these with great concepts and unique characters.
Additionally, they announced the nomination for the Oscar 2025 for Best Animated Feature, and fans on platforms like Reddit voted for their favorite movie. Guess who won the honor? Most viewers believe it is The Wild Robot or Inside Out 2, but if The Garfield Movie wins, then this will be a great surprise for us!
