COMMENT | Now we're into 2014, it's safe to say that awards season is in full flow. With the Golden Globes and Oscars on their way (on January 12th and March 2nd, respectively), sandwiched nicely between them are the BAFTAs.
With a strong selection of animation to choose from in 2013, including 'Ernest and Celestine' and 'The Wind Rises', it was a total of three mainstream hits that made BAFTA's shortlist for Best Animation.
In Good Company
Alongside DreamWorks' 'Despicable Me 2', predictably there were entries from both Disney andPixar, which will be an interesting head-to-head battle. No disrespect to the former, which has taken an impressive$921 million from a modest $76 million budget, but I would favour the other two. Even though 'Monsters University' may have taken a few hundred million dollars less and cost more to make, they've perhaps got the strength of the Disney Pixar brand to stand in their favour, as does 'Frozen'.
Record-breaker
But it's not all about names and brands; it's about quality too, and 'Frozen' has it in abundance. So far it has been doing extremely well in cinemas, with a worldwide taking of $641 million in just six weeks, and that number looks set to rise significantly over January. It seems 'Frozen' is the animated film currently on audiences mind at least: it is the most recent and current release, not to mention it has received consistent critical appraisal from most corners.
It's also been breaking records too as Disney's biggest ever animation in the UK and Ireland, not to mention its soundtrack currently tops the iTunes album chart in the US, factors that put it in a strong position for the BAFTA come February.
[Disney's Frozen becomes iTunes best-seller]
Against The Odds
Against The Odds
Personally, it looks likely that 'Frozen' will be the one scooping the award (as well as other subsequent ones) over the next few months. Out of the three it is the strongest and most memorable, in my opinion, with 'Despicable Me 2' gaining good, if not stellar reviews, and while Pixar's 'Monsters University' may be a solid and very funny film, it doesn't quite match the bar set by 'Frozen'.
Which one do you think will win the BAFTA for Animated Film? Share your thoughts below...
