Pete Docter's Up (Disney / Pixar) (top); Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox (Fox Searchlight Pictures) (bottom)
Although Pete Docter's Up was expected to have the animation year-end awards field all to itself, it ultimately had to face tough competition from Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox, which features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Jason Schwartzman, among others.
Up has won awards from at least 14 US-based groups, while Fantastic Mr. Fox has won 7. Both are up for a Golden Globe and for a best animated feature Annie Award. Coraline is the only other animated feature to win an award this season, from the San Francisco film critics. It's also up for a Golden Globe and an Annie Award.
Tomm Moore's The Secret of Kells hasn't won anything from US film critics, but it did get an European Film Award nomination.
All six animated features listed below are potential contenders for the 2010 Academy Award. Both Up and Fantastic Mr. Fox may even land a spot in the Best Picture race.
The list below (compiled by Steve Montgomery) includes nearly all US-based critics groups (it'll be updated as more results are announced early next year), in addition to the Satellite and National Board of Review awards; Golden Globe and Annie nominations; plus a handful of festival awards.
Up – National Board of Review, Washington, St. Louis, Indiana, Southeastern, San Diego, Phoenix, New York Online, Houston, Florida, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Chicago, Boston, Austin, plus Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Annie nominations
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Utah, Toronto, Satellite, Oklahoma, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, plus Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Annie nomination
Coraline – San Francisco, plus Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Annie nominations
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Annie nominations
The Princess and the Frog – Critics Choice, Golden Globe, Annie nominations
The Secret of Kells – Annie nomination
