Oscar season is upon us once again, and Disney fans everywhere are waiting to see if the House of Mouse can climb back on top for Best Animated Feature. After losing out to the likes of Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio (2023) and The Boy and the Heron (2024), Disney hasn't been top-dog since 2022.
Now, Disney has 15 nominations for 2025, but it will have to contend with four others for Best Animated Feature. Along with Flow, Memoir of a Snail, Wallace and Gromit, the acclaimed Inside Out 2 is also in the running for the Oscar. However, one additional competitor could mop the floor with them.
Riley or the robot?
On paper, the two contenders are apples and oranges. It's Pixar's return to Riley's mind with a new team of emotions up against an emotional story about a shipwrecked robot and her animal friends. However, the crown will go to the more emotional family-friendly affair.
Both of these films represent a return to form for animated films. They are both family-friendly features with a mix of narrative and emotional drive, something Disney has been struggling with in the past. Although Pixar's sequel swung the house of mouse back into the spotlight, The Wild Robot (2024) has more toys to play with and a Certified Fresh rating to boot.
Dreamworks Animation's tale of Roz and her animal friends in the untamed wilderness is an adventure film that harkens back to the days of The Iron Giant. Pair its unique style with a star-studded cast, a heart-gripping story, and an absolutely beautiful design, and Disney starts to feel the heat.
That said, Disney and Pixar aren't slacking off either, as many believe that Inside Out 2 (2024) represents the first step in Disney's return to greatness. After breaking its flop-era curse with the new sequel, it feels like the studio is on its way to a comeback, but that's only if they can snag the award.
In this writer's opinion, it's still a bit too early to make any confirmations, but The Wild Robot stands on the shoulders of originality, whereas the Pixar sequel relies on an established and dedicated fanbase. The question remains, will the love for the new outweigh that for the traditional?
The Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2