Epic

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(2013)

Genre: Animation/Fantasy

Director: Chris Wedge

Writers: James V. Hart, William Joyce, Daniel Shere, Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, Chris Wedge

Producers: Jerry Davis, Lori Forte, James V. Hart, William Joyce, Michael J. Travers

Synopsis: EPIC is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. From the creators of ICE AGE and RIO, EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world...and ours. --(Written by Twentieth Century Fox)

Cast:

• Amanda Seyfried
• Josh Hutcherson
• Beyoncé Knowles
• Colin Farrell
• Aziz Anzari
• Chris O'Dowd
• Pitbull
• Jason Sudeikis
• Steven Tyler
• Christoph Waltz

IMDb - Epic

Turbo

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(2013)

Genre: Animation/Comedy

Director: David Soren

Writers: Darren Lemke, Robert D. Siegel, David Soren

Producers: Susan Slagle Rogers, Lisa Stewart

Synopsis: From the makers of MADAGASCAR and KUNG FU PANDA, TURBO is a high-velocity 3D comedy about a snail who dares to dream big - and fast. After a freak accident infuses him with the power of super-speed, Turbo kicks into overdrive and embarks on an extraordinary journey to achieve the seemingly impossible: competing in the world's fastest race, the Indianapolis 500. With the help of his tricked-out streetwise snail crew, this ultimate underdog puts his heart and shell on the line to prove that no dream is too big, and no dreamer too small.--(Written by DreamWorks Animation)

Cast:

• Ryan Reynolds
• Paul Giamatti
• Maya Rudolph
• Samuel L. Jackson
• Michael Peña
• Luis Guzmán
• Bill Hader
• Snoop Dogg
• Richard Jenkins
• Ken Jeong
• Michelle Rodriguez

IMDb - Turbo

From Up on Poppy Hill

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(2011)

Genre: Animation/Drama

Director: Goro Miyazaki

Writers: Tetsurô Sayama, Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Chizuru Takahashi

Producers: Nobuo Kawakami, Kathleen Kennedy, Robyn Klein, Frank Marshall, Tetsurô Sayama, Toshio Suzuki, Chizuru Takahashi, Geoffrey Wexler

Synopsis: The story centers on an innocent romance beginning to bud between Umi and Shun, two high school kids caught up in the changing times. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics - and the mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off the shackles of a troubled past. While the children work together to save a dilapidated Meiji era club house from demolition, their tentative relationship begins to blossom. But - in an unexpected twist that parallels what the country itself is facing - a buried secret from their past emerges to cast a shadow on the future and pull them apart. -- (Written by Independent Pictures)

Cast:

• Sarah Bolger
• Anton Yelchin
• Jamie Lee Curtis
• Bruce Dern
• Christina Hendricks
• Ron Howard
• Chris Noth
• Aubrey Plaza

IMDb - From Up on Poppy Hill

Wreck-It Ralph

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(2012)

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Director: Rich Moore

Writers: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston, Jim Reardon, Jennifer Lee

Producers: Monica Lago-Kaytis, John Lasseter, Clark Spencer

 

 Nominee

Synopsis: Ralph (John C. Reilly) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer), the "good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero. On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) from the first-person action game Hero's Duty. But it's the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and save the day before it's too late? -- (Written by Disney)

Cast:

• John C. Reilly
• Jack McBrayer
• Jane Lynch
• Sarah Silverman

IMDb - Wreck-It Ralph

Frankenweenie

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(2012)

Genre: Animation/Comedy

Director: Tim Burton

Writers: Leonard Ripps, Tim Burton, John August

Producers: Allison Abbate, Tim Burton, Derek Frey, Don Hahn, Connie Nartonis Thompson, Simon Quinn

  

 Nominee

Synopsis: From creative genius Tim Burton comes Frankenweenie, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life-with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor's fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new "leash on life" can be monstrous. A stop-motion animated film, Frankenweenie will be filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which will elevate the classic style to a whole new experience. -- (Written by Walt Disney Pictures)

Cast:

• Charlie Tahan
• Catherine O'Hara
• Martin Short
• Wynona Ryder
• Martin Landau

IMDb - Frankenweenie

Hotel Transylvania

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(2012)

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Fantasy

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Writers: Peter Baynham, Robert Smigel, Todd Durham, Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman

Producers: Lydia Bottegoni, Michelle Murdocca, Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel

Nominee

Synopsis: Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula's (Adam Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world's most famous monsters--Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more--to celebrate his daughter Mavis's 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem--but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis. -- (Written by Sony Pictures)

Cast:

• Adam Sandler
• Andy Samberg
• Selena Gomez
• Kevin James
• Fran Drescher
• Steve Buscemi
• Molly Shannon
• David Spade
• CeeLo Green
• Jon Lovitz
• Chris Parnell

IMDb - Hotel Transylvania

ParaNorman

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(2012)

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Fantasy

Directors: Chris Butler, Sam Fell

Writer: Chris Butler

Producers: Matthew Fried, Travis Knight, Arianne Sutner, Carl Beyer

 

Nominee

Synopsis: The new 3D stop-motion comedy thriller from animation company LAIKA, reteaming the company with Focus Features after the groundbreaking Academy Award-nominated Coraline. ParaNorman is, following Coraline, the company's second stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3D. In ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst, of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. -- (Written by Focus Features)

Cast:

• Kodi Smit-McPhee
• Anna Kendrick
• Casey Affleck
• Christopher Mintz-Plasse
• Leslie Mann
• John Goodman
• Jeff Garlin

IMDb - ParaNorman

Brave

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(2012)

Genre: Animation/Fantasy

Directors: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell

Writers: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Irene Mecchi, Michael Arndt

Producers: Pete Docter, Mary Alice Drumm, John Lasseter, Katherine Sarafian, Andrew Stanton

  

Nominee

Synopsis: Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late. -- (Written by Walt Disney Pictures)

Cast:

• Kelly Macdonald
• Billy Connolly
• Emma Thompson
• Robbie Coltrane

IMDb - Brave

Arrietty

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(2010)

Genre: Animation/Adventure

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Writers: Mary Norton, Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa

Producers: Soledad Gatti-Pascual, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki

Synopsis: Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to "borrow" scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty's family from the home and straight into danger. -- (Written by Disney)

Cast - UK Version:

• Saoirse Ronan
• Mark Strong
• Olivia Colman
• Tom Holland
• Phyllida Law
• Geraldine McEwan

Cast - US Version:

• Bridgit Mendler
• Will Arnett
• Amy Poehler
• David Henrie
• Carol Burnett

IMDb - Arrietty

The Illusionist (jhunterfilmreview)

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(2010)

Language: French

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Drama

Director: Sylvain Chomet

Writer: Jacques Tati, Sylvain Chomet

Producers: Philippe Carcassonne, Sally Chomet, Jake Eberts, Jinko Gotoh, Bob Last

Synopsis: A French illusionist finds himself out of work and travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman. Their ensuing adventure changes both their lives forever. (Written by IMDb Editors)

Cast:

• Jean-Claude Donda
• Eilidh Rankin

IMDb - The Illusionist

jhunterfilmreview: A truly deserving contender in the 'Best Animated Feature Film' category, at this years Oscars, was L'illusionniste, or The Illusionist. This animated comedy-drama was directed by French born and Oscar nominee Sylvain Chomet. Known for his 2003 animated masterpiece The Triplets of Belleville, and his segment Tour Eiffel in the 2006 drama Paris, Je T'aime - a collection of short films all based on the city of Paris. Although the screenplay was written and developed by Chomet and Henri Marquet, this traditionally stunning animation is based on a 1956 un-produced script written by French mime, director and actor Jacques Tati. Throughout the entire film, there is extremely little dialogue, as its majority is a sorrowful and melancholy look at a lost world - the world of magicians. The minimal dialogue between The Illusionist and Alice features the voices of Jean-Claude Donda and Eilidh Rankin, both whom voice these characters sufficiently. The traditional 2D animation is so breathtakingly beautiful, that i hardly noticed the lack of dialogue at all. Definitely a refreshing break from Pixars constant 3D animation. Not that i have anything against Pixar, or their films. Overall i found this film sweet, funny, nostalgic and ultimately heartbreaking…

...I give this film 7 stars.

Summer Wars

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(2009)

Genre: Animation/Adventure

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

Writer: Mamoru Hosoda, Satoko Okudera

Synopsis: Kenji Koiso, an eleventh grade math genius, agrees to take a summer job at the Nagano hometown of his crush, Natuski. When he arrives, he finds that her family have reunited to celebrate the 90th birthday of the family matriarch. His job is to pretend to be Natsuki's fiancé. Meanwhile, his attempt to solve a mathematical equation causes a parallel world's collision with earth. (Written by Chris Evans)

 

 IMDb - Summer Wars

Rango

 

My Score:

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(2011)

Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy

Director: Gore Verbinski

Writer: John Logan, Gore Verbinski, James Ward Byrkit
Producers: Mark Bakshi, John B. Carls, Adam Cramer, Shari Hanson, Tim Headington, Graham King, Nils Peyron, David Shannon, Gore Verbinski

 

Nominee

Synopsis: Rango is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff. (Written by IMDb Editors)

Cast:

• Johnny Depp
• Isla Fisher
• Abigail Breslin
• Ned Beatty
• Bill Nighy

 

IMDb - Rango