This is a list of submissions for the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature since it started in 2001 (where DreamWorks Animation's Shrek was the inaugural winner.). An animated feature is defined by the academy as a film with a running time of more than 40 minutes in which characters' performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique, a significant number of the major characters are animated, and animation figures in no less than 75 percent of the running time.
History The entire AMPAS membership has been eligible to choose the winner since the award's inception. If there are sixteen or more films submitted for the category, the winner is voted from a shortlist of five films, which has happened nine times, otherwise there will only be three films on the shortlist. Additionally, eight eligible animated features must have been theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated.
Some submissions to the Best Animated Feature category were live-action/animation hybrids, but only three films were disqualified for not meeting the 75 percent threshold. This happened with Arthur and the Invisibles in 2006, Yogi Bear in 2010, and The Smurfs in 2011. Consequently, the former two disqualifications reduced the shortlist from five films to three films in 2006 and 2010 respectively, while the latter in 2011 did not.
Only one submission was withdrawn from the competition. This happened in 2020 when The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run was withdrawn for failing to complete qualification runs needed to be eligible.
2000s 2001 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country Result Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Hironobu Sakaguchi Square Pictures Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius John A. Davis Nickelodeon Movies, O Entertainment, DNA Productions Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu Ron Merk The Tooniversal Company Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter Pixar Animation Studios Osmosis Jones Tom Sito and Piet Kroon Warner Bros. Feature Animation The Prince of Light Yugo Sako Nippon Ramayana Film Co. Shrek Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson DreamWorks Animation The Trumpet of the Swan Richard Rich and Terry L. Noss RichCrest Animation Studios Waking Life Richard Linklater Thousand Words
2002 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultAdam Sandler's Eight Crazy NightsSeth KearsleyHappy Madison ProductionsAlibaba & the Forty ThievesUsha GanesarajahPentamedia GraphicsEdenAndrzej CzeczotUnknownHey Arnold!: The MovieTuck TuckerNickelodeon Movies, Snee-OoshIce AgeChris WedgeBlue Sky StudiosJonah: A VeggieTales MoviePhil Vischer and Mike NawrockiBig Idea EntertainmentLilo & StitchChris Sanders and Dean DeBloisWalt Disney Feature AnimationThe Living ForestManolo Gómez and Ángel de la CruzDygra FilmsMutant AliensBill PlymptonPlymptoonsThe Powerpuff Girls MovieCraig McCrackenCartoon Network StudiosThe Princess and the PeaMark SwanSwan ProductionsReturn to Never LandDonovan Cook and Robin BuddDisneytoon StudiosSpirit: Stallion of the CimarronKelly Asbury and Lorna CookDreamWorks AnimationSpirited AwayHayao MiyazakiStudio GhibliStuart Little 2Rob MinkoffColumbia PicturesTreasure PlanetRon Clements and John MuskerWalt Disney Feature AnimationThe Wild Thornberrys MovieCathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrathNickelodeon Movies, Klasky Csupo
2003 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultBrother BearAaron Blaise and Robert WalkerWalt Disney Feature AnimationFinding NemoAndrew StantonPixar Animation StudiosJester TillEberhard JunkersdorfMunich AnimationThe Jungle Book 2Steve TrenbirthDisneytoon StudiosLooney Tunes: Back in ActionJoe DanteWarner Bros. Feature AnimationMillennium ActressSatoshi KonMadhousePiglet's Big MovieFrancis GlebasDisneytoon StudiosPokémon HeroesKunihiko YuyamaOLM, Inc.Rugrats Go WildNorton Virgien and John EngNickelodeon Movies, Klasky CsupoTokyo GodfathersSatoshi KonMadhouseThe Triplets of BellevilleSylvain ChometLes Armateurs
2004 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultClifford's Really Big MovieRobert Ramirez and Steve TrenbirthScholastic EntertainmentGhost in the Shell 2: InnocenceMamoru OshiiProduction I.G Studio GhibliHome on the RangeWill Finn and John SanfordWalt Disney Feature AnimationThe IncrediblesBrad BirdPixar Animation StudiosThe Legend of BuddhaShamboo FalkePentamedia Graphics LtdThe Polar ExpressRobert ZemeckisCastle Rock Entertainment, ImageMoversShrek 2Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad VernonDreamWorks AnimationShark TaleVicky Jenson, Bibo Bergeron and Rob LettermanSky BlueKim Moon-saengEndgame Productions Inc.The SpongeBob SquarePants MovieStephen HillenburgNickelodeon Movies, United Plankton PicturesTeacher's PetTimothy BjörklundDisney Television Animation
2005 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultChicken LittleMark DindalWalt Disney Feature Animation Gulliver's TravelAnita UdeepPentamedia GraphicsHoodwinked!Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards and Tony LeechKanbar EntertainmentHowl's Moving CastleHayao MiyazakiStudio GhibliMadagascarEric Darnell and Tom McGrathDreamWorks AnimationRobotsChris WedgeBlue Sky StudiosSteamboyKatsuhiro OtomoSunriseTim Burton's Corpse BrideMike Johnson and Tim BurtonTim Burton Productions, LaikaValiantGary ChapmanVanguard AnimationWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitNick Park and Steve BoxAardman Animations
2006 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultThe Ant BullyJohn A. DavisLegendary Pictures, DNA Productions, Warner Bros. PicturesArthur and the InvisiblesLuc BessonEuropaCorp, Canal+ BarnyardSteve OedekerkParamount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, O EntertainmentCarsJohn LasseterPixar Animation StudiosCurious GeorgeMatthew O'CallaghanUniversal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Universal Animation StudiosEveryone's HeroChristopher Reeve, Daniel St. Pierre and Colin BradyIDT Entertainment, 20th Century FoxFlushed AwayDavid Bowers and Sam FellAardman Animations, DreamWorks AnimationHappy FeetGeorge MillerAnimal Logic, Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros. PicturesIce Age: The MeltdownCarlos SaldanhaBlue Sky Studios, 20th Century FoxMonster HouseGil KenanImageMovers, Amblin Entertainment, Columbia PicturesOpen SeasonJill Culton and Roger AllersSony Pictures Animation, Columbia PicturesOver the HedgeTim Johnson and Karey KirkpatrickDreamWorks AnimationPaprikaSatoshi KonMadhouseRenaissanceChristian VolckmanOnyx Films, Millimages, LuxAnimationA Scanner DarklyRichard LinklaterThousand WordsThe WildSteve "Spaz" WilliamsC.O.R.E. Feature Animation, Walt Disney Pictures
2007 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultAlvin and the ChipmunksTim HillRegency Enterprises Bagdasarian CompanyAqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for TheatersMatt Maiellaro and Dave WillisAdult Swim, Williams StreetBee MovieSimon J. Smith and Steve HicknerDreamWorks AnimationBeowulfRobert ZemeckisImageMoversMeet the RobinsonsStephen AndersonWalt Disney Animation StudiosPersepolisMarjane Satrapi and Vincent ParonnaudCelluloid DreamsRatatouilleBrad BirdPixar Animation StudiosShrek the ThirdChris Miller and Raman HuiDreamWorks AnimationThe Simpsons MovieDavid SilvermanGracie Films, Rough Draft StudiosSurf's UpAsh Brannon and Chris BuckSony Pictures AnimationTekkonkinkreetMichael AriasStudio 4°CTMNTKevin MunroeImagi Animation Studios
2008
Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultBolt Chris Williams and Byron HowardWalt Disney Animation StudiosDelgoMarc F. Adler and Jason MaurerElectric Eye Entertainment CorporationDr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!Jimmy Hayward and Steve MartinoBlue Sky StudiosDragon HuntersGuillaume Ivernel and Arthur QwakFuturikon, LuxAnimation, Trixter, Mac Guff LigneFly Me to the MoonBen StassennWave PicturesIgorTony LeondisExodus Film GroupKung Fu PandaJohn Stevenson and Mark OsborneDreamWorks AnimationMadagascar: Escape 2 AfricaEric Darnell and Tom McGrath$9.99Tatia RosenthalLama FilmsThe Sky CrawlersMamoru OshiiProduction I.GSword of the StrangerMasahiro AndōBonesThe Tale of DespereauxSam Fell and Robert StevenhagenFramestore Feature Animation, Universal Animation StudiosWALL-E Andrew StantonPixar Animation StudiosWaltz with BashirAri FolmanBridgit Folman Film Gang, Les Films d'Ici, Razor Film Produktion
2009 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultAlvin and the Chipmunks: The SqueakquelBetty ThomasRegency Enterprises, Bagdasarian CompanyAstro BoyDavid BowersImagi Animation StudiosBattle for TerraAristomenis TsirbasRoadside AttractionsCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Sony Pictures AnimationCoraline Henry SelickLaikaDisney's A Christmas Carol Robert ZemeckisImageMovers DigitalThe Dolphin: Story of a DreamerEduardo SchuldtPassworld, Dolphin FilmsFantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson American Empirical Pictures, Regency Enterprises, Indian PaintbrushIce Age: Dawn of the DinosaursCarlos Saldanha Blue Sky StudiosMary and MaxAdam ElliotMelodrama PicturesThe Missing LynxRaul Garcia and Manuel SiciliaKandor Graphics Monsters vs. AliensConrad Vernon and Rob LettermanDreamWorks Animation 9 Shane AckerFocus Features Planet 51Jorge BlancoIlion Animation Studios Ponyo Hayao Miyazaki Studio Ghibli The Princess and the Frog Ron Clements and John MuskerWalt Disney Animation Studios The Secret of Kells Tomm Moore Cartoon Saloon Tinker Bell and the Lost TreasureKlay HallDisneytoon Studios A Town Called PanicStéphane Aubier and Vincent PatarLa Parti Productions, Coproduction Office Up Pete Docter Pixar Animation Studios
2010s 2010
Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country Result Alpha and Omega Anthony Bell Crest Animation Productions Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Brad Peyton Village Roadshow Pictures Despicable Me Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud Illumination Entertainment Daming Chen Hangzhou C&L Digital Prod. Co. How to Train Your Dragon Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois DreamWorks Animation Idiots and Angels Bill Plympton Plymptoons Studio Sylvain Chomet Pathé, Django Films Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Zack Snyder GOG Productions Megamind Tom McGrath DreamWorks Animation My Dog Tulip Paul Fierlinger Axiom Films Shrek Forever After Mike Mitchell DreamWorks Animation Summer Wars Mamoru Hosoda Madhouse Tangled Nathan Greno and Byron Howard Walt Disney Animation Studios Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue Bradley Raymond Disneytoon Studios Toy Story 3 Lee Unkrich Pixar Animation Studios Yogi Bear Eric Brevig Sunswept Entertainment, De Line Pictures, Rhythm and Hues Studios
2011 Film Director(s) Studio(s) Production Country ResultThe Adventures of TintinSteven SpielbergNickelodeon Movies, Amblin Entertainment Alois NebelTomáš LuňákNegativ Alvin and the Chipmunks: ChipwreckedMike MitchellRegency Enterprises, Bagdasarian Company Arthur ChristmasSarah SmithAardman Animations, Sony Pictures Animation Cars 2John LasseterPixar Animation Studios A Cat in Paris Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain GagnolDigit Anima, Folimage, France 3 Cinéma, Emage Animation Studios Chico & RitaFernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono ErrandoFernando Trueba PC, Estudio Mariscal, Magic Light Pictures Gnomeo & JulietKelly AsburyTouchstone Pictures, Rocket Pictures Happy Feet TwoGeorge MillerVillage Roadshow Pictures, Kennedy Miller Mitchell, Dr. D Studios Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. EvilMike DisaKanbar Entertainment, Kanbar Animation, Arc Productions Kung Fu Panda 2Jennifer Yuh NelsonDreamWorks Animation Mars Needs MomsSimon WellsImageMovers Digital Puss in BootsChris MillerDreamWorks Animation RangoGore VerbinskiNickelodeon Movies, Blind Wink Productions, GK Films, Industrial Light & Magic RioCarlos SaldanhaBlue Sky Studios The SmurfsRaja GosnellSony Pictures Animation, Kerner Entertainment Company Winnie the PoohStephen Anderson and Don HallWalt Disney Animation Studios WrinklesIgnacio FerrerasPerro Verde Films
2012