Given that critics were rather rhapsodic for “Toy Story 4,” as reflected by the 98% fresh ranking on Rotten Tomatoes, there might be a chance that it follow the path of its 2010 Pixar predecessor, “Toy Story 3,” and win Best Animated Feature — thus making history as just the second cartoon sequel to do so. But it could face stiff competition from another likely monster sequel, Disney ‘s “Frozen 2,” opening Nov. 27. Its 2013 forerunner not only won the animated feature category, the original “Frozen” still reigns as the No. 1 grossing animated film worldwide with $1.3 billion in ticket sales.
You would think, considering the current epidemic of Hollywood sequelitis, that Oscar voters would warm up to the idea of giving another trophy to a franchise film in the category. Then again, part of the reason “Toy Story 3” is the first and only follow-up movie to take the prize in the 18 years that the award has been in existence could be that 1995’s “Toy Story” and 1999’s “Toy Story 2” didn’t have the opportunity to compete. “Toy Story 3” also managed to make the cut in the Best Picture category — only the third animated film to do so after 1991’s “Beauty and the Beast” and 2009’s “Up.”
Other sequels have been nominated: 2004’s “Shrek 2,” 2011’s “Kung Fu Panda 2” and 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” from DreamWorks; 2013’s “Despicable Me 2” from Universal; and last year’s “Incredibles 2” from Pixar and “Ralph Breaks the Internet” from Disney. But just one has ever grabbed the gold.
Of course, live-action sequels winning a Best Picture Academy Award are rarities, too. Only two, 2003’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and 1975’s “The Godfather Part II,” conquered Oscar’s most coveted category. As for 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs,” it was technically not an official follow-up to 1986’s “The Manhunter.”
So which animated feature do you think has the best chance to be the second sequel to score an Oscar — “Toy Story 4” or “Frozen 2”? Sound off in the comments section. And take the poll below and let us know which sequel that was nominated in the animated category is your favorite.
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