I’ve always been a bit frustrated with the Oscars when it comes to anime. Even now, we only see a Japanese animated film occasionally break through in the Best Animated Feature category, and before 2001, so many incredible anime movies were completely ignored! It’s a shame, because some truly important works were overlooked – not just missed, but actively excluded, either because of when they were released, the limitations of the categories, or the fact that the Academy historically took a long time to recognize animation as a legitimate art form.
It’s particularly disappointing when truly outstanding films that met all the requirements are overlooked for nominations. The Oscars have missed some incredible anime movies, and while an Oscar isn’t necessary to validate a great film, recognition from the Academy feels important when a movie is groundbreaking, significantly impacts popular culture, or ranks among the best films of its year – regardless of animation style.
The First Slam Dunk Deserved Better Than It Got
As a huge animation fan, I was genuinely shocked when The First Slam Dunk didn’t make the cut for the Best Animated Feature Oscar! It met all the requirements, but the nominees ended up being The Boy and the Heron, Elemental, Nimona, Robot Dreams, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – all fantastic films, don’t get me wrong. Still, it feels like the Academy overlooked a real treasure with Slam Dunk. It just deserved to be in that conversation!
The First Slam Dunk was a standout sports film after a long wait. It’s more than just a good sports movie; it beautifully showcases the power and emotion possible in animated sports when executed well. While its omission from the Oscars didn’t diminish the film’s impact, it definitely highlighted a weakness in the Academy’s ability to recognize quality animation.
Belle Missing the Final Lineup Still Feels Wrong
Many expected Belle to be a strong contender for an Academy Award, especially after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and official eligibility in the Best Animated Feature category. However, the nominations went to Encanto, Flee, Luca, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and Raya and the Last Dragon, and Belle wasn’t among them.
The impact of Belle is strong because it arrived with significant buzz and critical attention, including a famous 14-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. While not flawless, the film is daring, deeply moving, and visually stunning. Belle is precisely the type of ambitious animated film the Academy Awards often say they’re looking for – until the actual voting takes place.
Suzume Was Too Big and Too Acclaimed to Miss
Makoto Shinkai’s film Suzume seemed like a strong candidate for awards, even potentially an Oscar nomination. However, despite being shown at the Berlin International Film Festival, it wasn’t selected as a finalist for Best Animated Feature. While Suzume might not be as breathtaking as Shinkai’s Your Name, it’s a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film.
The snub of Suzume is particularly frustrating because the film was both a box office success and one of Makoto Shinkai’s most moving works. What’s more, Suzume managed to appeal to a wide range of animation fans without sacrificing its artistic integrity. The Academy often claims to favor ambitious and creative animation, and Suzume delivered exactly that, yet it was still overlooked.
Summer Wars Was the Early Mamoru Hosoda Masterpiece the Oscars Ignored
Before Mamoru Hosoda gained recognition with award-winning films, Summer Wars deserved to be nominated for an Academy Award. While it was submitted for Best Animated Feature, the nominees that year were Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Illusionist.
It’s still disappointing that Summer Wars wasn’t recognized, as it uniquely blends heartwarming family moments with the anxieties and excitement of the digital world. While the movie is fun and energetic, its themes of online life, human connection, and vulnerability remain surprisingly relevant today. It was a significant oversight to exclude such a strong animated film from the awards.
Ponyo Is Still One of Studio Ghibli’s Most Baffling Oscar Snubs
It’s always surprising when a Studio Ghibli film isn’t nominated for Best Animated Feature, and Ponyo was completely overlooked. While many predicted Ponyo would be in the running for the 82nd Academy Awards, the actual nominees were Up, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, and The Secret of Kells.
The Academy’s failure to nominate Ponyo remains a significant oversight, as the film seemed like a guaranteed contender. Carrying the respected name of Studio Ghibli and boasting the handcrafted artistry that Academy voters often praise, Ponyo is also a visually stunning movie. Even now, its exclusion from the final five nominees feels like a clear mistake.
Weathering with You Proved the Oscars Still Didn’t Get Makoto Shinkai
Following the international success of Your Name, the Academy had a clear opportunity to demonstrate that Makoto Shinkai’s talent wasn’t just a lucky break. His film, Weathering with You, was considered for the 92nd Academy Awards, but the nominations ultimately went to Toy Story 4, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, I Lost My Body, Klaus, and Missing Link. Unfortunately, Shinkai wasn’t selected as a nominee.
The Academy was familiar with Makoto Shinkai’s style, and Weathering with You still offered the grand emotional impact, stunning visuals, and touching romance that define his films. Even fans of Your Name would agree the film was technically impressive. However, it seemed voters treated it like many other well-made anime films – easy to overlook.
In This Corner of the World Was the Serious Anime Drama the Oscars Overlooked
I remember when the Academy Awards nominations came out for animated features. While Sunao Katabuchi’s beautiful film, In This Corner of the World, was considered, the final nominees ended up being Coco, The Boss Baby, The Breadwinner, Ferdinand, and Loving Vincent. It was a bit of a disappointment to me, and to many others, because even though there seemed to be space for more diverse and thoughtful animated films that year, In This Corner of the World didn’t make it onto the list.
This film beautifully demonstrates animation’s ability to portray serious historical events with sensitivity and power. It’s a delicate yet strong movie, emotionally impactful without being overly sentimental, and consistently focuses on the human experience. Looking back, it’s surprising the Academy didn’t recognize this exceptional war drama – it feels like a major oversight.
A Silent Voice Not Getting Into the 2018 Lineup Was Brutal
It’s still frustrating that A Silent Voice wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award. While Coco, The Boss Baby, The Breadwinner, Ferdinand, and Loving Vincent were the nominees for the 90th Academy Awards, many now feel A Silent Voice was more emotionally impactful and sophisticated than all of them, making its omission even more noticeable in retrospect. It’s considered one of the most emotionally mature animated films of the 2010s.
Variety described Naoko Yamada’s film as ‘beguiling,’ which is a perfect way to put it. The movie tackles tough topics like bullying, shame, disability, and finding forgiveness with a delicate touch that many serious live-action films don’t achieve. It was disappointing enough that it wasn’t nominated, but it’s even more frustrating considering less impressive films did receive nominations. Anime fans will likely be talking about this snub for years to come.
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya Was Nominated, but Still Snubbed
Despite being nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya didn’t win, losing to Big Hero 6. However, the nomination was still significant, showing that the Academy appreciated the film’s beautiful artistry. Many critics praised it as a stunning and truly artistic masterpiece.
Isao Takahata’s film stands out as one of the most visually unique animated movies ever to receive an Oscar nomination, and its emotional impact actually grows with each viewing. It feels less like a symbolic nomination for a foreign film and more like a true work of art that was respectfully recognized before voters chose a more predictable winner. While many animated films from Japan have lost at the Oscars, few losses have proven to be as regrettable over time.
Your Name Should Have Been An Oscar Winner
Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name is widely considered one of the biggest surprises when it comes to Oscar snubs in recent years. Despite being submitted for the 89th Academy Awards, earning positive reviews, and making over $405 million globally, it wasn’t nominated for Best Animated Feature. What makes this especially disappointing is how Your Name appealed to audiences beyond the typical anime fanbase.
The movie is impressive, and it’s not just because of its stunning animation. Your Name starts with a simple body-swap idea, but it unfolds into a grand story about memories, the challenges of being apart, yearning, and overcoming hardship – all delivered with a remarkable confidence rarely seen in animated films.
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2026-03-24 23:45