The animated characters Russell, left, and Carl Fredricksen in a scene from Up
Nominees:
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up
So, you ask, what's The Secret of Kells and why did it take a slot that might have gone to a big animated hit like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Ice Age 3 or Monsters vs Aliens? Tomm Moore's feature is about the Book of Kells, the 9th century illuminated manuscript of the Gospels, and the struggle of two young brothers to possess it. The movie is handsome, mostly hand-drawn and very Irish. Hats off to the animation committee for choosing a film that hasn't yet been released in the U.S. Now reality will reassert itself, and Up will win the Oscar.