Director: Rich Moore
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
The Lowdown: Disney's "Wreck-It-Ralph" will catch many off-guard, I guarantee it. It's near-Pixar-level storytelling and features top-notch CGI animation. Indeed, there's a lot for an artist to play with on this palette and that won't be lost on animators. The question at this point becomes, how many "commercial" entries will make the cut? And while that's a fair thing to keep your eye on, it's also worth noting that this is the kind of movie that straddles the line of art and commerce gracefully. It leaves a bit of a lump in your throat and that could catapult it in passion votes. And it also gives the industry a reason to say, "See? We can get it done in-house," much like "Rango" did last year. Nevertheless, three from one studio is tough in a tight year and Disney has a lot to juggle this year. It's an embarrassment of riches, really.