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Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Oscars Best Animated Feature Commentary (Updated Jan. 9, 2026): The Producers Guild of America nominations offered a look at a year defined by scale and audience reach. Their lineup blended major studio sequels with newer originals, citing “The Bad Guys 2,” “Elio,” “KPop Demon Hunters,” “Zootopia 2” and the anime juggernaut “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle.”
BAFTA’s longlist narrowed the focus slightly, spotlighting “Arco,” “The Bad Guys 2,” “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” “Elio,” “Little Amélie” and “Zootopia 2.” Notably, BAFTA leaned more international and auteur-friendly, a reminder that animation voters often reward emotional intimacy alongside technical sophistication (i.e., “Flow”). Notably “KPop Demon Hunters” wasn’t eligible.
Critics Choice pushed the race forward decisively. Nominees included “Arco,” “Elio,” “In Your Dreams,” “KPop Demon Hunters,” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” and “Zootopia 2,” with “KPop Demon Hunters” emerging as the winner.
The strongest confirmation of industry momentum, however, comes from the Annie Awards. Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” and Pixar’s “Elio” led the field with 10 nominations each, including best feature and best character animation, a key bellwether category that often overlaps with the Oscar winner. Joining them in the Annie best feature lineup are “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain,” “The Bad Guys 2” and “Zootopia 2,” a group that almost perfectly mirrors the emerging Oscar picture.
What’s striking this year is how clean the consensus appears to be forming. “KPop Demon Hunters” checks nearly every box: a Critics Choice win, PGA recognition, dominant Annie support and strong cultural penetration. “Zootopia 2” remains its most formidable challenger, buoyed by Disney’s track record and equal strength at the Annies and box office, while “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” stands a chance as the likely indie/art-house selection, especially given its sustained presence across critics and industry lists.
Nominations voting will begin Monday, Jan. 12, and conclude Friday, Jan. 16. Official nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be revealed Thursday, Jan. 22. The 98th Academy Awards will take place Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre and will be televised live on ABC in more than 200 territories worldwide.
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Image Credit: GKids
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Image Credit: NETFLIX
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Eligible Films (Animated Feature)
Image Credit: ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Evere
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