For our seventh Rundown article, we look at a category that some say shouldn’t exist and others celebrate its typical selection of quality productions. After the jump, you’ll find our winner and runner-up predictions for Best Animated Feature as well as general commentary about the race. Tomorrow, we’ll cover one of the more pre-determined categories of the year.

Best Animated Feature

Winner Predictions

• Rango (O) (O) (O)
• A Cat in Paris
• Chico & Rita
• Kung Fu Panda 2
• Puss in Boots

Runner-Up Predictions

• Chico & Rita (R)
• Kung Fu Panda 2 (R)

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Wesley Lovell: With its chief competition out of the way (The Adventures of Tintin), Rango is the closest thing to a sure thing this year. Of course, those who are angry about Tintin being excluded may jump to another film, but other than Kung Fu Panda 2, there isn’t another production on this list that could even have a shot at dethroning Rango.

Peter J. Patrick: I can’t see any film other than the critically acclaimed Rango taking this one. Its only real competition, The Adventures of Tintin, isn’t nominated.

Tripp Burton: Rango is a pretty strong bet in this category. Not only was it the best reviewed animated film of the year, and not only did its closest competition fail to get nominated (The Adventures of Tintin and Cars 2), but it is the only major Hollywood nominee not to be a sequel to a film that has lost this award (I know that Shrek won, but 2 and 3 both lost). If it does lose, I think it will be seen as a major upset and that for the first time this award will go to a film without a major Hollywood studio behind it. My guess is that the number 2 film here is Chico & Rita, but it could also be A Cat in Paris.

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