Animated movies: the category to watch

By RAFER GUZMAN

Now that the Golden Globe nominees have been announced, movie fans are focusing on the big categories: best actor, best actress, best dramatic motion picture. But one of this year’s more-intriguing categories is best animated feature.

Animated movies have come to the fore over the past decade, popping up on year-end top-10 lists compiled by critics and, more important, box offices. One nominee, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” is a charming update on a classic children’s book — and it doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance. Why? In a category of cartoons, it’s actually too lightweight.

Consider the competition. “The Princess and the Frog” introduces Disney’s first black princess. “Up,” from Pixar, features another unusual hero: an elderly widower, with the voice of Ed Asner. Then there’s “Coraline,” a psychologically unsettling tale (from Tim Burton compatriot Henry Selick) that boasts elaborate stop-motion animation.

The one to beat may be “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” Wes Anderson’s first animated film and also a work of stop-motion. The craft is admirable, but its selling points are a multilayered script (based on Roald Dahl’s book), the voices of A-list stars (George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray) and Anderson’s quirky style.

Since the category’s introduction in 2007, Pixar has won every year (“WALL-E,” “Ratatouille” and “Cars”). All told, it’s a race worth watching.