Animation and the Oscars

In 2014 (the last time I went to an actual movie theater by the way) I saw "The Wind Rises" in the theater because it's the last Miyazaki film and because I like animation and anime. I did not see "Frozen" because it failed my hype test.

My hype test follows a simple rule: if crossover merchandise appears before movie release by more than a week than I will probably temporarily write it off as merchandising fodder. It's not that I will never see those flicks, I just figure there's no rush. "Frozen" most definitely failed the hype test; Elsa bed sheets showed up a month before the movie released.

"The Wind Rises" is an amazing work. It's a bio pic about a japanese engineer who designed planes during WWII. It's a sad, thoughtful movie and not one that I feel then need to rewatch anytime soon, but it is also powerful. It makes an impression. It's a good movie, although not one really intended for kids.

When the Oscars rolled around, I assumed, like many, that "The Wind Rises" would win over "Frozen" hands down. I was surprised and even scandalized when "Frozen" won. If you do an internet search for "The Wind Rises" and "Frozen" during the 2014 Oscars, you'll find a lot of invective about the unfairness of it all and how it's evidence that the critics have become crass and unsophisticated morons.

This is probably true.

I'm not the type to get overly worked up about the Oscars but I also felt pretty irritated about the Oscar results and figured that the reason "Frozen" won was because the critics couldn't accept animation aimed at adults. I felt no real desire to watch "Frozen" as a result. (Which is childish, I acknowledge.) Two things changed my mind. 1) all my students insisted that "Frozen" was good. 2) my niece is stupid in love with the thing.

So, I finally got around to watching it.

I still think "The Wind Rises" should have won the Oscars in 2014. It's just better art. Sorry. It just is. But, that being said, I get why "Frozen" won and any other year I'd have probably been rooting for it. "Frozen" won because it broke with the standard Disney princess needs a big strong vapid prince to save her nonsense. I like that about it. It promotes familial love and I think we need more of that in society. We need more emphasis of the role of family and family support. We need more strong self-reliant leading ladies and we need to acknowledge the vulnerability inherent in romantic love. So yes, I'm behind "Frozen's" message. However, it also has weak story development and an over reliance on a couple good songs. It's not well crafted art.

"The Wind Rises" was robbed.

"Frozen" is still a good movie.