The Academy has officially announced 35 titles eligible for consideration in the Best Animated Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. This year’s lineup brings together some of the biggest global titles. From Japan’s high-impact anime blockbusters like Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man to Korea’s stylish action-comedy K-Pop Demon Hunters, and even India’s own mythological film Mahavatar Narsimha, the diversity in this year’s eligible list reflects how animation continues to expand far beyond borders. Some films are still awaiting their required qualifying releases, but all have cleared the first stage toward Oscar contention.
Anime once again stands strong on the global stage, with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc leading the charge. Both films have generated massive worldwide hype, pushing the reach of Japanese animation further into mainstream awards circuits. Other Japanese titles in the eligibility list include Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing, Dragon Heart – Adventures Beyond This World,100 Meters and also Mamoru Hosoda’s “Scarlet“. These entries highlight anime’s consistent global appeal and its growing recognition within the Academy.
Korea’s K-Pop Demon Hunters, which became a fan-favourite thanks to its high-energy action, comedic style, and K-pop–inspired aesthetic, adds further excitement to the lineup. Its inclusion also reflects the rising influence of Korean pop culture across the world, particularly in youth-driven entertainment. Meanwhile, India celebrates an important milestone with Mahavatar Narsimha, a film rooted in Indian mythology, joining the race. Its presence in the eligibility list signals increasing international visibility for Indian animation, which is expanding in both scale and storytelling ambition.
Complete List For The Movies Eligible For The Best Animated Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards
Complete List of Eligible Films:
- All Operators Are Currently Unavailable
- Arco
- The Bad Guys 2
- Black Butterflies
- Boys Go to Jupiter
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
- ChaO
- Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can’t Sing
- David
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle
- Dog Man
- Dog of God
- Dragon Heart – Adventures Beyond This World
- Elio
- Endless Cookie
- Fixed
- Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
- In Your Dreams
- KPop Demon Hunters
- The Legend of Hei 2
- Light of the World
- Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
- Lost in Starlight
- A Magnificent Life
- Mahavatar Narsimha
- Night of the Zoopocalypse
- Olivia & las Nubes
- 100 Meters
- Out of the Nest
- Scarlet
- Slide
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
- Stitch Head
- The Twits
- Zootopia 2
Voting for the final five nominees will be carried out by members of the Animation Branch, while Academy members from other branches may opt in if they meet the required viewing criteria.
With such a competitive and globally diverse set of contenders, the battle for a nomination is expected to be intense. Anime fans, Indian animation supporters, and global audiences alike will be watching closely as the Oscars inch closer, eager to see which titles make the final cut.
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Source: Oscars
