Oscar 2014 Best Animated Film Prediction: 'Frozen' Has All the Momentum

The Animated film is always one of the most interesting races because the Academy sometimes chooses three nominees and sometimes five. The ultimate number is chosen by the amount of contenders submitted at the end of the year. This year five films were nominated with two being complete surprises. Previous winners include "Brave," "Rango," "Toy story 3," "Up," "Wall-E" and 'Ratatouille."

"The Croods" - Chris Sanders received his third Oscar nomination for the Academy Awards while Kirk DeMicco and Kristine Belson garnered their first Oscar nominations. "The Croods" is one of the few early releases nominated this year but one of the more surprising ones given the lack of critical love and the fact that it beat out Pixar's "Monsters University." "The Croods" received a 70 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for virtually every single major award including the Golden Globes and Critic's Choice. However, it is unlikely to win as it has not received a single Best Animated accolade during the precursor awards.

"Despicable Me 2" - Chris Renaud took received his second nomination at the Oscars while Pierre Coffin and Chris Meledandri were shortlisted for the first time. The sequel was one of the biggest hits of the year and was nominated for the Golden Globes, BAFTA, Producers Guild and Critics' Choice. The nomination is one of the most interesting choices from the Academy given the fact that the first film was snubbed and was better reviewed than the second one. As a result, the Academy was expected to ignore this one as well. While it is nominated, the fact that the movie has not won a single major award during precursors gives the movie a huge disadvantage.

"Ernest and Celestine" - Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner received their first nominations for Academy Awards. The nomination for this film was yet another surprise because the movie does not arrive in theaters until March and was counted as a 2013 film. The Academy is known for choosing some obscure films in this category and this one not an exception. During the precursor awards the film took home the Los Angeles Film Critics award for Best Animated film but was not nominated for any other awards given its release date. Don't expect this movie to surprise on March 2.

"Frozen" - Chris Buck garnered his second nomination for the Oscars while Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho received their first. The film is the undisputable front-runner in the category as it has won 24 awards. The movie won the Golden Globes, the BAFTA, and the ANNIE accolades. "Frozen" has also become one of the highest grossing films of the year and with audiences embracing it, the Academy is likely to do so as well. Expect Disney to get its second Animated Oscar in two years.

"The Wind Rises" - Hayao Miyazaki garnered his third Oscar nomination after winning for his film "Spirited Away." The new film was once considered the favorite to win the Oscar after winning 11 precursor awards including the National Board of Review. However, the film lost steam compared to "Frozen" and it lost at the Golden Globes, and ANNIE awards. Unless the Academy wants to reward Miyazaki for his last work, it is unlikely it will win the Oscar.

Predictions: "Frozen" will defeat its competition and will become Disney's first Oscar winner that does not come from Pixar.