This is one of the better crop of animated shorts the Animation Branch has rewarded this decade. “Animal Behavior” is quite funny, “Late Afternoon” is beautifully animated with a universal story, “One Small Step” is imaginative and “Weekends” is wonderfully impressionistic and haunting, but it’s hard to see any of them overcoming “Bao.” Pixar has an impressive history in this category and, moreover, it’s one of the most original and surprising of the bunch. That being said, “Weekends” or “Late Afternoon” could surprise.
Prediction
1. “Bao”
2. “Weekends”
3. “Late Afternoon”
4. “Animal Behaviour”
5. “One Small Step”
More predictions:
Best Picture
Best Director
Actress
Actor
Supporting Actress
Supporting Actor
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
Foreign Language Film