‘The LEGO Movie’ Wins at Critic’s Choice Awards

Man, even though our Best Animated Feature series will be ending soon, the surprises just keep on coming.

Cartoon Brew has reported that, after a shocking report yesterday that saw the film shut out of the Oscar race, The LEGO Movie has bagged a win at this year’s Critics’ Choice Awards, proving that even though its been officially shut out of the Oscar race, it’s far away from being down and out entirely. The film won out over its usual suspects (Big Hero 6, The Book of Life, The Boxtrolls, and How to Train Your Dragon 2) for the honor.

For those interested, here’s the acceptance speech below:

http://youtu.be/xU-WOIUH3J4

Mirroring the thoughts of just about everyone who saw that fateful announcement Thursday morning, Chris Miller starts by saying: “What a roller coaster of emotions today has been.”

Phil Lord also supported this line of thought by saying: “We also want to thank you guys—the critics’ choosers—for having the courage to give an award to something called The LEGO Movie.”

In light of recent real-world events, Miller ended the speech by stating: “This movie is about freedom of expressions so please don’t stop making things,” Miller said as the get-off-the-stage music started to play. “Artists should never be silenced by fear; they should only be silenced by the wrap-up music.”

As Amid Amidi points out, the Critics’ Choice Awards have been among the most accurate signposts of who will go on to win the Oscar. In the 13 years that the Oscar has been awarded to animation, the Critics’ Choice has honored that same film 11 times.

In another world, that probably would have happened here if it weren’t for the fact that, so far, this has been one of the most unconventional awards seasons for animation.

The LEGO Movie is out of the Oscar race. How to Train Your Dragon 2 won a Golden Globe. The Boxtrolls is leading the Annie Award nominations, and two traditionally-animated features have made the Oscar nominations, with one of them having gained some serious traction as of late (The Tale of Princess Kaguya). For the first time in ages, this can truly and undoubtedly be anyone’s game.

What do you think? Does this make up for the Oscar snub? What could possibly happen in this race going forward?

Edited by: Morgan Stradling