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The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is one of the annual Awards given by the the Los Angeles, California-based professional organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Academy Awards, or Oscars, which are the oldest awards given to achievements in film, included the Best Animated Feature category for the first time for the 2001 film year. It was introduced because, during the previous year, members of the Academy were disappointed that the hugely successful Chicken Run had not been nominated for Best Picture in 2000.^{[citation needed]} The creators of Chicken Run later went on to win Best Animated Feature in 2005 for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. (1991's Beauty and the Beast remains the only animated film ever to be nominated for Best Picture.)

The award is only given if there are at least eight animated feature films (with a theatrical release in Los Angeles). For the purposes of the award, only films over 70 minutes long are considered to be "feature films". If there are 16 or more films submitted for the category, the winner will be voted from a shortlist of five films, otherwise there will only be three films on the shortlist^[1].

People in the animation industry and fans expressed hope that the prestige from this award and the resulting boost to the box office would encourage the increased production of animated features. Some members and fans however criticize the award, saying it is only intended to prevent animated films from having a chance of winning Best Picture. Such critics often point out that the award was introduced when the hugely successful Shrek came to theaters, suggesting that it might have won Best Picture otherwise. However both statements are incorrect, since official Academy Award regulations state that any movie nominated for this category can still be nominated for Best Picture.^[2]

• 2001 (74th): Shrek
  • Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
  • Monsters, Inc.

• 2002 (75th): Spirited Away
  • Ice Age
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
  • Treasure Planet

• 2003 (76th): Finding Nemo
  • Brother Bear
  • The Triplets of Belleville

• 2004 (77th): The Incredibles
  • Shark Tale
  • Shrek 2

• 2005 (78th): Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
  • Howl's Moving Castle
  • Corpse Bride

• 2006 (79th): Happy Feet
  • Cars
  • Monster House

• List of animated feature-length films
• Annie Award for Best Animated Feature
• Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film

v • d • e Academy Awards
Academy Award of Merit: Current Awards	Best Picture • Best Leading Actor • Best Leading Actress • Best Supporting Actor • Best Supporting Actress • Best Animated Feature • Best Art Direction • Best Cinematography • Best Costume Design • Best Director • Best Documentary Feature • Best Documentary Short Subject • Best Film Editing • Best Foreign Language Film • Best Makeup • Best Original Score • Best Original Song • Best Animated Short Film • Best Live Action Short Film • Best Sound Mixing • Best Sound Editing • Best Visual Effects • Best Adapted Screenplay • Best Original Screenplay
Academy Award of Merit: Retired Awards	Best Assistant Director • Best Dance Direction • Best Director of a Comedy Picture • Best Short Film - Live Action - 2 Reels • Best Short Film - Novelty • Best Original Story • Best Title Writing • Best Unique and Artistic Quality of Production
Special Awards: Current Awards	Academy Honorary Award • Academy Special Achievement Award • Academy Award, Scientific or Technical
Special Awards: Retired Awards	Academy Juvenile Award
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