Oscar Nominations 2021: 7 Ups & 8 Downs

2. Shaun The Sheep Edges Out The Croods: A New Age (Best Animated Feature)

Best Animated Feature is a field which often ends up relying on the most commercially successful films of the year while ignore more adventurous independent efforts, though this year's slate was rock solid indeed.

In addition to expected nominations for Soul, Onward, and Wolfwalkers, the less-sure prospects of Netflix's Over the Moon and A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon ended up making the cut.

This was at the surprising expense of The Croods: A New Age, an entertaining if ultimately rather formulaic animated sequel which really didn't merit nomination at all.

Considering that Shaun the Sheep had its initial UK release back in late 2019, you'd be forgiven for not even realising it was eligible for a nomination (it didn't land in America until last February).