The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. The Academy announced the shortlist for the animated short contenders, and they produced an interesting crop of selections. Netflix is placing all their power and influence behind the emotional “If Anything Happens I Love You.” At the same time, Magic Light Pictures’ “The Snail and the Whale” is audacious and beautiful with its colorful and slick animation, featuring familiar talents such as Oscar-nominee Sally Hawkins and Rob Brydon as our adorable characters. It also helps that one of its co-directors, Max Lang is a previous two-time nominee for “The Gruffalo” (2009) and “Room on the Broom” (2012) but has yet to win. “Kapaemahu” also has the visual razzle-dazzle to make the lineup, but as we can expect from AMPAS voters, surprises can always occur. It’s still uncertain which of the Disney efforts will rally support if any. “Out” has the timely factor going for it, while “Burrow” could be one of the most seen by the branch members. Let’s see where it all lands.

AND THE PREDICTED NOMINEES ARE:

1. "If Anything Happens I Love You" (Netflix)

   PRODUCERS: Gerald Chamales, Maryann Garger, Gary Gilbert, Michael Govier
DIRECTOR: Michael Govier, Will McCormack
SYNOPSIS: "If Anything Happens I Love You" is a beautifully illustrated animated short film that takes us on an extraordinary emotional journey of two parents struggling to overcome the hurt left by a tragic event that leaves their family changed forever.
STARRING: None

2. "The Snail and the Whale" (Magic Light Pictures)

   PRODUCERS: Michael Rose, Martin Pope
DIRECTOR: Max Lang, Daniel Snaddon
SYNOPSIS: A tiny snail goes on an amazing journey by hitching a ride on the tail of a huge humpback whale. Based on the picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
STARRING:Diana Rigg, Sally Hawkins, Rob Brydon

3. "Kapaemahu" (The Animation Showcase)

   PRODUCERS: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
DIRECTOR: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu
SYNOPSIS: Kapaemahu reveals the healing power of four mysterious stones on Waikiki Beach - and the legendary dual male and female spirits within them.
STARRING: None

4. "Out" (Disney Plus)

   PRODUCERS: Max Sachar
DIRECTOR: Steven Clay Hunter
SYNOPSIS: On an average day, Greg's life is filled with family, love and a rambunctious little dog - but despite all of this, Greg has a secret. Today is different, because he might learn that he has nothing to hide.
STARRING: Bernadette Sullivan, Kyle McDaniel, Caleb Cabrera

5. "Opera" (Beasts and Natives Alike)

   PRODUCERS: Philippe Carcassonne, Jean-Louis Livi, David Parfitt
DIRECTOR: Erick Oh
SYNOPSIS: Driven by the spirits of Bosch, Michelangelo, Botticelli and more, Erick portrays, in his own signature whimsical and surreal way, the human society and history, filled with beauty and absurdity.
STARRING: None

NEXT IN LINE:

1. "Burrow" (Disney Plus/Pixar)

   PRODUCERS: Mike Capbarat
DIRECTOR: Madeline Sharafian
SYNOPSIS: A young rabbit tries to build the burrow of her dreams, becoming embarrassed each time she accidentally digs into a neighbor's home.
STARRING: None

2. "Genius Loci" (Kazak Productions)

   PRODUCERS: Amaury Ovise
DIRECTOR: Adrien Mérigeau
SYNOPSIS: One night, Reine, a young loner, sees the urban chaos as a mystical oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.
STARRING: Nadia Moussa, Georgia Cusack, Jina Djemba

3. "To Gerard" (DreamWorks Animation)

   PRODUCERS: Amaury Ovise
DIRECTOR: Taylor Meacham
SYNOPSIS: A sprightly elderly man brightens the day of a little girl through magic.
STARRING: Piotr Michael

4. "Traces" (Les Films du Nord)

   PRODUCERS: Arnaud Demuynck
DIRECTOR: Hugo Frassetto, Sophie Tavert Macian
SYNOPSIS: 36,000 years ago in the Ardèche river gorge, when an animal was painted, it was hunted. When it is time to go painting and hunting, Karou the Painter and his apprentice Lani set off to paint the walls of the great cavern. But they hadn't counted on meeting a cave lion.
STARRING: None

5. "Yes-People" (CAOZ hf. Hólamói)

   PRODUCERS: Arnar Gunnarsson, Gísli Darri Halldórsson
DIRECTOR: Gísli Darri Halldórsson
SYNOPSIS: Driven by the spirits of Bosch, Michelangelo, Botticelli and more, Erick portrays, in his own signature whimsical and surreal way, the human society and history, filled with beauty and absurdity.
STARRING: None