2019 Oscars: Early predictions for next year’s nominees

1: Isle of Dogs

Starring; Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwig and Bill Murray

Directed by Wes Anderson

Starting this list off, we have the next installment in American filmmaker, Wes Anderson’s famed filmography: Isle of Dogs. The quirky animated film, which tells the story of a young Japanese boy (Koyu Rankin) attempting to rescue his dog in a future where dogs are exiled onto an island, made a quiet, but nonetheless impressive impact on the box office, making over $57 million on a mostly limited release schedule. The film’s reviews have also put it at a nice spot for consideration at next year’s Oscars. It may have had a small release early in the year, but 2018 has also been relatively slow for animated releases, making Isle of Dogs one of the frontrunners for Best Animated Feature as of now.

Though this next one isn’t as likely, the chances for a possible Best Original Screenplay nomination aren’t out of the question either. Anderson’s tale on the unbreakable bond between humans and dogs has more than enough to chew on in terms of writing, such as a culturally-heavy screenplay, witty comedy and an incredibly mature story. The film’s criticisms on its alleged cultural appropriation of Japanese culture could hold it back from going that far, or even far enough for an Animated Oscar, but if Wes Anderson’s popularity continues to grow, the Academy may have no choice but to at least consider Isle of Dogs as a potential Oscar nominee.

Predicted nomination(s)

• Best Animated Feature
• Best Original Screenplay