The Nominations Are In!

This morning was one of the biggest moments of the year for Hollywood. At 5:30 a.m., the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 85th Annual Academy Awards. The Academy Awards — also known as the Oscars — are the most prestigious honor handed out to movies in America.

Oscars are awarded in 24 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. These awards usually go to grown-up movies, but there's a category for movies kids have probably seen, too. This is the Best Animated Feature award. This year, the five nominees are Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Wreck-It Ralph.

As it turns out, Kid Reporters have written about all five of these movies! Revisit their stories on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website, then let us know what movie you think should win the Best Animated Feature Oscar!

The Oscars will be awarded on February 24. 

Photos: (from left to right) A still from Brave (Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.); a still from The Pirates! Band of Misfits (Aardman Animations for Sony Pictures Animation); a still from ParaNorman (LAIKA, Inc.); a still from Wreck-It Ralph (Disney. All Rights Reserved.); a still from Frankenweenie (Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

—Editor Dante A. Ciampaglia 

My experience at Pixar Animation Studios

As soon as we entered Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California, I could not contain myself. I jumped in delight at a ginormous Luxo ball along with the famous lamp, Luxo Jr. The woman at the front desk gave us name tags with the Toy Story aliens saying, "OOO. A stranger, from the outside!" The lobby of the main building was decorated with all sorts of Pixar things. Tia Kratter, the shading art director of the new Pixar movie Brave, told me that when tours are held, the kids are given a scavenger hunt to find Pixar characters throughout the building. These characters are scattered everywhere! For example, there was a small Remy from Ratatouille painted at the bottom of the staircase. Even the bathroom sign for men was a Woody silhouette, while the sign for women was Bo Peep.

The halls each had a different theme. One hall was decorated with nature pictures by one of the staff. Another was dedicated to the process of filmmaking. Each office also had its own decoration. There would be figurines and paintings in one office, while the one next to it could have plushies and paperwork.

Once we got to the theater to watch a 30-minute screening of Brave and the Pixar animated short La Luna, everything was pitch black. Then, there were "stars" that lighted up the ceiling. Every few seconds, a shooting star would pass by. The "stars" faded away, and then began La Luna. La Luna is directed by Enrico Casarosa, and is a coming-of-age tale of a boy, his father, and his grandfather. I've got to say that that was the best short I have ever seen. It was accompanied by dreamy music by Michael Giacchino, (he also composed the music for Up and Ratatouille) and glossy animation.

Before the footage from Brave began, Mark Andrews, the director, and Katherine Sarafian, the producer, came on stage to talk a bit about what we were about to see. They explained that this wasn't the final cut, and some of the animation may be lacking some shading and color. Nevertheless, I didn't even notice the unfinished parts! Then, when Brave started playing, a warm feeling in my heart started to spread all throughout my body. I felt like I was 8 years old again! For the 30 minutes, I was intrigued, and when it ended I yearned for more. Afterwards, all the journalists had an Italian-themed dinner under the night sky in one of Pixar's buildings with an outdoor patio.

The next day, the Pixar grounds had transformed into the Scotland Highlands. One could practice archery, watch a bagpiper demonstration (I even got to play one!), and watch a few Scottish people explain the history behind kilts.

After all the fun and games, we had lunch and interviews. Being a hardcore Disney and Pixar fan, I was in heaven. I got to learn about certain Easter eggs, little cameo appearances the staff puts into each movie, and the filmmaking process. Did you know that Merida, the heroine of Brave, has a total of 111,700 computer-generated hairs? And that the Pizza Planet truck, which has been in every Pixar movie except for The Incredibles, is also in Brave?

It was certainly one of the highlights of my reporting career.

Check out my story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website for more from my visit to PIXAR! 

—Kid Reporter Veronica Louise Mendoza

Photo: Kid Reporter Veronica Louise Mendoza with Mark Andrews, the director of Brave, at PIXAR Studios. (Photo courtesy Veronica Louise Mendoza)

My Experience at Skywalker Ranch

I was overjoyed when I heard that I would be going back to Skywalker Ranch for the second time. After my first visit, I never thought I would see the beautiful Marin County workplace of George Lucas again. Thankfully, my first assignment from Scholastic was to cover a press junket, or promotional trip, for Star Wars:  Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace in 3D. Skywalker Ranch was similar to a resort with an outdoor swimming pool, racquet courts, a baseball diamond, barns, a main house, a man-made lake (named Ewok), a vineyard and much more. It was quite overwhelming, even going for a second time.

Once I arrived at Skywalker Ranch, the shuttle headed towards the technical building, the home of the Stag Theater and Skywalker Sound. I was then greeted by eager Lucasfilm staff that led me through a grand cafeteria/lobby that was filled with parents and their kids running around with their lightsabers and adults carrying heavy camera equipment. On one side were mannequins dressed with the costumes of Queen Amidala, one of her handmaidens, Darth Maul, and Mace Windu. There were also lightsabers and statues of R2D2 and C3PO on display.  A KINECT Star Wars demonstration was also going on in the lobby. The roof was a skylight and I was lucky to have come on a beautiful sunny day. 

After eating a cute Star Wars-themed breakfast, the reporters and journalists set off with groups to certain areas of the building to hear Matthew Wood, John Goodson, ObiShawn, or Joel Aron speak about what they do. Once the tours were over, the press people dispersed to have one-on-one time with the tech crew of the movie. 

The rooms where each demonstration/interview were held had its own pinch of awe. I visited the Stag Theater, a sound editing room, where they mix the score, voice-recordings, and sound effects, which amazingly connects to a cozy foyer leading to the vineyards. 

After all the hard work was done, I bought souvenirs from the Skywalker Ranch gift shop, which was overlooking Ewok Lake and surrounded by the pool and recreational areas. The weather was spectacular for January and I thought it would be a perfect photo op, especially with the main house in the background. 

It was a fantastic way to end the day, and I wished Skywalker Ranch farewell, with hopes to see it again soon.

Check out my video reports from the Episode I press junket on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!

—Kid Reporter Veronica Louise Mendoza

Photo: Kid Reporter Veronica Louise Mendoza and other kid journalists get trained on how to use a lightsaber by Jedi Master ObiShawn. (Photo courtesy Veronica Louise Mendoza)