'Ratatouille,' 'Beowulf' in Acad's graces

December 17, 2007 "Beowulf" and "Ratatouille" have been given berths -- rare for animated films -- on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' preliminary contender list for the visual effects Oscar. Awards administration director Rich Miller said the list of 15 was created by the visual effects steering committee from a list of 307 eligible films. "Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas," a stop-motion animation-based film, was nominated for an Oscar in the visual effects category in 1994 (before the best animated film category was introduced), believed to be the only animated film to receive a VFX nomination.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.