By Ryan Fleming. Every year the same question is asked about the Best Animated Feature category: can anyone beat Disney? Enrico Casarosa makes his feature-length directorial debut with this coming-of-age story inspired by his childhood in Genoa, Italy. It tells the story of Luca Paguro Jacob Tremblay , a young sea monster boy who has been living a sheltered life under the water while dreaming of seeing the human world. Upon meeting another young sea monster named Alberto Jack Dylan Grazer , Luca discovers his ability to take human form while outside the water.
The boys become fast friends and venture into the human town of Portorosso. Having come from a seaside town himself, Casarosa employs the sea monster folklore of his upbringing in this story of friendship and belonging. Watch on Deadline. Another big contender for Walt Disney Studios is Encanto , which released at the end of last year.
Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, who previously won in for Zootopia , are joined by co-director and writer Charise Castro Smith for this musical fantasy set in Colombia. Encanto takes place in a magical town sheltered by mountains. Mirabel starts to notice cracks forming in the house and goes on a quest to fix the magic of the candle, without the aid of any special gifts herself.
Although the theatrical run was shortened due to the Covid pandemic, Encanto was still the highest-grossing animated film of The story takes place in Kumandra, a once prosperous land ravaged by evil spirits called the Druun, which turn people and dragons into stone.
The last dragon, Sisu Awkwafina , gives up her physical form to create a gem that dispels the Druun and brings all of the humans back to life. A betrayal years later leads to the destruction of the gem and allows the Druun to return.
