Gaffer- I'm with you 100% about there being no need for a special category for animation- it makes it like 'here's your little play area you all go have fun now and leave the *real* movies alone'. As you said- good is good no matter what.

YIYF- I too voted for W&G. Its a wonderful film (and out on DVD today!!!!) and hits all the right marks. "I know what caused this- arson!" *gasp* "Arson?!?!?" "Yes- someone here's been arsin' around!"

I'm a big 'Nightmare Before Christmas' fan and 'Corpse Bride' really didn't move me for some reason. Technically a great acheivement but the plot and pacing seemed off to me.

Regretfully I haven't seen 'Howl's' yet but Miyazaki never fails to impress. But too many great films in a row form a director/studio make it hard to pick one outstanding one.