With so many different categories, it’s never a surprise to see all five Oscar nominees on these lists. Three of this year’s nominees were Period nominees while the remaining two were Fantasy. That sounds about right from historical perspectives. These awards will be presented Saturday evening.

ART DIRECTORS GUILD AWARDS

Best Period Art Direction

Darkest Hour (Tripp, RU:Wesley, RU:Thomas)
Dunkirk (Peter)
Murder on the Orient Express
The Post
The Shape of Water (Wesley, Thomas, RU:Peter, RU:Tripp)

Wesley Lovell: The three Oscar nominees on this list, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, and The Shape of Water are lead contenders, though looking over the two World War II-set films, I wonder just how much art direction there is to be recognized with a win. The Shape of Water, on the other hand, is set in the decade following World War II, but it is far richer in detail and space. That fact alone should help it win out over its less dense compatriots.
Peter J. Patrick: The period detail is there in spades in the World War II epic Dunkirk, which should win this easily.
Tripp Burton: This award often goes to the Oscar nominees in the bunch, and there are three competing here: Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, and The Shape of Water. I’m going to lean towards Darkest Hour, which has some grand sets recreating war torn Britain, but don’t count out The Shape of Water, awarding the detail of Guillermo del Toro’s vision.
Thomas LaTourette: The green-imbued sets of The Shape of Water will win here. The sumptuous work of Darkest Hour and Murder on the Orient Express will rank high, but not manage to win.

Best Fantasy Art Direction

Beauty and the Beast (RU: Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Blade Runner 2049 (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas, RU:Wesley)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes
Wonder Woman (RU:Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Only two of these five nominees made it to the Oscars as nominees. They are also the only two films I can imagine winning the prize. While I would love it if Blade Runner 2049 would win, I suspect that expansive and massive realm created for Beauty and the Beast is the more traditional winner of this category. Come on, ADG, prove me wrong. I’m not going to rule out the myriad distinctive environments of Denis Villeneuve’s masterpiece.
Peter J. Patrick: This seems like a toss-up between Blade Runner 2049 and Wonder Woman.
Tripp Burton: Blade Runner 2049 could start running the table of below-the-line guilds, and the sheer size of the vision of the film should lead it to an easy win here.
Thomas LaTourette: This is the hardest one to call, but I think the futuristic sets of Blade Runner will edge out the castle from Beauty and the Beast.

Best Contemporary Art Direction

Downsizing (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas)
Get Out (RU:Peter)
Lady Bird
Logan (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Peter)

Wesley Lovell: Three films set in a modern environment, well close to modern in Lady Bird‘s case; one film set in a dystopian future; and one film set in a quasifuturistic world where people are shurnken down and thrust into a massive constructed environment. Now, which of these sounds like the more inventive feature? Downsizing, of course, though it’s entirely possible that Logan sneaks in a win.
Peter J. Patrick: Three Billboards has the most detail, with Get Out providing the most surprises.
Tripp Burton: No Oscar nominees here, but Downsizing surely has the most production design of any film here and should be able to sneak out what could be its only win of awards season.
Thomas LaTourette: Both Downsizing and Logan have the benefits of being more than just a contemporary film, so I think they stand the best chance of winning here. With Downsizing having the lush sets and giant flowers, I think it will go on to win.

Best Animation Art Direction

Cars 3
Coco (Wesley, Tripp, Thomas, RU:Peter)
Despicable Me 3
The Lego Batman Movie (RU:Thomas)
Loving Vincent (Peter, RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp)

Wesley Lovell: While I give the edge to the richly detailed environments of Coco, one can’t overstate the attractiveness to artists of a film comprised of hand-painted art pieces by over a hundred talented artists.
Peter J. Patrick: I don’t know what will win, but the detail involved in Loving Vincent would get my vote.
Tripp Burton: I’m not voting against Coco in any of these races, but the hand-drawn Van Gogh tribute Loving Vincent could sneak in here.
Thomas LaTourette: The world of the dead and the marigold bridge were easily the most memorable sets of the animated films, so I expect Coco to easily win here.