The Academy has released the 19 feature films submitted for consideration for this year’s Academy Awards. Along with all the expected suspects, several foreign features that haven’t been on anyone’s mind show up on the list (Fake, Khumba, Sarila, Apostolo, Rebellion and Rio.

From this list, the only films I am fairly certain will make the final nmintaion slate are Despicable Me 2, Frozen, Monsters University and The Wind Rises. I see the final slot likely going to the foreign/indie Ernest and Celestine of all of these, but we’ve still got a long way to go and ultimately, this may be a battle between Frozen and The Wind Rises.

As a matter of information, if at lease sixteen of these films are ultimately released, the Best Animated Feature slate will be five nominees. Below is the official press release.

19 Animated Features Submitted For 2013 Oscar® Race

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Nineteen features have been submitted for consideration in the Animated Feature Film category for the 86th Academy Awards®.

The 19 submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”
“The Croods”
“Despicable Me 2”
“Epic”
“Ernest and Celestine”
“The Fake”
“Free Birds“
“Frozen”
“Khumba”
“The Legend of Sarila”
“A Letter to Momo”
“Monsters University”
“O Apóstolo”
“Planes”
“Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie – Rebellion”
“Rio: 2096 A Story of Love and Fury”
“The Smurfs 2”
“Turbo”
“The Wind Rises”

Several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles qualifying runs. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process. At least eight eligible animated features must be theatrically released in Los Angeles County within the calendar year for this category to be activated.

Films submitted in the Animated Feature Film category may also qualify for Academy Awards in other categories, including Best Picture, provided they meet the requirements for those categories.

The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2013 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.