9) 9 (Focus Features - Starz Animation)
Now does Shane Acker's underrated 9 have one slot's worth less of a chance than Monster vs. Aliens? Not really. But it was cute to put 9 at #9 wasn't it? However, what MvA does have, that 9 doesn't, is box office coin. The industry buzz is respectful for what Acker accomplished, especially visually, but others weren't wowed by the story. Without the voice of consumers' wallets, it's probably going to get drowned out by the behemoths.

10) Mary and Max (Melodrama Pictures)
This quirky stop-motion feature won both Annecy and Ottawa, the two biggest animation fests in the world. It also received a Crystal Bear - Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival. So how does this help it's chances of an Oscar nod? Not at all. But what it does have going for it is an Oscar-winning director in Adam Elliot (Harvie Krumpet). But one big thing it has going against it is that it has no U.S. distribution. So you'd have to call it the strongest dark house out there.

The Other Contenders

• · Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - Not the first live-action/animation hybrid to qualify, but it won't be the first to be nominated. It's going to take a very good Roger Rabbit 2 for that to happen.

• · Astro Boy - D.O.A.

• · Battle for Terra - This Ottawa winner has been long forgotten.

• · Disney's A Christmas Carol - While Happy Feet and Monster House broke the mo-cap barrier in this category, a Robert Zemeckis performance capture film won't make it until he says there is animation in there too.

• · The Dolphin - Story of a Dreamer - Watch the trailer.

• · The Missing Lynx - Is nowhere to be found in this Oscar race.

• · Planet 51 - When did this come out again? Ten days ago? Ouch.

• · The Secret of Kells - There is a lot of love for this Annecy winner, but GKIDS is just too small of a distributor to make a nomination happen.

• · Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure - Simply entered to ensure five nominees.

• · A Town Called Panic - Way too quirky for Oscars.