Although it didn’t make the original list of qualifying films for the Animated Feature Oscar, an Academy representative has confirmed that the animé feature VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST is in fact a qualifying entry. The film was initially rejected on a technicality -- the official screen credits form was not submitted. One of the Academy’s rules states that all forms must be completed and turned in prior to the deadline. But there seems to have been some miscommunication between Academy departments and the VAMPIRE HUNTER D camp, and once the form was completed, the Academy decided in the interest of fairness that the film should not be excluded because of this technicality. The qualified animated features are currently being screened for the 100-member nominating committee, of which half are animators and half are members of the Academy's other 13 branches. The 3 nominees will be announced on February 12.

Fred Patten takes us inside the latest super-cool anime feature, VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST.