One of my Letterboxd Top 4 films that has been there since I saw the film is Your Name from writer/director Makoto Shinkai. The innocence and beauty within its story and animation makes it a modern masterpiece. This year, Shinkai released Suzume and it deserves just as much love as any animated film released alongside it this year.

Suzume follows the story of titular teenager Suzume as she runs into a stranger on her way to school. She follows him to find a lone door in the middle of an abandoned resort and after entering, begins to see things that no one else can. This is because this mysterious man must close all of these doors before a supernatural being takes over Japan.

Anime is a beautiful art form that does not get the recognition at the Oscars unless the name Hayoa Miyazaki is attached. Every one of Miyazaki’s films deserve the praise they have received, but there has not been much, if any, push to recognize anime that do not come from Studio Ghibli. There are so many beautiful stories that come from Japanese animation studios that deserve their flowers, and Suzume is a perfect example.

Similar to Your Name’, Suzume is a science-fiction story that is also so grounded in reality that it makes it relatable to anyone who wants to watch. The visual spectacle that could potentially scare people away, but its deeper messaging on grief and loss and how to overcome that and lead into acceptance is what pulls you all the way through the story. It is the way Shinkai is able to integrate very personal and intimate moments between Suzume and Souta as they are trying to beat a supernatural worm trying to destroy Japan that makes for a story that can be adored by all. No other animated films from the United States have been able to get me to cry over a childhood chair this year. The simplicity mixed with fantasy helps Suzume stand out above the rest.

The competition for Animated Feature is a little harder to predict than past years. The usual powerhouses of this category – Disney and Pixar – have been in a little bit of a rut with their new releases. However, having those studio names of Disney and Pixar behind them may be enough to take up a slot or two. Illumination hit it big with their release of The Super Mario Bros Movie,which was not only crowd-pleasing but a huge box office success, which could help them in the long run. Other contenders include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Boy and the Heron, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. While I think the latter two are locks, my fear is that box office and name recognition will take up the other three instead of quality films. Having Suzume among the lineup would not only diversify the category, but show the audience that people want more animation from outside of the major studio that has dominated for the last 100 years.

The heart and emotion mixed with the fantastical elements is what makes Suzume stand out amongst our slate of animated films this season. Just because it comes from another country that is also releasing an animated film from a major studio does not mean it should be ignored from the overall conversation. I love this film and it deserves a nomination this year.