Arguably one of the most overlooked categories at the Oscars is the category for Best Animate Feature. In recent years it has been dominated by Pixar and Disney films, with "Frozen" taking home the award last year.

This year however may be an opportunity for Japanese animation to make a glorious return to the Oscar nomination pool. The Academy has announced the list of official submissions and it includes critically acclaimed "Tale of Princess Kaguya" directed by Hayao Miyazaki's colleague Isao Takahata. The 2D animated film will however have tough competition in the form of this year's earlier box office hit, "The Lego Movie."

"It certainly was the story. In the original story, it's very hard to understand the motivations of the main female character [Princess Kaguya]. So that makes the story mysterious and interesting. But I thought if I could inject why she had to return to the moon, then it would be able to be told as a [cinematic] story," said director Isao Takahata in a recent interview with First Showing when asked about why he chose the unique animation style.

It is that story that appears to be impressing critics and audiences alike, as the Studio Ghibli film not only has 100% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it also won the Audience Award at this years Fantastic Film Festival. Anime News Network reports that the film is now an official candidate for Best Animated Feature, among 19 other films. But what are the chances that Isao Takahata can become the second Japanese director to ever win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature?

Indiewire predicts that "The Lego Movie," is the clear front runner as it was both a critical and box office success. In addition, it's bolstered by a familiar and charming voice cast that could swing the vote from SAG actors. But after Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" clinched a win in the category, perhaps it will be possible for "The Tale of Princess Kaguya" to pull off an upset.

With only three months left to go until the 2015 Oscars, it looks like the Best Animated Feature category will be a tight race between "The Lego Movie" and Studio Ghibli's "The Tale of Princess Kaguya."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rLzOqaqtmaKve6S7zGiYq6yZmLmmv45qamttZW18c3yQbWhqaGZkvLSvwKuqZmpgZoJurcKam56lqWKur7rOrqWcnaNir6a%2F02aYp6GdlsGmsIyfnJqspaeybrvFn6CcoZGherTBwaagrKuZpLu0esetpA%3D%3D