Why are Academy members so masochistic? They might as well call the Oscars the "Depressing Suffrage of Humankind Awards." "Cold Mountain," "House of Sand and Fog," "Monster" -- these are all movies that in one way or another could inspire their audiences to commit hari-kari. Aren't there any of us left who actually like going to the movies to have a laugh? Who appreciate a story that lacks direct reality? Why can't the bestowers of precious Hollywood hardware appreciate this lighter fare? I guess we should be grateful for the Best Animated Feature category.

There are three nominees this year: two deserving and one ... not so much. The in-the-bag front runner is, of course, "Finding Nemo," Pixar's latest and greatest. While exhibiting wickedly good 3-D animation, the movie tells a story with familiar themes: a dysfunctional, overprotective dad; a son fighting to be independent; chaos, mayhem and then everyone miraculously grows up at the end. However, great character animation and voice work make this a win-win movie. Ellen DeGeneres deserves an acting nod for her portrayal of Dori, the whale-talking blue tang who suffers from short-term memory loss. Her expert comic timing helps this supporting character steal the show. "Nemo" is entertaining, educational and a cartoon that isn't so patronizing and sweet that it makes parents want to puke. This is a funny, feel-good movie with wit, woohoo!

The second nominee is "The Triplets of Belleville," and at the risk of sounding juvenile, I have to say it ROCKED! This film is a visibly noncommercial piece of traditional animation, revealing a highly stylized and simplistic drawing style. Consistently weird and oddly funny, this movie is the clear dark horse favorite for me. It relies predominantly on character animation and story, as dialogue is almost nonexistent. The story centers on a boy and his grandmother who are obsessed with cycling. The boy, Champion, is no champion but is motivated by the constant support from his grandmother, who is as sassy as they come. Daily training consists of Champion on his bike followed by grams on a tricycle blowing a whistle. During a race, Champion and two fellow cyclists are kidnapped by the mafia. Grandma (and Bruno, the candy-obsessed dog) commandeer a paddleboat and proceed to follow the ship carrying her incarcerated grandson. She ends up befriending The Triplets of Belleville, a washed-up stage act, and negotiates their help in retrieving Champion. Chaos ensues when Grandma and The Triplets spring Champion from his captors. The humor is subtle but consistent and the film overall is a testament to the charm of traditional two-dimensional animation.

The third nominee, "Brother Bear," was nominated to round out the category. Let's face it: Disney needs some cheering up. This film has decent animation and a familiar sappy storyline. Disney has built itself quite a legacy, and it's sad to see it continue to tell the same story with different characters. Sweet and uplifting this movie is, but it covers no new ground and does not belong in the same category with the other two nominees. However, props should be given to the casting director for the addition of Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as Tuke and Ruke the Mooses. They offer much-needed comic relief in a reprisal of their Mackenzie brothers characters from cult favorite "Strange Brew."

The race between "Finding Nemo," "The Triplets of Belleville" and "Brother Bear" for Best Animated Feature won't offer the same white-knuckled anticipation of the other categories. However, it does offer recognition to the one film genre not immersed in reality.