If you had asked any film fanatic years prior if a Marvel movie would have a possible spot as a Best Picture Nominee, most would have shrugged the notion off.

I still do — for the very same reasons you discuss when it comes to animation.

Animated films are written off as childish, even when they have merit.

So are comic book films.

For that matter, so are crowd-pleasing blockbusters. When was the last time one of those won? 15 years ago, with 2003’s Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see it nominated, but I don’t think it has a chance of winning. Not because it doesn’t deserve to win, but because of blockbuster bias.