HOMER SIMPSON - ANIMATED OSCAR RACE BEGINS

ANIMATED OSCAR RACE BEGINS

Bees, Shrek and Homer Simpson are among those in the running for an Academy Award in the best animated feature film category, it has been announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its shortlist of 12 films competing for the Oscar, from which the final three nominated movies will be chosen.

The Simpsons Movie, Shrek the Third and Bee Movie are among the biggest blockbusters featuring in the list.

Other box offices smashes prominent in the list are Happy Feet follow-up Surf's Up, TMNT and Ratatouille.

There are also films from less familiar ground – including Japanese picture Tekkonkinkreet and Iranian film Persepolis.

The latter is one of three whose animated status is not fully guaranteed. Together with motion-capture film Beowulf and live action/animation-mixed Alvin and the Chipmunks, Persepolis has not yet achieved its "required Los Angeles qualifying run".

"The submitted features must fulfill the general release requirements and meet all of the category’s other qualifying rules before they can advance in the voting process," the powers-that-be state.