2002 Alternate Oscars

Three directors made the best films of their careers in 2002 — Todd Haynes, Hayao Miyazaki and Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. Well, that's four directors, but between them, they made three movies ...

In addition, Peter Jackson reached the midpoint in his mammoth Lord of the Rings trilogy. And some guy named Steven Spielberg made not one but two really good movies.

Lots to choose from.

I went with Miyazaki because the only person who plausibly rivals him for the title of history's greatest animator is Walt Disney. No Miyazaki, no Japanese anime, at least not on this side of the Pacific.

By the way, here's one of my favorite quotes from the late great Roger Ebert about animation generally and Miyazaki specifically:

"Already I have heard from a few people who don't want to see it "because it's Japanese." This is solid-gold ignorance. "Is it only dubbed?" I was asked. You dummy! All animated films are dubbed! Little Nemo can’t really speak!"

The man was a genius. Miss him every Friday ...

My choices are noted with a ★. A tie is indicated with a ✪. Historical Oscar winners are noted with a ✔. Best foreign-language picture winners are noted with an ƒ. Best animated feature winners are noted with an @. A historical winner who won in a different category is noted with a ✱.