English-language films may be nominated in only one feature category. Therefore, films nominated in this category are ineligible to be nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Motion Picture – Drama if their principal dialogue is in English. However, films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film are eligible for Best Animated Feature; the only Golden Globe film awards for which they are ineligible are the two Best Motion Picture awards.[2] This has led to much confusion leading many to believe animated films are snubbed in the Best Motion Picture categories, specifically Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy where animated films have won before, but in reality they simply are not eligible to be nominated.
Winners and nominees
Notes:
The winner in each year is shown with a blue background.
"†" indicates an Academy Award-winning animated feature.
"‡" indicates an Academy Award-nominated animated feature.
"§" indicates a Golden Globe Award-winning animated feature that was not nominated for an Academy Award in this category.
On November 17, 2009, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced that at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards, there will be five nominees for Best Animated Feature Film, as its members voted to amend its rules: eligible films must be feature-length (70 minutes or longer) with no more than 25% live action. If less than eight animated films qualify, the award will not be given, in which case the films would be eligible for Best Picture. If less than twelve animated films qualify, the category will be limited to three nominations per year.
^"70th Golden Globe Awards Consideration: Best Foreign Language Film – Submission"(PDF). Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved February 12, 2013. Films that qualify for the best foreign language film award also qualify for Golden Globe awards in all other categories except best motion picture drama and best motion picture musical or comedy which are for English-language films exclusively.