The family blockbusters for the 2010 summer holidays in the United States included an unusually large number of animated features, making the most of new 3D techniques.

Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3 led the way with a massive $400+ million box office, with DreamWorks Animation following with two animated features - How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek Forever After. Universal's Despicable Me was also an animated hit. All four movies performed strongly outside the US as well.

Disney Animation Studios has announced the title for its 2010 animated movie will no longer be called "Rapunzel" and will now be known as "Tangled". The character of Rapunzel will be voiced by Mandy Moore, and the animated movie is intended to be a modern re-imagining of the classic tale. The movie will have digital 3D effects, and is scheduled for release in November 2010.

The Oscar nominations for the 2010 Academy Awards are out!

The nominations for Animated Feature Film are: Coraline; Fantastic Mr. Fox; The Princess and the Frog; The Secret of Kells; Up. (we are tipping Up to win)

The nominations for Animated Short Film are: French Roast, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte), Logorama, A Matter of Loaf and Death.