five films vying to win the Oscar

Disney-Pixar's Up is a strong contender for the award
There will be five films vying to win the Oscar for best animated film next year after a record 20 movies were submitted for consideration.

Most years only see three nominations, as under Academy rules at least 16 eligible films must be submitted to expand the category to five runners.

Box office hit Up, Fantastic Mr Fox, Monsters vs Aliens and Coraline are all on the list of hopefuls.

The nominations will be announced on 2 February with the ceremony on 7 March.

Best picture

Also in the running include Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, A Christmas Carol, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Since the best animated film category was introduced in 2002 - which was won by Shrek - there has only been one year where five films have been nominated for the award.

In 2003, 17 films qualified and Japanese film-maker Hayao Miyazaki's fantasy Spirited Away claimed the Oscar.

Films submitted in the animated feature film category can also run in other categories including best picture, but the only film ever to do so to date was Disney classic Beauty and the Beast in 1991.