Toy Story 3 Wins At The Golden Globes

At the 68th Annual Golden Globes tonight, Toy Story 3 was nominated for an award. From the very first moments that viewers began to gaze upon Pixar’s latest film, there was talk of the film winning big awards. Critics across the country have lauded the film as the best animated film of the year, with some saying that it was the best film of the year. Part of that has been realized tonight, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has named Toy Story 3 the Best Animated Feature Film of 2010.

The nominees in the category were:

• Despicable Me
• How To Train Your Dragon
• The Illusionist
• Tangled
• Toy Story 3

As the director of the film, Lee Unkrich accepted the award. He thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press for the award and was grateful for the opportunity to direct the film. I will have a full transcript of his acceptance speech a bit later tonight.

The big award for Toy Story 3 bodes well for the film’s prospects come Oscar night. Not only is it gunning for a win in the animated film category at the Academy Awards, but there is a big push by Disney and Pixar for the film to land a nomination for Best Picture.

Pixar has swept up award after award for Best Animated Film, winning every time since the category was instituted. The critically acclaimed animation studio has held on tight and not allowed anyone else to taste a win.

The winners in the category have been:

• Cars
• Ratatouille
• WALL-E
• Up
• Toy Story 3

Congratulations to Pixar and Lee Unkrich!

Update 2 (11:45 PM): Click here to watch Lee Unkrich’s speech in full. (Thanks to Josh for sending in the link.)

Update 1 (9:45 PM): Here is the transcript for the awards acceptance speech made by Unkrich:

Wow, were you two even born when the first Toy Story came out? (Referring to the young presenters)

(Laughter)

Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for this award. You guys have been so kind to us over the years.  To everyone at Disney and Pixar, Bob Iger, Rich Ross, Ed Catmull, and especially John Lasseter for trusting me with Toy Story 3. To my producer Darla Anderson, my amazing screenwriter Michael Arndt, and my fabulously talented crew. You guys were amazing and you deserved this alongside me.

(Laughs) That sounded terrible – “deserved this.” I gotta pull out my card here before I completely screw this up.

To Randy Newman: thank you for your amazing music. My incredible cast, anchored by Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. (Applause) I love you all for the humor and the emotional honesty that you brought to the film. To my parents, my wife Laura, my three beautiful children. Every single day you teach me something new about life.

And to audience members all over the world who came out in historic numbers and embraced an animated movie that beat with a human heart. Thank you so much.

Award speeches have the ability to quickly take a downturn due to all of the pressure, the shining spotlight, and the emotions that winners are feeling on stage. However, Lee delivered a speech that was sincere and from the heart. Easily one of the best speeches of the night.

Now, having two young people (Justin Bieber and Hailee Steinfeld) present the award was an interesting choice by the show. Perpetuating the myth that animated films are for kids? Or simply coincidence? I doubt it is the latter, as when the presenters appeared I had more than an inkling that it was to present the award for Best Animated Film. Alas, this is a conversation for another time. Tonight was a good night for Toy Story 3 and Lee Unkrich, so let us keep it positive!

Lee just shared this picture from his table at the show:

Looks like Big Baby’s having a good night.

Note (1/17/11 7:15 PM): An earlier edition of the article stated that Pixar has won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film for four years in a row. It seems I was underselling their success, as the studio has won it for FIVE straight years. The Academy Awards is where Pixar has picked up Best Animated Film for four straight years. Thanks to alert reader JJ87 below for alerting me.