The Motion Picture Academy's visual effects branch made an unprecedented statement in support of visual effects in animated films as it narrowed the contenders for the vfx Oscar to 15 films that will be considered for the January "bake-off."

Responding to passionate pitches from visual effects pros on CG-toons, the Acad included "Ratatouille" and "Beowulf" over such effects-heavy live-action pics as "Enchanted" and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer."

The entire list of 15, in alphabetical order, is: "Beowulf," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Evan Almighty," "The Golden Compass," "Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix," "I Am Legend," "Live Free Or Die Hard," "National Treasure: Book Of Secrets," "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End," "Ratatouille," "Spider-Man 3," "Sunshine," "300," "Transformers," and "The Water Horse."

Besides Pixar, Sony Pictures Imageworks, the animation shop behind "Surf's Up" and "Beowulf," had been vocal in support of the vfx artists on those films.

The Academy instituted the short list this year so that its vfx branch could see all the contending films before selecting the seven that will compete in the bake-off. Three of those seven will receive nominations.