So how exactly do you define animation? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts faced just such a dilemma last week when Team America: World Police, Trey Parker and Matt Stone's hilarious satire filmed with Thunderbirds-style puppets, was submitted for the Best Animated Feature Oscar.

The relevant definition, drawn up originally with short films in mind, does make mention of puppets, but the Academy says that to qualify such marionettes should be animated frame-by-frame rather than manipulated in real time.

To the annoyance of the film-makers (and, perhaps, the delight of all those Hollywood windbags ridiculed in the flick) Team America was rejected. Eleven films are up for consideration, three will be nominated and, barring galactic calamities, either Pixar's The Incredibles or (less likely) Warners' The Polar Express will win. Team America will open here early next year.