Andrew Stanton, director of "Wall-E", says, "animation is just a paint set. It's not a genre, it's a medium, it's this cool thing you can use like a tool. And I just think that we've only learned how to use, maybe if we're lucky, 40 percent of what it can do."

One thing animation can do is introduce whole new audiences to another generation's culture, as 'WALL-E' did when it incorporated composer Jerry Herman's music into the film.

Herman wrote 'Hello Dolly,' the musical that teaches the robot about romance and love.

The Best Animated Feature film will be announced at the 81st Annual Academy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.