These are the animated shorts that were eligible for Oscars 2021 [see list here: bit.ly/3lenb9a]. Animated shorts are always a dependable source of surprise and delight. They can go from whimsical to craven, from funny to moody, obviously always straining to get out of the popular conception that they are solely children's entertainment. [Watch Shoko Hara's Just a Guy, her film about women in love with serial killer Richard Ramirez -- and be prepared to be disturbed.] Here are the ones I've seen for Film Year 2020, ranked -- with brief comments. And links to where I watched them.