The Orcas 2026 Nominations

It’s time for the annual Orcas nominations. Combining the concepts of both the Oscars and the Emmys, we create a Current-nominated, school-voted awards show representing our favorite shows and movies of the last year.

Movies/Films (TV-14 or below):

F1: The Movie - Lily Dixon

After the roaring success of Drive to Survive, producers and directors rushed to capitalize on Formula 1’s rapidly expanding U.S. audience. And they chose a new way of visualizing the global sport: a feature film. 

F1: The Movie follows Sonny Hayes, an aging, “washed-up” driver called back to the grid as team APEX GP faces financial collapse. Alongside rookie teammate, Pearce, he starts the season at the back of the grid and gradually fights his way towards their first win.

While its continuity gaps and fictional elements dilute the reality of F1, the film offers an alternative lens on the high-stakes, high-speed sport long dubbed “the traveling circus”-- a global spectacle that descends on cities worldwide, drawing hundreds of thousands to watch who will be crowned the fastest man on track.

Produced by all-time winningest driver in Formula 1 history, Lewis Hamilton, the film recently won the Oscar for Best Sound. That accolade alone cements it as a strong contender for The Orcas Movie of the Year.

Wicked for Good - Zavonna Coppernoll

Based on the novel Wicked written by Winnie Holzman, Wicked for Good is the second part of the live action adaptation of Wicked. Starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the musical follows the story behind how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be.

The story takes place in the world of Oz where animals can talk, magic is alive, and secrets roam the vast lands. With a propaganda war at play and animals losing their ability to talk, no one truly understands Oz anymore. Elphaba goes into hiding by faking her death, through a method that alludes to a famous demise in the first film. The iconic “For Good” moment ends with Glinda and Elphaba parting ways to protect one another. The story twists the reader in knots and secrets will be revealed.

Zootopia 2 - Taylor Byrne

The sequel to Zootopia, Disney’s Zootopia 2 continues the story of police officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they disentangle a web of lies that threatens the very city of Zootopia.

Zootopia 2 returns to the crime-fighting duo one week after Nick joins the Zootopia Police Department (ZPD). As he and Judy’s personalities clash, they are faced with a potential separation from Chief Bogo. A new, scaly case with more bends and turns than ever before sends Judy and Nick undercover across new areas with a snow-covered secret.

The film received positive reviews from critics and collectively earned numerous awards including Outstanding Achievement in Casting from the Artios Awards, Best Animated Film from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and Outstanding Animated Motion Picture from National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Along with these awards, the film accumulated dozens of nominations. The awards and nominations alone bring Zootopia 2 into the ring as a competitor in the Orcas Movie of the Year.

K-Pop Demon Hunters - Abbi Dilley-Gumm

This animated worldwide phenomenon follows three k-pop stars—Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—who secretly hunt demons when they aren’t on stage. Musical drama ensues when the demons send their own boy band to the human world to win over the fans.

The movie broke records left and right, with just one example being it having the first film soundtrack to have four songs in the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. By the time it had been out on streaming for a week, the movie had gone completely viral, with fan content everywhere. It went so viral that new collaborations and merch items were soon scheduled for release at various times in 2026, including long-awaited fashion dolls from Mattel, as well as themed games and more.

Overall, this overnight sensation from Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix has surely become an instant nomination for The Orcas.

TV Show (TV-14 or below):

We Were Liars - Lily Dixon

Adapted into an eight-part series, We Were Liars tells the story of the Sinclairs—a wealthy New England family and their summers in Martha’s Vineyard. Cadence Sinclair, the protagonist, is a 17-year-old girl reliving the trauma of Summer 16, one that ended in burning flames.

As she moves through time, she recalls the highs and lows of Summer 16, digging through her mind to figure out what happened at the end of that year that landed her in a hospital bed and in her own mental fortress where she could not recall—nor was anyone willing to remind her—why she was so deeply affected.

The character development and hidden clues throughout establish We Were Liars as one of the best book-to-series adaptations to date. The plot twist at the end makes you second-guess the true meaning of “We Were Liars,” and whether it had been hiding in plain sight all along.

Wednesday (Season Two) - Zavonna Coppernoll 

The Netflix original TV series Wednesday recently came out with a second season. The TV show is based on the fictional characters from movie The Addams Family and directed by Tim Burrton. The first season was captivating and the second is even kookier, spookier, and scarier. 

Starring Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, season two follows a mystery stalker who is sending Wednesday texts and threats. Starting the first episode off with tracking down the “Kansas City Scalper”, a notorious serial killer, leads Wednesday to Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital, where Tyler Galpin was being held (the hyde). Viewers will learn about the mystery of Morticia’s sister Ophelia's disappearance and revelations about Thing’s origin. 

As Wednesday returns to Nevermore after a horrific first year, some see her as Nevermore's savior. With her new psychic abilities, a stalker, and a hyde on the run, Wednesday has more to worry about than popularity.

To vote for your favorites, click here!