The European Academy has announced the first round of nominees.

The European Film Awards, which are the equivalent to the Oscars in Europe, announced the three nominees for Best European Animated Feature Film award.

Among the animated films to be nominated are the French animated feature film, "Adama," from directors Simon Rouby and Julien Lilti. The film was produced by Naia Productions and is scheduled for later this month in France. The movie however, has no U.S. distribution at the moment.

Joining "Adama" is "Shaun the Sheep" by Richard Starzak and Mark Burton, a film that was critically acclaimed in Europe and the U.S. However, when it was released over the summer it flopped. The U.K./France co-production will also compete with "Song of the Sea" from Tomm Moore. The Ireland/Belgium/Denmark/France/Luxembourg co-production was nominated for Best Animated film this past year and lost to "Big Hero 6."

The European Film Awards always announce the animated films before the rest of the major categories. Recent animated winners have included L'Arte della Felicita," "The Congress," and "Alois Nebel."

The complete nominations will be released later this month and 52 films were shortlisted for the nominations. Among these movies are the Berlin Film Festival winner "45 Years," Venice winner "A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" and Portugal's epic "Arabian Nights." The Salma Hayek thriller "Tale of Tales" was also shortlisted, as was the Jessica Chastain starrer "Miss Julie" and the critically acclaimed German thriller "Victoria." Paolo Sorrentino's "Youth" will also compete alongside Oscar submissions "Rams," Goodnight Mommy," "Labyrinth of Lies," and "Aferim!."

"Ex Machina," "The Lobster" and "Louder Than Bombs" will also be among the competitors. Finally Spain will compete with "Magical Girl," a film that premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Recent European Film Award winners have included "Ida," "Amour," "The Great Beauty," and "Melancholia."

The awards will be handed out on Dec. 12.