Werwulf edges the crowded Best Makeup and Hairstyling field on the strength of its late-September trailer, which spotlighted elaborate werewolf transformations from a team including David White and Jess Brooks, capitalizing on the category’s history of rewarding creature work. The Odyssey and Digger follow closely, buoyed by large-scale period and character-altering demands, with Digger’s Kazu Hiro-led crew drawing early guild-level attention. Dune: Part Three and Clayface benefit from franchise scale and body-horror elements, respectively, while smaller contenders like Madden and Michael trail amid limited craft visibility. With nominations months away, trader sentiment hinges on upcoming trailers, festival reactions, and precursor buzz that could shift momentum before guild and academy voting.