Ratatouille! Congratulations go out to Walt Disney Pictures for their BEST ANIMATED FEATURE win at the 2008 Academy Awards. Not only was the oddly named film a critical smash, but it was also a financial success.

Many fans found the Animated Feature nomination a poor substitute for a Best Picture nod. Although “Beauty and the Beast” was honored with a shoe in, that was before the Oscar category for Best Animated Feature.

Right or wrong, the vast majority of Academy voters would’t vote for an animated feature for the top honor as they consider animation a unique technique. With that in mind, “Beauty and the Beast” would most probably have won the BEST ANIMATED FEATURE, instead of leaving with only 2 music awards.

So, with Ratatouille the Disney company had to make that same choice. They chose not to push for the Best Picture nomination and split their chances. Is that the right choice?