I’ve been hearing a common thought here and there, and thought that I’d throw in my two cents. The common thought goes like this:

“If TOY STORY 3 is up for Best Picture, it shouldn’t be elligible for Best Animated Film.”

I disagree.

Let’s start with looking at the placement of animated films in the best picture race on the whole. It’s only ever happened three times, with the last two coming back-to-back. I think that’s a shame as it means that many classic films that have endured through the ages never entered into Oscar’s mindset simply because “they’re cartoons”.

Thing is, these cartoons have endured…often becoming a greater part of the collective mindset than some of their live-action counterparts. I always come back to the same example: Best Picture in 1937 was THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA – ever seen it? How about another 1937 film called SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES, seen that?

An animated film can have just as much craft, maturity, and legacy as the weightiest studio drama…so to constantly overlook them is a shame considering their lasting effect on the lives of moviegoers.

Finally, in 1991 Oscar sees the light and recognizes the achievement that is BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. It signified a return to form for Disney, who as a studio was in the middle of a rennaisance…producing some of the best films they would produce in a generation. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’s Best Picture nod was a major coup, coming at the expense of films like BOYZ N THE HOOD, THELMA & LOUISE and THE FISHER KING.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST would go on to win Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score, but stood no chance in the Best Picture category against THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. It would be the last time for a long time that an animated film would get invited to the dance, with modern classics like THE LION KING, TOY STORY, IRON GIANT, and SHREK all left standing on the sidelines.

Jump to the turn of the milennium, and after it becomes clear that studios besides Disney are capable of creating some truly wonderful animation, Oscar finally creates a Best Animated Feature category. Admittedly, this has become Pixar’s stomping ground, but let us not forget that films like SPIRITED AWAY, HAPPY FEET, WALLACE & GROMIT, and SHREK have all taken home the gold. The problem is, now that this category exists, Oscar’s group think is “Why should we consider an animated film in the Best Picture race? It has its own category.” Which brings us back to the EMILE ZOLA/SNOW WHITE paradox.

Sometimes folks, an animated film is just that good.

That brings us to today. Should TOY STORY 3 be elligible in Best Animated Film if it’s likewise up for Best Picture. Yes, absolutely. It might be in the running for Best Picture, but the sad fact is that it stands precious little chance of winning (ditto Best Adapted Screenplay, where it has also been nominated). Take its Best Animated Film eligibility away and you have robbed a clear achievement of any chance of being awarded on the night. Doesn’t seem right, does it?

Not only that, but what sort of legacy would that leave HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, THE ILLUSIONIST…and let’s say…TANGLED as a de-facto third nominee. Sure, you won an Oscar, but you didn’t have to compete against something that the groupthink decided was clearly the best?

The funny thing? Animated Feature is a tough category this year. All three films are glorious, and all three would be a worthy winner. TOY STORY 3 might be sitting at the grown-ups table in Best Picture, but it’s not a gimme in its own bracket.

Part of me thinks that this is just boredom since we’ve gone two years in a row with an animated film making the jump to the Best Picture nominee list. If that’s the case then we’ll likely be able to go back to normal next year, as I highly doubt that CARS 2 will spread its wings the same way that UP and TOY STORY 3 have (and don’t get me started on Dreamworks’ slate for 2011).

You could make similar arguments for categories like documentary and foreign film, but that’s a whole other tangent. My point is that to penalize a film because it works beyond its genre and succeeds as a movie is unfair, and runs counter to what Oscar should be doing.

They’re not out there to reward the Best Drama (though they usually do)…or the Best Comedy (though they haven’t for 34 years)…or the Best Musical (which they were doing incessently through the 50’s and 60’s). They’re supposed to be rewarding the Best Picture.

And if Best Picture happens to be animated? So be it.