HOLLYWOOD, Feb 24, 2008 (AFP) - Pixar-Disney film "Ratatouille" about the kitchen capers of a rat who dreams of becoming a top Parisian chef won the best animated feature film Oscar at the 80th Academy Awards here Sunday.

Pixar's box-office hit tells the tale of a rodent named Remy, with a fine palate and delicate taste buds, who by chance is let loose on a classy Parisian restaurant and succeeds in winning over the city's top food critic.

The film pipped the other nominees "Persepolis" and "Surf's Up" for Sunday's award.

Scripted and directed by Brad Bird, who won two Oscars for Pixar's "The Incredibles," the almost two-hour long film was some six years in the making.

Produced in California by 500 people, the "Ratatouille" project was the most ambitious yet realised by Pixar, which was purchased by Disney for 7.4 billion dollars in 2006.