THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY? DISNEY SHARES LAURELS FOR 'NEMO' WIN, BUT PIXAR PARTNERSHIP NEARS AN END.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Writer

Divorces are never fun, rarely amicable and typically fraught with words that each party would like to take back. Sometimes, though, you have to put on a happy face for the rest of the world.

When Pixar Animation's ``Finding Nemo'' won the Oscar for best animated feature Sunday night - the first animation win for Pixar - director and co-writer Andrew Stanton held back mention of the company's recent problems with the Mouse House that likely will have Pixar partnering with another studio when it fulfills its current contract. In fact, Stanton thanked Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.

Robin Williams, though, handing out the animated feature trophy, chided Disney: If the company loses Pixar, he said, ``All you're going to have is a Muppet and a water slide,'' referring to the company's recent acquisition of the Muppets franchise.

Backstage, Stanton was asked if Pixar's first Oscar would help the company go it alone.

``Well, it never hurts. ... This just legitimizes that we are on the right track.''

Beginning with 1995's ``Toy Story,'' Disney and Pixar have shared the success of five critically acclaimed and commercially successful blockbusters, culminating with ``Nemo,'' which, with its $840 million gross (including home video), stands as the top money-making animated film in history. ``Nemo'' took in more than $340 million at the box office, not to mention millions from DVD sales.

The partnership - the studios shared costs and split profits, with Disney getting a bigger cut - will now end when Pixar delivers the last two films in its deal, ``The Incredibles'' and ``Cars.'' Disney will hold the rights to any future sequels to films made under the current contract. Rumors abound that Disney may begin cranking out direct-to-video follow-ups to movies like ``Toy Story,'' ``Monsters, Inc.'' and even ``Finding Nemo.''

Perhaps that prospect, not to mention the often contentious negotiations, is what led Pixar CEO Steve Jobs to take his own recent potshot at Disney, saying, ``If you look at the quality of their sequels, like 'The Lion King,' 'Peter Pan' and stuff, it's pretty embarrassing.'' He added: ``Not even Disney's marketing and brand could turn the last two animated films, 'Treasure Planet' and `Brother Bear,' into successes. They both bombed.''

This year, Pixar expects to find a new studio partner - one that likely will take only a distribution fee, leaving the bulk of the profits (and risks) to Pixar. Among the suitors: Warner Bros., Sony Pictures and MGM. Stay tuned. Pixar may well find itself back on the Oscar podium before the divorce is over.

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(color) Presenter Robin Williams congratulates Andrew Stanton, co-writer and director of animated feature film winner ``Finding Nemo,'' backstage at the Academy Awards.

Reed Saxon/Associated Press