Ratatouille (film)

Ratatouille (film)
Name	Ratatouille
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Brad Bird
Producer	Brad Lewis
Writer	Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava
Story	Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird
Starring	Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Janeane Garofalo, Brad Garrett
Music	Michael Giacchino
Editing	Darren T. Holmes
Studio	Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios
Distributor	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Released	2007, 06, 22, United States, 2007, 10, 26, France
Runtime	111 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$150 million
Gross	$623.7 million

Ratatouille (film). The 2007 American computer-animated comedy film was produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Brad Bird, the story follows a young rat named Remy who dreams of becoming a chef in Paris, forming an unlikely alliance with a garbage boy named Linguini at the prestigious restaurant Gusteau's. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its animation, voice acting, and sophisticated storytelling, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

Plot

In the French countryside, a rat named Remy with a refined palate is inspired by the late chef Auguste Gusteau and his motto, "Anyone can cook." After being separated from his colony, Remy arrives in Paris and discovers Gusteau's restaurant, now run by the cynical head chef Skinner. Remy helps the hapless garbage boy Linguini create a successful soup by secretly controlling his actions by tugging on his hair. The duo's success revives the restaurant's fortunes, attracting the attention of the feared food critic Anton Ego. As their secret becomes harder to maintain, Remy must reconcile his ambitions with his family's distrust of humans, culminating in Ego's transformative review after tasting Remy's ratatouille.

Production

Development began under director Jan Pinkava, with the original concept involving a rat living in a Parisian restaurant. After story issues, Brad Bird was brought in to rewrite the script and direct, bringing his signature character-driven approach. The animation team conducted extensive research in Paris, studying French cuisine and restaurant kitchens to achieve authenticity. The food animation required new software to simulate realistic textures and movement, a significant technical challenge for Pixar Animation Studios. Composer Michael Giacchino created a score heavily influenced by French music, particularly the works of Camille Saint-Saëns and Django Reinhardt.

Themes and analysis

Central themes include the pursuit of artistic passion against societal prejudice, exploring the idea that genius can come from any source. The film critiques elitism in both the culinary world, through the character of Anton Ego, and society at large, championing collaboration over individual glory. The relationship between Remy and Linguini examines themes of identity and mutual dependence. Critics have also analyzed the film as a metaphor for the artistic process at Pixar Animation Studios itself, with Remy representing the creative visionary and Linguini representing the technical execution.

Release and reception

The film premiered on June 22, 2007, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. It was a major commercial success, grossing over $623 million worldwide against a $150 million budget. Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with praise directed at its intelligent script, detailed animation of Paris and food, and emotional depth. Reviewers from The New York Times, The Guardian, and Roger Ebert highlighted it as a mature work that transcended the typical animated family film. It holds a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Accolades

Ratatouille won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, beating competitors like Surf's Up. It also received four other Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay for Brad Bird. The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film, and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature. Composer Michael Giacchino won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album. The National Board of Review named it one of the Top Ten Films of the year.

Legacy

The film is consistently ranked among the greatest animated films of all time by publications like Empire and the American Film Institute. It bolstered Pixar Animation Studios' reputation for sophisticated storytelling and is credited with increasing public interest in gourmet cooking and French cuisine. The character of Remy appears as a meetable character in Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World. A themed restaurant, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, is a key attraction at Epcot. The film's success influenced subsequent Pixar films to explore more nuanced adult themes within family-friendly frameworks.

Category:2007 animated films Category:Pixar animated films Category:Academy Award for Best Animated Feature winners