Ratatouille

Original Rating: 5/5 2007's Ratatouille was my childhood. Though 1994's The Lion King was the first film I ever watched and still has a special place in my heart, Ratatouille is the first film that I re-watched so many times, both my mom and I could recite it word for word. It was the first film I truly became obsessed with, the way I am now with my Top 4. Unfortunately, however, I never returned back to it and almost forgot about my love for it until very recently when I saw a video essay on how Ratatouille was a truly perfect animated film. That video inspired me to give it a rewatch, and so ten years after I last watched Ratatouille, here I am, having seen it once again. What a perfect way to spend a birthday. First of all, the animation is phenomenal, especially for a film that came out nearly twenty years ago. Everything feels unimaginably realistic, from the skylines to the restaurant, but also has a signature animated essence to it, as seen in the characters. It's a brilliant blend of imagination and reality that makes for a truly exceptional visual experience. One of my favorite aspects of this film that I only just realised after this millionth re-watch was how amazing the chase scenes were. It's not something I usually point out in films, let alone animated films, but this film genuinely had me on the edge of my seat whenever Remy was in trouble. The scene where he first falls into Gustau's kitchen, for example, is, in my opinion, probably one of the greatest scenes in the history of cinema. I'm not joking—it's amazing. Moreover, the small other things like expressions and mannerisms of the characters felt so natural it was impossible to imagine this was made in the early 2000s on a digital animating software. Secondly, the writing for this film is also fantastic. Something I learned recently was that for a lot of animated films, they don't really have a solid script and the film just gets made by the animators basically. It's something that can easily be seen in films like the *Despicable Me* franchise and newer, less great films, but I have a hard time believing that this film was made up on the spur of the moment. For one, the dialogues are so strong that it feels like it's written by Aaron Sorkin; for another, the concept is so unique and amazing that I have absolutely no idea how someone could even come up with that. It really goes to show that films for kids can really be about anything, as long as there's a great moral and a good story. And then there's obviously the characters which are so fantastically written, they may as well be created by Shakespeare. They all have completely different personalities that work off of each other perfectly, creating a great active environment in the film at all times. Remy was my favorite, thoug. He's one of those characters that you just can't not like from the get go. He's got good hygiene, he's pretty cute, he knows about good food, and most importantly, he's got a dream that he'll stop at nothing to make real. What's not to love? Lastly, there are the themes and morals that come from this film. This is obviously a film that I think both adults and kids can enjoy equally because it's amazing all around, but the moral of this film, the things that kids are supposed to learn from a film are so abundant in this film that it makes it even more of a film for both kids and adults. The main theme of this film is obviously about following your dreams no matter who you are or where you come from. It's a message that's echoed through Gustau's legacy and the realization of Anton Ego at the end of the film and it's presented very artfuly in this film through the relatable characters and powerful moments. It's something everyone tells kids, and yet they don't always see it come true, even in their own family. This might make them believe that following your dreams is just make-believe, but this film brings this message to life again. It shows us what it's like to be human and to love something deeply, all through the lens of a rat. It's just amazing every way I see it and is a great message for both children and adults to ponder on after the credits roll. There are actually many more, smaller messages this film conveys in different ways like the importance of really loving a craft and not just criticizing it, the moral of how ego can take over anyone from garbage boy to culinary rat, and even the power of family and friendship, but I simply don't have the word limit to go into this much detail. However, if you're an attentive viewer, you'll be able to see all these subtle themes in the film and appreciate them for their greatness and artistic depictions. Ultimately, 2007's Ratatouille is definitely in the Top 4 of all the animated films to ever exist, in my opinion, and it's a film that I have a feeling I'll be coming back to again and again and again. Anyone can cook. Pixar Ranked IB Level: 7+ 5/5 **26 April 2025 chymp**