Ratatouille

Episode SummaryErin and Rachel discuss Ratatouille (2007), a Pixar film about a French rat who wants to be a chef. Their discussion includes a fine stew of food politics, meritocracy, and sexism with a garnish of fatphobia. Bon appetit! Episode BibliographyBaker, J. (2005, January 17). Dan Lee. James Baker. https://www.james-baker.com/news/dan-lee/Bird, B. [@BradBirdA113]. (2020, July 13). The “Guarantee” was my idea, not Pixar’s. It had zero to do with CARS or HAPPY FEET. It was a [Tweet]. Twitter. https://x.com/bradbirda113/status/1282845727446765568Bird, B. (Director). (2007). Ratatouille [Film]. Pixar Animation Studios.Booth, M. (2007, June 27). Oui! A rich foodie treat, with a great view. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2007/06/27/oui-a-rich-foodie-treat-with-a-great-view/Brandes, S., & Anderson, T. (2011). Ratatouille: An animated account of cooking, taste, and human evolution. Ethnos, 76(3), 277-299. DOI: 10.1080/00141844.2011.569559Chang, J. (2007, June 18). Film Review: Ratatouille. Variety. https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/ratatouille-2-1200558501/Daly, S. (2010). Summer Movie Q&A; Top Chef. EW.com. htps://web.archive.org/web/20100222021712/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20166944_20166964_20043277,00.htmlDan Lee (animator). (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Lee_(animator)Desowitz, B. (2007, April 25). Brad Bird Offers an Early Taste of 'Ratatouille'. Animation World Network. https://www.awn.com/animationworld/brad-bird-offers-early-taste-ratatouilleDesowitz, B. (2007, May 11). Ratatouille to Kick Off With 'Big Cheese Tour'. Animation World Network. https://www.awn.com/news/ratatouille-kick-big-cheese-tourDockterman, E. (2020, December 30). How the Ratatouille Musical Went From TikTok Sensation to All-Star Broadway Production. Time. https://time.com/5925560/ratatouille-tiktok-musical/Eric ArtPassion. (2019, December 10). The Making of Ratatouille. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjYmGqYgVxAEstiloz, T. (2007, July 3). Ratatouille: Behind the Scenes at Pixar & Film's Stars Chat. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTvOilSDCgcFerguson, P. (2014). Word of mouth: What we talk about when we talk about food. University of California Press.Finn, S.M. (2017). Discriminating taste: How class anxiety created the American food revolution. Rutgers University Press.Gagné, M. (n.d.). Taste Visualization for Pixar's Ratatouille. Gagne International. https://www.gagneint.com/Final%20site/Animation/Pixar/Ratatouille.htmGleiberman, O. (2007, July 6). Ratatouille (2007). Entertainment Weekly. https://web.archive.org/web/20141108232303/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20044993,00.htmlGraser, M. (2007, June 15). Pixar hopes auds find ‘Ratatouille’ tasty. Variety. https://variety.com/2007/film/features/pixar-hopes-auds-find-ratatouille-tasty-1117967050/Hammond, W. (2007, October 8). Ratatouille 2007, directed by Brad Bird | Film review. Time Out. https://www.timeout.com/movies/ratatouilleHarrap, C. (2022, April 13). Still in the Dark Ages: Are French Kitchens Sexist? France Today. https://francetoday.com/food-drink/still-in-the-dark-ages-are-french-kitchens-sexist/Harris, D.A., & Giuffre, P. (2015). Taking the heat: Women chefs and gender inequality in the professional kitchen. Rutgers University Press. Hayhurst, D. (2007, August 9). Record breaking ‘Ratatouille’. Variety. https://variety.com/2007/film/box-office/record-breaking-ratatouille-1117969958/Herhuth, E. (2017). Pixar and the aesthetic imagination: Animation, storytelling, and digital culture. University of California Press.Hill, J. (2007, September 3). Toon Tuesday: Why “Ratatouille” ‘s good-but-not-great box office numbers are now causing problems for Disney’s marketing department. Jim Hill Media. https://jimhillmedia.com/toon-tuesday-why-ratatouille-s-good-but-not-great-box-office-numbers-are-now-causing-problems-for-disneys-marketing-department/Holzer, L. N. (2007, June 29). Pixar cooks up a story. The Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20070702164407/http://www.thereporter.com/billboard/ci_6260970Lindenfeld, L., & Parasecoli, F. (2016). Feasting our eyes: Food films and cultural identity in the United States. Columbia University Press.The Los Angeles Times. (2007, June 30). Disney faces a challenging stew in trying to sell ‘Ratatouille’. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/06/30/disney-faces-a-challenging-stew-in-trying-to-sell-ratatouille/Nominees & Winners of the 80th Academy Awards. (2013, October 12). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. https://web.archive.org/web/20131012045551/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/2000-present/2008/winners.htmlNoyer, J. (2008, February 28). Jan Pinkava reveals “les ropes” of Ratatouille. Animated Views. https://animatedviews.com/2008/pinkava-on-pixar-projects/Parasecoli, F. (2008). Bite me: Food in popular culture. Bloomsbury Publishing.Phillips, M. (2007, July 15). Movie review: 'Ratatouille'. Metromix. https://web.archive.org/web/20070715125627/http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-070629-movies-review-ratatouille%2C0%2C3953295.storyPixar. (2016a). Behind the Swinging Doors | Ratatouille | Disney•Pixar. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOKRDiUc8IPixar. (2016b). Care & Feeding of Your CG Rat | Ratatouille | Disney•Pixar. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMroyERYMMPixar. (2016c). Something New | Ratatouille | Disney•Pixar. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e13d9w_zItQPixar. (2025). Ratatouille. Pixar. https://www.pixar.com/ratatouillePrice, D. A. (2009). The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.Ratatouille. (n.d.). Box Office Mojo. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl846038529/Ratatouille (film). (n.d.). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille_(film)Rea, S. (2007, June 29). You'll smell a . . . terrific 'toon, starring a rat. Philly.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071441/http://articles.philly.com/2007-06-29/entertainment/24994660_1_remy-sous-chef-auguste-gusteauRodriguez, R. (2007, June 29). A delightful stew offers a treat for all ages. Miami Herald. https://archive.ph/20070623044747/http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html#selection-897.85-909.108Scott, A.O. (2007, June 29). Voilà! A rat for all seasonings. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/movies/29rata.htmlSublette, C.M., & Martin, J. (2013). Let them eat cake, caviar, organic, and whole foods: American elitism, white trash dinner parties, and diet. Studies in Popular Culture, 36(1), 221-43.