Writing Tips from Ratatouille

Ratatouille is one of my favorite Pixar movies. I don't know what it is about it. The appreciation of food? The beautiful animation of the food and Paris? All I know is it's a great movie and today we're looking at what tips on writing it can give us.

Spoilers ahead!

 1. Unlikely Protagonist

The main character of this movie is a rat. A rat who loves to cook. It's such an unusual combination that we're instantly intrigued. How did a rat come to learn to cook? Will he be able to become a chef even though he's a rat? And will anyone else be able to accept him?

You don't always have to pick the most likely person to be your protagonist. What makes them unique, or interesting? It could be their interests or their personality. What makes them stand out in this situation?

2. Well Established Rules

One of the interesting things about the movie is how they use the rules we know to increase tension. For example, rats are unhygienic and shouldn't be allowed in kitchens. If Remy is caught, it could spell disaster for everyone, and could even mean death for Remy.

How can you use the rules of the world to add tension? If your character has to steal something for a good cause, the knowledge that if he's caught, he'll go to jail adds tension. Having characters find ways to work around the rules keeps readers interested.

3. Don't Forget the Twist

Around halfway into the movie, we learn that Linguini is actually the former owner of the restaurant's son. That changes everything we know and puts the plot on a new path as Remy discovers the truth and strives to tell his friend about it.

Twists are fabulous for keeping interest. If you can foreshadow it correctly, it will feel unexpected and expected at the same time. The midpoint is also the perfect time to add one, because if you're following a traditional character arc, that's when the protagonist learns something that changes their whole perception on the conflict.

4. Research

The team behind this movie not only visited many restaurant kitchens in Paris, they kept real rats in their studio to study during animation. This level of attention to detail shows itself in the movie, from the way the kitchen operates to small things like the layout of the chef stations.

You don't need to travel to France to research your book, but doing research is important. There are a certain amount of details you need to suspend the audience's disbelief and make the world feel real. Choosing the right details is important too, as it can quickly show whether you actually know what you're talking about.

5. Unexpected Endings

I love Pixar's endings. They're never what you think. In Ratatouille, they make Ego happy! He writes a good review! Then they get shut down because the health inspector finds rats in the kitchen. Instead, Linguini and Colette open their own restaurant and are very happy.

Sometimes, it's better to give your readers something they don't expect. Your character doesn't get the job. People have to leave even though they try not to. Just because an ending isn't expected, doesn't mean it can't be happy.

Have you seen Ratatouille? What's your favorite thing about it? Tell me in the comments.

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