What ever his back story is, Skinner sure is handsome. 
Lol, nice ideas there, Mitch. Far-fetched, but funny. 
I agree that it seems like nearly all of the main characters, as well as some of the more minro characters, have very interesting background stories. Iād be most interested to find out what the story is behind Anton Ego and why he became such a hard-hearted crtitic when he was obviously once a happy, loved child.
lizardgirl - Haha. Thank you. I probably should post up our āRumatouilleā story, tooā¦
I agree. Apparently he wasnāt completely satisfied during his early childhood years, as it seems as though he got beat up now and again. Perhaps he was teased alot as a youngster because of his unusual personality and love for fine cooking? Kinda like Remy? But yeah, it would be interesting to know his whole backstoryā¦
ā Mitch
Mitch- Now, how ironic would that be; if Anton Ego had experienced as a child exactly the kind of exlusion that Remy faced as a rat!
That would also explain why, ultimately, Ego was happy to accept the concept of a rat cooking, because by the looks of things, Egoās background was pretty underpriviledged and it mightāve been a struggle for him to pursue his love of food. Only someone with a true passion and acceptance of food would ever allow the idea of a rat cooking.
I mean, maybe thatās why Anton Ego was so against Gusteauās theory that āanyone can cookā. Perhaps Ego, a long, long time ago attempted becoming a successful chef but due to his background or other reasons, was not given the oppurtunity to shine, so although āanyone can cookā is essentially true, Ego didnāt feel that way because he hadnāt been allowed to cook.
Either way, something big mustāve happened at some point in his childhood, or as a young man.
lizardgirl - Now that is quite an interesting and mind-scratching theory right there! I certainly wouldnāt mind it if Pixar dug deeper into Egoās past and extracted his entire backstory for us to take a glance at. Either that, or someone should compose a story about/around the ideaā¦
Most intriguing. Most intriguing, indeedā¦! 
ā Mitch
Not sure if itās normal for some releasesā¦
But we got Ratatouille recently (one disc) and it came with this rather detailed book about āRemyās Worldā. Itās basically a smaller version of one of those uhhā¦well those singular titled books like āPiratesā or āFishā that shows detailed information and facts on the subjects they have.
Anyway, an interesting fact not normally known is that Django enjoys Gypsy Music. Not sure if anybody did a backstory on him yet, but figured that was just something rather unique I think wasnāt in the film that someone could use.
Nexas - Ha! Yeah, I have that book myself, and the fact that you mentioned (concerning Django) is one of my favorites in the entire hard-cover. Although I never would have guessed that he likes that kind of music, it makes perfect sense when you think about itā¦ 
I also love the whole backstory behind Mabel (the old farm lady) and why she could shoot as well as she did. Heheh.
ā Mitch
Actually yeah heh. You donāt hear Gypsy music, I donāt think, in the movieā¦and itās far from French music I thinkā¦maybe itās something Desiure interested him in heh heh.
Oh yes that haā¦never would have guessedā¦then again I really do think a few people will go off blasting a shotgun in their home without such experiences ha ha.
Oh so you DID get itā¦hmmā¦weird. On the commercials I see for the DVD it talks about Character Profiles. I didnāt see a second disc or anything but does this mean theyāre mentioning the book, just not showing it?
Nexas - Yeah, Iām not sure what he likes about it, but it sure seems to fit. (snigger)
As for the whole āCharacter Profilesā deal, you may be referring to Targetās special release of the Ratatouille DVD, in which you can receive an extra bonus disc along with the main film. This particular disc includes character profiles, among some other interesting things.
ā Mitch
What I love about Ratatouille is that the characters are so well-developed, yet there is so much left for us fans to ponder about.
First, Mitch said:
Donāt you mean African-French? 
Personally, I think Lalo has an Algerian background since (if my memory from geography class serves me correctly) France did occupy Algeria for a while so there are French people there and Algerian people in France. Plus heās got that Mediterannean-African kind of look, with the medium-dark skin, long face, high cheek bones, and light eyes. Heās very handsome, in my opinion! <img src=ā{SMILIES_PATH}/love2.gifā alt=ā:loves:ā title="In
Love" />
Iām very interested in Horstās backstory. We know what he may or may not have doneā¦ but has he really done anything? Really? Or is that just what he says to make himself respected?
As far as nationality, I do not think he is French. Heās way too pale, and his accent is a little different. I personally think heās Austrian or Swiss. Why not German, you may ask? I donāt know. He could be either; I just tend to think of Austria or Switzerland. Heās got that light blonde hair, square facial frame, and icy blue eyes, and he says ja like they do. These may be stereotypes, Iām not sure. But just my observations.
What do you all think about Lalo and Horst?
Sheila
I love learning about the cooks. They are all so mysterious, but likeable for some weird reason. Hereās one thing I didnāt get about Lalo. When Colette is reading Solene LeClaireās review to everyone, just listen to Lalo. Itās realy creepy, and hilarious at the same time! XD As for Horst, I think (and so does Will Arnett) he did all of those things, but we do know that he has the power to hurt someone with just his thumb. I like Sheilaās idea of Lalo being āAlgerian-Frenchā. It sounds so real. I think thatās it.
The first time I saw a picture of Horst, he looked like he was going to yawnā¦all day. Long. 
(That made me yawn just now )
Dude, I love Ratatouille and all, but itās not a stereotyping movie. Itās THE stereotyping movie. Just look at Colette.
Little info on some of the chefsā¦
Pompidou(Patisser): Never takes a chance with Gusteauās reputation.
Lato (Poissonier): Ran away from home to be an acrobat (Although this was mentioned in the film, I am unsure if it was noted that he ran away from his āhome homeā or if his occuption as an acrobat was defined)
Larousse(Garde Manger): Knows how to prepare a winning salad.
Just a little info on some of the chefs if anybody needs an idea for a backstory or whatever heh heh.
Ah yes. Of course! My badā¦
Thank you for the geography lesson, by the way. I need to brush up on my history and the like. Heheh.
ā Mitch
Since were discussing this, I thought you might be interested in my take on Egoās background I made up for a fic Iām writing. I figure before Ratatouille was at least ten years of bitterness, so I sketched what I think happened before that.:
Age in 2007: 62
Mom born 1925
Dad born 1915
Anton Born 1945 in England
Moved to France at 5 probably. Guess father found work
Went to country school in France, trying to rebuild after WWII
Loved mother as child, learned to cook
Mercilessly teased as a āpedeā for wanting to cook; quickly learned to avoid one flaming queen in school
Father put foot down; no son of his will become chef
Abandons dreams and studies literature at regional uni at 18 (1963)
Reached majority 1966; graduated 1967
Still hiding his homosexuality, moves to Paris at 22 to become writer in 1967; visits mom frequently. Notices Parisian gay underworld but, aside from a few casual sexual adventures, stays away; entertains thought of having girlfriend. Avidly cooks at home.
After a number of journalistic odd jobs, lands reporter job with Le Monde in 1971 (heās now 26)
Le Monde needs someone to write restaurant review. Anton volunteers. Itās 1973. Instant success. They ask him to write more. His Mum is so proud.
1974: Anton is offered permanent post as food critic at Le Monde. He accepts. Encouraged, he starts, cautiously, to explore Parisā nightlife. His reviews are sometimes harsh and sometimes appreciative.
1975: Turns thirty. Following an unsatisfying encounter with a selfish lover, he decides to celebrate the occasion by visiting a professional girl to find out what itās all about and maybe be ācured.ā Encounter is a disaster. Retreats into shell for several months. Mother tries to find out whatās wrong with him at Christmas. He never tells.
1976: Meets Pierre, a jovial French pilot and adventurer. Pierre takes the shy and reserved Anton under his wing. Anton meets new friends and begins to learn that not everyone in gay society is self-centered. Has sexual encounters and begins to accept himself for what he is.
1980: Turns thirty-five. Is dismayed by anti-gay rhetoric and new wave of conservatism in Thatcherās Britain. Also unnerved by a mysterious disease, āgay cancerā, that apparently strikes only gay men. Drops out of gay society for a while and re-resolves to become heterosexual. His gay friends, including Pierre, chase after him, but no luck.
1983: Work, cooking and visits to his mother are his main consolations. His mother asks him repeatedly why heās so sad. His father, aside from brusque questions about his work, ignores him. Anton thinks perhaps he knows.
1984: Pierre drags him out of the house to a gathering of friends. He meets a twenty-year-old Frenchman, Rene. Rene is a stand-up comedian and is instantly smitten by Anton, who at thirty-nine qualifies as an āolder manā. Anton has never laughed so much in his life. They become inseparable. Anton and Reneās gay friends bring them china and linens. Rene moves into Antonās little flat and Anton often cooks for them both. They go to restaurants together, and on the weekends, they take trips to the beach, the lakes, the mountains. They laze around in bed reading the papers and enjoy each otherās company. Anton has never known such happiness.
1985: Hits forty. Rene advises him to ācome outā to his parents. In Antonās generation, such things are unthinkable. He politely declines. Rene works on him but finally gives up. For the first time, Anton celebrates Christmas at his own home with his and Reneās friends ā Pierre, Jean-Claude, Thierry, others. He wishes his mother could be there. Gay Cancer is now called AIDS; itās one of the topics of discussion at the dinner table. A friend of a friend has died.
1986: His father dies at 71. Racked with guilt and a lifetime of missed opportunities, Anton buries him. A week later, he discovers that thanks to a long-lost relative and something to do with the passing on of property through the male line, he has inherited a large sum of money and a palatial home in Paris. Rene isnāt all that fond of it and calls it āthe mausoleumā, so they close it up and stay on in Antonās flat. He offers it to his mother, but she wonāt touch it. Anyway, she wants to stay on in the country because sheās having breathing trouble.
1987: Antonās friend, Jean-Claude, develops Kaposiās Sarcoma. Is dead two weeks later. The community, such as it is, is in a somber mood. The pall of death comes ever closer. Suspecting that there is a conspiracy of silence, Antonās friends, including Rene, join ACT UP and march in demonstrations with placards bearing the slogan āSILENCE=MORTā. Anton canāt bring himself to do this, but he always has a delectable meal waiting for the marchers when they come home.
1988: Anton finally persuades his mother to see a doctor for her breathing trouble. It turns out to be lung cancer in the last stages; she will not last long. Rene supports Anton through his grief and guilt.
1989: Antonās mother dies. With her, he buries a part of himself. This period can be summed up in one word: regret. He wishes he could have told her. Food tastes like ashes in his mouth. His reviews are scathing. Rene tries to cheer him up.
1990: Rene is always tired. Taking no chances, Anton rushes him to a doctor. He will never forget the moment when Rene is diagnosed with AIDS.
1991: The next year is a nightmare. Reneās condition deteriorates frighteningly; he looks like a skeleton. Moments stand out in stark relief: Anton supporting Rene down the stairs, Rene sweating unnaturally in the Metro, dripping all over the seat, and a friendly woman who smiled and offered them a handful of tissues; giving him injections, coaxing him to eat. Anton takes a sabbatical, lying about the reason. He takes Rene to his country home and takes him in the wheelchair for walks in the fresh air. Rene jokes that when he dies, at least heāll see Freddie Mercury.
Rene dies in bed. Anton strips the soiled sheets and calls the undertaker. Then he curls up in the bathtub and weeps for three days.
1992: Anton returns to work with a vengeance, searching for anything to return the flavour to his starving soul. It is during this period that he is dubbed āThe Grim Eater.ā He cannot stand the house the two of them shared, so he sells it, changing his phone number. Cutting all ties with the past, he sells his country home as well. He moves into the mausoleum. It feels more comfortable there. It comes with a butler-cum-secretary, Ambrister, and he keeps him on. Itās less trouble than answering his letters himself.
1993: There is, he finds, a certain savage pleasure in ripping the undeserving to shreds. He wishes he could find someone deserving, but he cannot. He needs flavour, but no-one can provide it, and he punishes them for it, cruelly, with great satisfaction. He never cooks at home. He does, however, drink a great deal.
1994: He knows he is becoming feared. That is his pleasure now. He hardly ever goes out during the day; heās not fond of the sun. He goes out at night, like a vampire.
1998: Anton learns that they are marketing drugs that might cure HIV. His bitterness knows no bounds.
My word. Putmoneyinthypurse, that is so profound and fitting for Ego!
Not to mention, obviously very researched and detailed. Plus you have all these instances like his literature studies, his ācasual sexual adventuresā, burying his parents, meeting his friends and Rene, etc. These all make room for some crazy good one-shot fanfictions!
As a Queen fan, I love the Freddie Mercury joke.
Again, I want to comment on every single sentence you wrote, because they are all so amazing in every way!!! But it would take a year. All the situations, occurrences, EVERYTHING is so Ego, and make so much sense.
All the stuff about him being homosexual and struggling, seeking help to be ācuredā, then finding love, his declining to come out, losing love, drinking a lot, and all that adding up to his bitternessā¦ just OH MAN. So good. and romantic. I love it.
This is Sheila (Colette Tatou on FFN) by the way. My sister and I share this account.
I agree wholeheartedly with Colette Linguini; not only is this a very interesting backstory for any character, but it really does fit Anton Egoās development of personality that we see in the film! Every event you described, putmoneyinthypurse, I could really see happening. You really ought to write some stories using this outline- Iād love to see you delve even deeper into Egoās past.
The Egoās back story thing is good, but I personally believe that Ratatouille took place somewhere in the late 60sā¦because Anton had a typewriter, not a computer.
Typewriters vanished in the late 80s.
In addition, is it okay to post what you think happened to the characters AFTER everything in the film Ratatouille, not just BEFORE?
remy_must_save_henri- Iām almost 100% sure Ratatouille takes place in modern-day, Anton is just very old fashioned, so he uses a typewriter.
What source says so?