What type of animal is Remy in Ratatouille?

Remy is a rat in Pixar’s Ratatouille. He is an unusually gifted young rat whose exceptional sense of smell and taste inspires his dream of becoming a chef in Paris.

Remy admires the late chef Auguste Gusteau, whose motto is “Anyone can cook.” After being separated from his colony, Remy discovers Gusteau’s restaurant and secretly helps the inexperienced Alfredo Linguini prepare food. By pulling Linguini’s hair beneath his chef’s hat, Remy guides his movements like a puppet and becomes the hidden creator behind the restaurant’s success.

A common mix-up is to call Remy a mouse because both animals are small rodents. Remy is specifically identified as a rat, and the film contrasts his species with the human chefs and restaurant staff around him. His older brother is Émile, while Django is his father and the leader of the rat colony.

The story’s central joke and theme depend on this identity: a rat, an animal usually associated with kitchens and rubbish, proves capable of extraordinary culinary creativity. Remy later helps open a bistro called La Ratatouille with Linguini and Colette.