Pixar Shorts:
Your Friend the Rat

This short film was created for the DVD release of Ratatouille which for home entertainment in November 2007.

There is one brief moment to look out for WALL-E driving a Mars vehicle at about 9 1/2 minutes into the Pixar short. Notice, too, that the apple next to the chalk board is gradually eaten whenever you see Emile and Remy. Heh heh!

The Plot for Your Friend the Rat

Remy and Emile begin their presentation with Remy's plea to speak out for rats everywhere, while Emile reluctantly admits he's rather just eat. Then begins Remy's pitch on how humans view rats, who are actually equal to humans. But since humans don't see it that way, it's been a war against rats without end.

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He goes on to say that in ancient times, rats carried gods and were seen as a sign of luck. Remy discusses the history of the Black Rat's migration to Europe from the Middle East via trading ships and the rat's exploding population due to the filth.

Then the Black Plague wipes out Europe, not from the rat, but because of the fleas the rats carried. Remy defends the rats and points out that it's the FLEAS that brought on The Plague. PT Flea from A Bug's Life dances around, but Remy says, "No, not that one!" Remy goes on that it was a specific type of flea that caused death.

Remy continues the history lesson by emphasizing that the plague was likely ended by the Norway Rat, who looks an awful lot like Emile. It came from China and holds the first place in the Chinese zodiac and has many positive characteristics.

As exploration and colonization spread over the world, so did the rat as it traveled aboard the ships. It thrives on the symbiotic relationship with humans as we make the trash and the rat eats it up.

Emile begins his presentation on the benefits and and drawbacks rats bring to humans, from how much food waste they're able to eat to how quickly they reproduce. He points out the contributions rats make in science, from lab experiments to being out in space.

They break out in song about rats and humans together and at the end of the song a disclaimer is shown while Remy and Emile try and remove it as they complain and rant. Emile's tired of it and just wants to get something to eat.