In a summer of massive blockbusters, it may come as a surprise that one of the films of the year involves a rat who wants to become a chef. As with all of Pixar’s efforts, whilst the film can be summed up in that simple statement, there is so much magic here that you imagine more layers will be revealed on repeat viewings.

Ratatouille marks another big screen success for Brad Bird, the auteur behind the brilliance of The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. The voice cast excels, with Peter O’Toole and Ian Holm as the two villains deserving special praise. The animation is superb throughout, with Remy the rat brought to life in a way we haven’t seen since we first clapped eyes on Sulley’s bristling fur in Pixar’s high point Monsters Inc. The city of Paris is as much of a character as the rodents and humans and the way Bird shows Remy’s love of food through the use of swirling colours and music brings to mind the early classics of Walt Disney back in the halcyon days of the animated shorts the company excelled at.

Ratatouille is a movie that kids will eat up but that adults will also find serves them well. Another stunning Bird success.