...continued from here
Pixar is not turning its back on Disney, nor is it making fun of it. Even the message is pure "Disneyland" - about achieving your dreams regardless of your humble situation - "When you wish upon a star/makes no difference who you are". The balance between self fulfillment and keeping connections to family are well done here, as well. Those qualities that can make us feel like a "misfit" can turn out to be our greatest talents, as Remy, the rat, discovers.
Another high point of the movie for me is when the food critic, Ego, is suddenly transported back to his childhood by the taste of the food. Expressing things like this visually is what animation is all about. I had no doubt what it meant. He not only liked the food, he was completely and utterly blown away.
From a visual standpoint, the animation of water and fur is so excellent in this animation that is almost distracting. Or maybe that's just me. Another interesting thing about this movie is that it makes you very aware of food. I advise eating while watching the DVD. Even my sugar-free jello tasted better!