Anton Ego (Truth)

**Anton Ego** (or simply known as Ego) is the secondary antagonist of the 2007 Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille. He is a former food critic who was infamous for his scathing reviews and cold exterior.

He was voiced by the late Peter O'Toole.

## Ratatouille

Ego is first seen in the beginning of the film where he rejected Gusteau's belief that "anyone can cook" since he didn't think anyone can do it. Ego is then seen again on TV giving a scathing review to Gusteau's food which caused Gusteau himself to be brokenhearted.

When Linguini and Colette are in love, Ego finds out that the restaurant is popular since he hadn't review Gusteau in years as well as revealing his review from a filling cabinet and it was stated to be the "last word". He then tells his butler how the restaurant could be popular.

Ego then visited the restaurant during a press conference that introduced the new Chef, Linguini, who has recently been confirmed as Gusteau's son and rightful heir. At that interview, he issued a challenge, stating that Linguini had not been "playing without an opponent", meaning Linguini's sudden rise to fame was unwarranted since he had not faced any competition. After a nervous attempt to a comeback to Ego's statement that Linguini was "slow" for someone in the fast lane" (of the restaurant business) by Linguini of Ego for being "thin, for someone who likes food", Ego angrily makes his position very clear: "I don't like food; I **LOVE** it. If I don't love it, I don't **swallow**". Ego departs with a promise to return the following day to review the new Chef's abilities hoping that Linguini does not fail.

Linguini later had a dream where he was taking Ego's order. After responding, this version of Ego stated that he'd "like (Linguini's) heart roasted on a spit" and began laughing which caused Linguini to be scared and wake up.

The following evening, Mustafa asks Ego if he knows what he likes to eat. Ego responds that he will have a little perspective which cause him to have an idea of having some fresh, clear, well-seasoned perspective. Mustafa gets confused what Ego said but Ego tells him that perspective is fresh out he will take it. Ego then makes a deal with Mustafa saying that he will provide the food while he provides the perspective which will go nicely with a bottle of Cheval Blanc 1947. Mustafa however still asks Ego about his dinner selection. Ego then proclaims Mustafa to tell Linguini that he wants whatever he dares to serve him as well as telling him to hit himself with his best shot. After that, Ego waits for Linguini bringing the food unaware that Skinner is watching him since he plans to make Linguini failed as revenge for making him lose his job as the head chef.

After Remy came back at the restaurant, he made the ratatouille for Ego and when Ego ate it, he is transported back to his childhood where his mother served him ratatouille as a comfort food after breaking his bicycle and getting hurt. As the memory fades, Ego begins to continue eating the food.

Afterwards, Ego speaks with Linguini, pleased with the meal and complimenting Linguini on serving it himself. He is surprised when Linguini admits to only being his waiter, and requests to speak with the real Chef. Upon being told that he will only meet the Chef after all of the other customers are gone, he agrees.

After all of the other customers are gone, Linguini and Colette reveal to Ego that Remy is the chef. Ego at first believes that they were joking but as they explain more, he realizes they were telling the truth. After that, Ego thanks them for the meal and then returns to his home to write his review.

The review is then published in the newspaper, and it relates how Ego has had to reevaluate his perceptions, closing with a very glowing appraisal of the (unnamed) Chef, the meal and the restaurant. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the closure of the restaurant by the Health Department due to a rodent infestation, and Ego loses his job credibility but however he did become a small business investor. Ego is last seen when he notices Remy saying, "Surprise me" during the time he has been asked by Linguini if he can be interested in a dessert.

## Personality

Before redeeming himself at the end of the film, Ego is an imperious, negative, acerbic and mean food critic who believes that what Gusteau says "anyone can cook" is ridiculous. He is also extremely passionate about food, claiming "I don't like food, I love it". He is also a man of great taste and distinction, showing a knowledge of fine wines as well as food as well as showing a great amount of humility and indeed sentiment after eating Remy's dish of ratatouille and learning the secret of Gusteau's restaurant.

Ego is intelligent and sophisticated and in terms of dress sense, he appears to be something of a dandy, completing his dark, dapper suit with a chic scarf.

## Trivia

* Ego is sometimes thought to be the main and overarching antagonist of the film but this is not true since Skinner is the one who drove the plot, trying to prevent Remy and Linguini from succeeding their goals which takes up the middle of the portion of the movie, getting in Linguini's way more than Ego, having bigger plans than anyone, being more of a prominent character, appearing way more than Ego, serving as the archenemy and main and direct threat of Remy and Ego is more like the climax of the film, and the recognition of the hard work Remy has sought as his whole life as well as being an obstacle/challenge/competition.
* Ego appears to be loosely based on Giulio Andreotti, the Italian Prime Minister and recent subject of the film Il Divo. They are very similar in both speech and physical appearance and both strike fear into those whose lives they can influence.
* Ego is most likely a mixture of traits borrowed from the late horror actor, Vincent Price and British art critic, Brian Sewell.
* Ego's appearance was modeled after Louis Jouvet.
* Many fans have noted the similarities between Ego's design and that work of Tim Burton, a well-known movie director.
* Ego's appearance is similar to Nosferatu.
* According to the beginning of the film, Ego is also known as 'The Grim Eater" within the press.
* At one point in the film, Bomb Voyage can be seen as a mime in the background. There is a young boy watching him do his tricks, whose model is re-used for a young Anton Ego.
* Anton Ego is shown to be a little fatter at the end of the film. This is especially poignant since he states, "I don't like food, I love it. If I don't love it, I don't swallow".
* Anton's office is shaped as a coffin and his typewriter seems to have a skull motif on it, setting the mood of the character.
* During Ego's flashback after eating the ratatouille, his house looks similar to Mabel's house. Because of this, some fans believe that Mabel is Ego's mom and Remy grew up in Anton Ego's mother's house, learning to cook by watching Anton's mother.
* Ego can also be compared to critic Simon Cowell: both are extremely blunt and deliver especially harsh criticism to any performances that do not please them; both have nicknames associated with the Grim Reaper (Ego is called "The Grim Eater", while Simon has occasionally been called "The Grim Reaper"); and their critical reviews to "make or break" people.
* Anton is also possibly based off of Derek Selbach, a famed German novella writer and literary critic of the 1950s-1980s. Just like Anton, he was well known for his grim demeanor and reading glasses and gained the nickname "The Viper" for his stinging, caustic reviews.
* Despite being French, the name "Anton" is Germain, Dutch, Scandinavian, Slavic, and Romanian rather French. Many French people use the name "Antoine" which is also a form of the English name, "Anthony."
	+ Ironically, the name means "beyond praise" despite his critical nature.
	+ Also, not to mention, Ego's accent is English rather French which is most likely because his voice actor Peter O'Toole was English.