Latest news with #Ratatouille
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword July 18 clues and answers: ‘Dated feminine suffix' clue solved for today's puzzle
The New York Times Mini Crossword is the perfect brain teaser when you don't have time for the full-sized puzzle. But some clues can still throw you off and ruin your solving streak. If that's the case today, here's a full breakdown of July 18's clues, with all the answers revealed. NYT Mini Crossword July 18 Across hints and answers Appropriate word that can precede 7-/8-Across and 3-/10-Down: HALF Remy's brother in Ratatouille: EMILE Missouri's postal abbreviation: MO Light switch position: ON Done for laughs: IN FUN Richard of Pretty Woman: GERE NYT Mini Crossword July 18 Down hints and answers Prefix that means 1-Across: HALF In the midst of: AMONG Super Bowl that featured a 28-3 comeback win by the Patriots: LI Baker's powder: FLOUR Dated feminine suffix: ENNE Iron, on the periodic table: FE That's the full list for today. If you're into other NYT puzzles, don't forget to check out Strands, Connections, and Wordle too!
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Ratatouille star Patton Oswalt addresses possible remake
Patton Oswalt would sign on to a live-action remake of Ratatouille 'in a second'. The 56-year-old actor starred as the rodent chef Remy in Pixar's beloved 2007 animated movie, and Oswalt has now revealed he would return for a Ratatouille remake - so long as director Brad Bird was at the helm again. When TMZ asked The King of Queens actor if he was open to voicing Remy again in another Ratatouille film, he said: 'If Brad Bird came up with a great idea to do it, I would do it in a second. 'But, that's up to him. Yeah, to get to work with Brad Bird [again] would be great.' Oswalt was also quizzed on whether he thought Ratatouille was one of the best Disney-Pixar movies, but the actor insisted 'that's for the viewers to decide'. He added: 'I mean, I had a blast doing it, but I don't think I get to make that ranking.' Ratatouille follows a rat named Remy (Oswalt) who dreams of becoming a chef and teams up with shy garbage boy Linguini (Lou Romano) to cook in a famous Parisian restaurant once run by the late Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett). As they navigate sabotage from head chef Skinner (Ian Holm) and win over food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), their unlikely partnership changes the kitchen forever. This comes after it was rumoured another Ratatouille movie was in early development at Pixar, though the project has not been confirmed by the studio or Bird. Bird returning for a sequel or remake of Ratatouille isn't out of the realm of possibility, as the 67-year-old director helmed the 2018 follow-up to his 2004 animated superhero flick, The Incredibles. The filmmaker is also set to return for The Incredibles 3, though will only serve as a producer and writer for the movie, while Peter Sohn, 47, gets into the directing chair. Sohn - who directed other Pixar movies like Elemental and starred in Ratatouille as Remy's brother Emile - said being chosen to helm The Incredibles 3 was 'a dream come true'. He was quoted by Variety as saying about working with Pixar on the third Incredibles movie: 'I've always loved this family and what they represent - the messy, funny, heroic chaos of everyday life. To help tell their next chapter is a true honour.' While the cast of The Incredibles 3 hasn't been confirmed yet, it's almost certain Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter will return as Bob and Helen Parr, AKA Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. Following the announcement of The Incredibles 3 at Disney's D23 showcase in August 2024, Pixar boss Pete Docter teased Bird was hard at work on the upcoming movie. The studio chief told Fandango: 'Brad is an amazing collaborator. He's so fiery and passionate. Different people work in different ways. He's a guy who needs a little more time to build up the steam to get the passion and the power going. 'I think we're at that point now. And we're not sharing any details right now, because it's still pretty malleable in terms of what the story is actually about.'
The Star
12-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
The instinct to play unites different species, from mammals to insects
Play isn't just for humans. Rats, dolphins, magpies and chimpanzees also play, revealing behaviours that are both unexpected and strangely similar to our own. Far from being a simple survival mechanism, animal play could well be the echo of a form of shared intelligence. Imagine a rat hiding under a plastic box while a human searches for it, then erupting with joy when it's been found. This is not a scene from the Ratatouille movie, but the protocol of a study published in 2019 in the journal Science. Neuroscientists at Humboldt University of Berlin succeeded in teaching six young rats to play hide-and-seek. To begin with, the researchers let them explore their playground, a 30-square-metre room dotted with boxes and partitions serving as hiding places. Before the experiment began, researcher Annika Reinhold had accustomed the rodents to her presence by stroking them, tickling them and chasing them with her hands. She then taught them the role of the seeker: to do this, she would lock a rat in a box, go and hide in a corner of the room, then reward it with tickles if it came to join her. When a rat was free from the start, it was up to the animal to play hide-and-seek. It then had to quickly choose a hiding place and stay there quietly until being discovered. The study showed that rats can effectively learn how to play hide-and-seek. Better still, they understand the rules, choose strategic hiding places – the most opaque, the most discreet – and know how to make themselves go unnoticed by remaining silent. And when the moment comes to be discovered, they erupt with joy, leaping with gusto and uttering the little ultrasonic vocalisations typical of pleasure. The rats also tend to prolong the game. As soon as they're discovered, they immediately scurry off to hide elsewhere, as if to restart the game. They even postpone the moment of reward stroking, obviously preferring to keep the game going a little longer. For them, play is a social activity, a voluntary activity and clearly a source of pleasure. Experiments with dolphins have shown that the most playful individuals are also the most curious, the most adaptable and sometimes, even the most innovative. — Photos: Freepik Play as a sign of intelligence In apes, play becomes strategy. Researchers from the University of California Los Angeles, the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Indiana University and the University of California San Diego, identified playful behaviours that are surprisingly similar to those of human children. The young monkeys have fun provoking adults, poking them, waiting for their reaction ... then doing it again, as if anticipating the effects of their actions. In a study published in 2024 in the journal Proceedings Of The Royal Society B, the scientists suggest that this taste for teasing is anything but trivial. It may be a sign of the existence, in our last common ancestor, of the cognitive prerequisites necessary for playful teasing. After all, playing the clown can be a complex business. It implies understanding the other person, anticipating their reactions, and wanting to maintain a bond. In this respect, play is much more than just a way of letting off steam; it's a powerful tool for building relationships. For primatologist Frans de Waal, these playful jousts reinforce social hierarchies while strengthening group cohesion. In short, apes, like us, play to help them live better together. The natural history of animals abounds in observations of games. Play is widespread among mammals, but less common among birds, with the exception of corvids, where it is clearly evident. In a study published in 2019 in the journal Current Biology, American and Australian researchers claim that New Caledonian crows derive pleasure from manipulating objects, which improves their mood and optimism – a cognitive experience reminiscent of our own taste for intellectual challenges. Neuroscience suggests that the brains of mammals and certain birds are 'programmed' to play. An evolutionary drive for play Rats, great apes, crows ... the list of playful animals grows longer as research continues. But why do so many species play? No doubt because play has many functions, from motor development and social learning to bonding and cognitive stimulation. Neuroscience suggests that the brains of mammals and certain birds are 'programmed' to play. Experiments with dolphins and crows have shown that the most playful individuals are also the most curious, the most adaptable and sometimes, even the most innovative. This suggests that play is a gateway to creativity and problem-solving. But play can also be about having fun. Whether it's dolphins surfing the waves for no apparent purpose, elephant calves chasing each other around a tree trunk, or crows gliding across snow-covered rooftops, many animals love to play, mostly out of sheer pleasure. Owners of cats, dogs and even rodents are well aware of this. As are scientists, who have observed this behaviour in fish, frogs, lizards and birds. But what about insects? Are their cognitive capacities sufficiently developed for them to want to have fun? Apparently so, according to a study published in 2022 in the journal Animal Behaviour. It showed that bumblebees enjoy rolling wooden balls for no reason or reward – just for the fun of it. Perhaps play is not a luxury reserved for superior species, but an evolutionary necessity rooted in the biology of living things, whether it's a kitten bouncing around, a dog wagging its tail when it sees a ball, or even a magpie playing with a cork. These innocuous moments speak volumes about the emotional and cognitive richness of the animal world. And they remind us that pleasure is a universal language. – AFP Relaxnews
The Star
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Melaka entrepreneur realises childhood dream with KL eateries
GROWING up in a historic city known for its rich food heritage, a young man from Melaka always knew he wanted to be part of that world. From an early age, Merrick Chiam was drawn to the flavours that defined his home state, from the sweetness of Gula Melaka to the spiciness of Asam Pedas, and dreamed of one day opening his own eatery. Now 25, he has turned that dream into reality as the co-owner of Brew by Cobnb, which runs two eateries in Kuala Lumpur. But the journey from the kitchens of his childhood to running a business in a big city has not been without its challenges. The former student of St Francis Institution in Bandar Hilir here said his love for food began at home and was fuelled by simple and everyday experiences. "Food has always been about connection for me. "It's about bringing people together through taste and tradition," he said in an interview on Monday (July 7). An unlikely source of inspiration, he said, came from the animated film Ratatouille. "It wasn't about a rat cooking. "It was about consistency, hard work and believing in your own skill," he said. Although he now manages the business with a small team, Chiam said the transition from aspiring cook to entrepreneur required persistence and adaptability. "Running an eatery is not just about serving good food. "It's about understanding your customers, managing people and constantly improving what you offer," he said. Beyond the day-to-day operations, Chiam is passionate about giving back. He mentors young people, especially those from Melaka who are interested in joining the food and beverage industry, sharing lessons he has learnt along the way. "I know what it feels like to start without the desired financial capacity but passion for food. "If I can help others avoid some of the mistakes I made, that's something I'm proud of," he said. Chiam added that his eateries are more than just a business. "They represent the fulfilment of a childhood ambition, shaped by Melaka's culinary traditions," he said.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rumors Disney and Pixar are making a sequel to beloved classic DECADES after its release fiercely divides fans
Rumors that Disney is making a sequel to a beloved classic nearly two decades after it came out has left its longtime fans fiercely divided. Speculation has erupted on social media this week that Ratatouille 2 is in the works at Disney. The 2007 animated film Ratatouille, produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, followed a rat named Remy who dreamed of becoming a chef - and it was a massive success. Hundreds of the original movie's fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts over the potential reboot. And while some people were ecstatic over the possibility of their favorite rodent returning to the big screen for another adventure, others were not a fan of the idea. The rumors began to circulate after film buff and entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider said during a recent appearance on The Hot Mic podcast that he believes Ratatouille 2 is happening. 'I heard [about] it a while back and it was denied. But I was like 'I don't know if I'm buying that denial,'' he said. 'I'm pretty sure that there will be a sequel. You can't do a proper sequel to Up, necessarily. Maybe you could for WALL-E. But Ratatouille screams sequel.' His comment came after Pixar CCO Pete Docter revealed that the animation studio plans to release one original film followed by a sequel from now on. While the movie is not confirmed, Sneider's comments led to an eruption of rumors on social media, and fans seemed completely split over the possibility of a sequel. 'Ratatouille 2 is reportedly in the works at Disney,' popular X account known as Pop Tingz wrote in a now-viral post on Thursday. In the replies, some people begged Disney and Pixar not to make the second movie because they feared it wouldn't do the original justice and could 'ruin' the story. 'DO NOT RUIN THIS AMAZING MOVIE,' one user frantically wrote. 'This is literally my favorite cartoon of all time, please don't do this,' pleaded another. 'Please don't. Don't ruin this masterpiece,' someone else added. 'We don't want it,' read a fourth comment, while a fifth said, 'If they f**k this up they won't live to tell the tale, but if they do it right it might be the best movie ever.' Some people begged Disney not to make the second movie because they feared it wouldn't do the original justice and could 'ruin' the story. While others claimed it wasn't necessary Some people, however, were super excited by the rumors Others claimed that the follow-up wasn't necessary. 'There's literally no reason for a sequel...' scathed a different user. 'They just can't leave childhood classics alone,' another outraged person penned. 'I feel like if a movie has gone at least seven years without a sequel, it should just end there,' announced one fan. 'Does nobody have any new ideas?' asked another. 'Just remakes and unnecessary sequels.' Some people, however, were super excited by the rumors. 'That's a recipe for magic... Disney cooking up something special again,' gushed one supporter. 'Oh my goodness, finally something good,' another wrote. 'OH I'M SAT FOR THIS ONE ACTUALLY,' someone else said. Other posts read, 'Omg my childhood,' 'Finally,' and, 'About time.' The original Ratatouille film starred Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm, Brad Garrett, Peter O'Toole, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, and Janeane Garofalo. It grossed $623.7 million worldwide at the box office and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
