We’re back for another Disney+ battle, and this week, there is a wide disparity between the two films. One is the final film of Disney’s Bronze Age of Animation. It served as a way to tell a classic literary tale while using dogs and cats. The other is a popular Pixar film that teaches about culinary tastes and turning to least likely individual to accomplish a task. We’re going to compare “Oliver and Company” and “Ratatouille.”

1. PROTAGONIST

The main character of “Oliver and Company” is Oliver, the only cat from a litter who doesn’t get adopted and ends up on the street. He learns from a dog called Dodger how to survive until he is adopted by a rich girl. He’s then “rescued” by Dodger but ends up being part of scheme that leads to the girl being kidnapped. Oliver, Dodger and the rest of the crew must rescue her. In “Ratatouille,” the main character is Remy, a rat that dreams of being a chef. After he gets separated from his family, Remy ends up in Paris where he helps a new worker at Gusteau’s become a chef and helps save the restaurant’s reputation before it’s closed because of rats. Both are great leads, but I think Remy is a little better main character. Point to “Ratatouille.”

Oliver and Company 0 | Ratatouille 1

2. ANTAGONIST

The main villain of “Oliver and Company” is Bill Sykes, a loan shark who has loaned money to Fagin and wants it paid back. He has his dogs attack Dodger, kidnaps Jenny when Fagin decided to just give Oliver back rather than ransom him and ends up dying during the rescue attempt when the cart, he’s in is hit by a train on the Brooklyn Bridge. That’s quite the story arc. The villain of “Ratatouille” is Chef Skinner. He is running Gusteau’s after the Gusteau has died and is running it into the ground. Once he learns Linguini is Gusteau’s son, he tries to stop him from taking over and he is constantly trying to find Remy. Eventually, he ends up getting Gusteau’s shut down when he calls for the health inspector to visit due to a rat problem. He’s ambitious and condescending, but Sykes is downright evil. Point to “Oliver and Company.”

Oliver and Company 1 | Ratatouille 1

3. SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

There are a lot of great supporting characters in both of these films. In “Oliver and Company,” Dodger, Tito and Georgette steal the show. In “Ratatouille,” the story between Linguini and Collette, the pretentiousness of Anton Ego, the ghost of Gusteau who encourages Remy to chase his dream, and the amazing crew of rats, led by Remy’s brother Emil are unbeatable in this battle. Point to “Ratatouille.”

Oliver and Company 1 | Ratatouille 2

4. MUSIC

“Oliver and Company” features a great song, “Why Should I Worry,” sung wonderfully by the incomparable Billy Joel. On top of that, the score goes a long way in making you feel like you are in the heart of a less than desirable section of a big city when you’re in Fagin’s and Dodger’s lair and it makes you feel like you are in an upscale part of the city once Jenny has adopted Oliver. It does its job, and it does it well. But the music in “Ratatouille” is just better. It really feels like Paris. It does more than just set the scene for the city; it also drives the story along better than the music in “Oliver and Company.” Point to “Ratatouille.”

Oliver and Company 1 | Ratatouille 3

5. MEMORABLE MOMENTS

This is the most subjective of these categories. For me, the memorable parts of “Oliver and Company” are “Why Should I Worry,” Tito getting zapped, Oliver meeting Georgette, Dodger “rescuing” Oliver and the final rescue of Jenny. As for “Ratatouille,” I find Gusteau, Remy controlling Linguini, Skinner’s attempts to find Linguini, the rats kidnapping the health inspector and Skinner, and Ego’s love for the ratatouille to be memorable. Point to “Ratatouille.”

Oliver and Company 1 | Ratatouille 4

So “Ratatouille” wins this battle, which isn’t surprising to me. “Ratatouille” is one of many Pixar films that’s still being talked about today while “Oliver and Company” seems to be one of the more forgotten Disney films. But I’m going to toss it over to you. Which of these films do you prefer?

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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