The New Needs Friends (Ratatouille Anton Ego Speech)

 

“Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great.” — Ratatouille

Innovation often faces skepticism, but it’s the lifeblood of progress.

This article explores a powerful scene from Ratatouille, where a critic learns to embrace the unexpected.

It challenges us to support new ideas and talent, reminding us that greatness can emerge from anywhere.

By becoming “friends of the new,” we inspire creativity and push boundaries in ways that can transform our world.

Being a Critic is Easy, the New Needs Friends

“Being a Critic is Easy, the New Needs Friends” encapsulates two key ideas:

1. “Being a Critic is Easy” suggests that it’s relatively simple to judge or criticize others’ work. Critics often face little personal risk when offering opinions on others’ efforts.
2. “The New Needs Friends” emphasizes that novel ideas, innovations, or creations often require support and advocacy. New concepts can be met with skepticism or resistance, so they need people willing to champion and defend them.

This phrase implies that while criticism is commonplace, the more valuable and challenging role is to recognize, support, and nurture new ideas or talents.

It encourages us to be open-minded and supportive of innovation, rather than defaulting to criticism.

Scene from Ratatouille – The New Needs Friends

Here is a powerful scene from Ratatouille that reminds us how the job of the critic is easy, and that the new needs friends:

The New Needs Friends Speech

Here is the famous Anton Ego speech:

“At first, Ego thinks it’s a joke, but as Linguini explains, Ego’s smile disappears.

He doesn’t react beyond asking an occasional question.

And when the story is done, Ego stands, thanks us for the meal, and leaves without another word.

The following day, his review appears.

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy.

We risk very little, yet enjoy a position of those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgement.

We thrive on negative criticism.

Which is fun to write and to read.

But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk, is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.

But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new.

The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations.

The new needs friends.

Last night I experienced something new.

An extraordinary meal, from a singularly unexpected source.

To say that both the meal and its maker challenged my preconceived conceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement.

They have rocked me to my core.

In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto:

“Anyone can cook.”

But I realize only now, I truly understand what he meant.

Not everyone can become a great artist.

But a great artist can come from anywhere.

It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France.

I would be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more.

It was a great night.”

What This Scene About the New Needs Friends Teaches Us About Innovation

The scene from Ratatouille, where critic Anton Ego reflects on his role, offers profound insights into the nature of criticism and creativity.

• Ego acknowledges that being a critic is often easy because it involves little personal risk.
• Critics can comfortably judge others’ work without facing the vulnerability of creating something new themselves.
• Negative criticism, in particular, is easy to produce and can be entertaining to write and read, but it doesn’t necessarily contribute positively to the world.  However, Ego also points out that the true challenge for critics—and indeed for anyone—is in recognizing and supporting new talent and innovation.
• New ideas and creations often face harsh scrutiny and resistance, making it crucial for critics and the public to become “friends of the new.”  This means being open-minded and willing to appreciate and defend fresh perspectives, even when they come from unexpected sources.  In the case of Ratatouille, Ego experiences a transformative moment when he tastes a dish prepared by the protagonist, Remy, a rat.
• This meal challenges his preconceived notions about cooking and talent, leading him to a deeper understanding of Chef Gusteau’s motto, “Anyone can cook.”  Ego realizes that while not everyone may become a great artist, great artists can indeed come from anywhere, even from the most humble beginnings.
• This scene reminds us of the importance of empathy and openness in criticism.  It challenges us to not just critique but also celebrate and nurture new talent and ideas, recognizing that they can offer meaningful contributions to culture and society.

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