In the Pixar film Ratatouille, the protagonist Remy makes the conscious decision to walk on his hind legs primarily for hygienic reasons. Unlike his brother Emile or his father Django, who walk on all fours, Remy is obsessed with the culinary arts and views his front paws as his "cooking tools." He believes that if he walks on all four paws like a typical rat, he will contaminate his hands with the dirt, grime, and waste found on the floor, which would then be transferred to the food he prepares. This behavioral quirk serves as a visual shorthand for the audience to show that Remy is "different" from his colony—he is more evolved, fastidious, and "human-like" in his aspirations. This artistic choice also makes him more expressive and relatable as a character, allowing him to use his front paws for complex gestures, delicate seasoning, and the puppet-like control of Linguini. It highlights the film's central theme that "anyone can cook" by showing a creature who literally goes against his own biological nature to pursue a cleaner, more refined passion.