In Oswalt's mind, what sets Pixar apart from other studios is that it uses the classic Disney model, which is "take your time, put all the money back into the company, and make sure that everything you do is unique and solid."

AF: I live about two blocks from Andalou.

PO: Have you eaten there?

AF: Not yet...

PO: You should go! It's great food, and it's really cheap to eat there, with all the little plates. For five or six bucks apiece, you get a table full of food, and you don't spend a lot but you'll look like a big shot... oh, it's the best!

AF: Thanks for the tip. So... what sets Pixar apart from the other studios where you've worked for in the past?

PO: I think the fact that they are using the classic Disney model, which is the "take your time, put all the money that you've earned back into the company, and make sure that everything you do is completely unique and solid, and unlike anything that you've put out there before" model. They take constant right turns, and make big leaps forward with every picture, as far as knowledge, art, storytelling. Also, the other crucial thing about Pixar is they really invest in someone's dream and obsession. There are movies that people are working on there that have been in production for years, because, instead of cranking out two or three mediocre movies a year, they'll wait five or six years to make sure that something really different and new comes out of it.

AF: I know that Brad Bird, for example, doesn't have that many feature films to his credit, but the ones he's done are amazing. Iron Giant and The Incredibles are two of my all-time favorite animated features.

PO: Exactly. He wants a "body of work." He wants to look back and say, "Look what I did." He's not in a hurry about it, either, which I think is great.

AF: Can you tell me a little bit about the character you're voicing in his upcoming movie Ratatouille?

PO: Sure. Remy's basically a rat version of me, and my obsession with chefs and food. Except that he's somehow managed to be slimmer. Maybe that's because he doesn't gorge himself like I do. (Laughs.) He'll hold out for the good stuff.

AF: And you haven't seen very much of the film yet?

PO: No... I've seen a few scenes, but that's it. But I've seen stuff like the pencils, and the storyboards, and stuff like that. They really take their time with these things.

Oswalt found Brad Bird very openly obsessed with making Ratatouille perfect, which links into the movie; Remy wants everything to be perfect.

AF: I've heard that they're going to be putting in a lot of long hours over the next few months with all of the finishing touches and all of the editing...

PO: Oh, yeah. Brad Bird's very openly obsessed with making it perfect. Which kind of links into the movie. That's what it's about. Remy wants everything to be perfect.

AF: Was there any pressure on you with this role? Pixar's had a lot of really great voice actors over the years -- Tom Hanks, Albert Brooks, Paul Newman...

PO: There's not just pressure as far as that's concerned, but I'm also concerned about whether my voice will live up to the art, and the animation, and the directing that's being done for this movie. I don't want people to watch the movie and go, "That voice was lame." It links you to the whole thing exponentially.

AF: You don't want to be the Jar-Jar Binks of this movie.

PO: Oh, god, don't say that. Please, please, don't say that. (Laughs.) Oh, god, I don't wanna be Jar-Jar Binks. (Laughs.)

AF: I just want to say that you've got a lovely speaking voice, and I'm sure that it will carry over into the film.

PO: (affecting deep voice) Why, thank you. I think that's true, myself. (Laughs.)

AF: Did you get along well with your co-stars? Any interesting stories about them?

PO: I actually haven't met any of them. You're in a booth alone most of the time, and I haven't done scenes with any other people yet. (Pause.) I've met Pete Sohn, who plays my brother, Emile. He's great. He's one of the animators, so I've gotten to work with him.

AF: And the recording's all done on-site, at the studio in Emeryville, with the actors all coming in separately...

PO: Uh-huh.

AF: And is that typical in voice acting?

PO: It usually is. Very rarely will you get to do things together. I've gotten to do, maybe a SpongeBob SquarePants and a Batman where we got to bounce back and forth, but for the most part, you're by yourself.

AF: I just got the "wrap it up" signal... Do you have any parting words?

PO: (Pause.) Oh man, I hate parting words. They always sound so cheesy. Um... "I'm as excited to see this movie as you guys are to be reading this." How's that?

AF: Works for me.

Andrew Farago is the gallery manager/curator of San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum, and is the creator of the webcomic The Chronicles of William Bazillion.