Revealed at the Walt Disney shareholders’ meeting last week, Brad Bird will take the creative reins of Pixar Animation Studios' RATATOUILLE. Developed in-house for several years, Oscar-winning short-film director Jan Pinkava (GERI'S GAME) was long attached to the project as its helmer, but officially no director has been chosen yet.

The story follows a skinny rodent who views himself a gourmand, living in a Parisian restaurant.

A sneak peek of the film was introduced by John Lasseter and shown to attendees at Friday's meeting.

RATATOUILLE is set for release June 29, 2007.