The Unexpected Truth: 7 Shocking Facts About The Rat From Flushed Away (Including A Pop Star Connection)
The animated world of Flushed Away is experiencing a fresh wave of public fascination in late 2025, largely thanks to a surprising, recently confirmed piece of trivia about its main character, Roddy St. James. This Aardman/DreamWorks collaboration, which first hit theaters in 2006, introduced audiences to a surprisingly complex world beneath the streets of London, populated by an unforgettable cast of rodents, and the protagonist, a posh pet rat, is at the center of the renewed buzz.
As the film approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, fans are digging up new details and celebrating the unique blend of British wit and American CGI that defined this classic. From the sophisticated life of its hero in a Kensington apartment to the gritty, bustling sewer metropolis, here is a deep dive into the most compelling and current facts about the film's star, Roddy St. James, and the iconic rats of the London underground.
Roddy St. James: Full Character Biography & Profile
Roderick "Roddy" St. James is the central protagonist of the 2006 animated film Flushed Away. His journey from a sheltered life of luxury to a heroic adventure in the sewer system forms the core narrative.
- Full Name: Roderick "Roddy" St. James
- Species: Domestic Fancy Rat (Pet Rat)
- Residence: A luxurious penthouse apartment in Kensington, London (initially); eventually moves to the sewer with Rita Malone.
- Voice Actor: Hugh Jackman
- Personality: Initially snobbish, lonely, and overly fastidious. He is highly intelligent, musically talented (plays the piano), and resourceful, evolving into a brave, compassionate, and street-smart hero.
- Love Interest: Rita Malone, a working-class scavenger rat from the sewer.
- Antagonist: The Toad, whose plan Roddy inadvertently stumbles upon.
- Defining Trait: His privileged upbringing is contrasted sharply with the harsh reality of the sewer world, leading to his character development.
The Shocking Pop Star Inspiration Behind Roddy St. James
One of the most viral and surprising celebrity facts to emerge in recent years is the real-life inspiration for Roddy St. James. The character’s design and mannerisms were reportedly based on none other than Matty Healy, the frontman of the band The 1975.
This revelation came directly from Healy himself, who explained the connection through his family. Healy's mother, Denise Welch, had a close friend—a godfather to Healy—who was a producer on the DreamWorks film. This producer, Ian La Frenais, reportedly used Matty Healy's distinct look and somewhat posh, slightly awkward demeanor as a key reference point for the character design of the pampered Kensington rat. The news caused a stir on social media, with fans immediately drawing comparisons between the animated rat and the British singer's youthful appearance and fashion sense.
The fact that Roddy, voiced by the Australian Hugh Jackman, was visually inspired by a prominent British pop-rock figure adds a unique layer of topical authority to the film's production history. This blend of A-list voice talent and real-life celebrity inspiration is a testament to the detailed character development undertaken by Aardman Animations.
The Rats of the London Sewer: A Cast of Unforgettable Entities
While Roddy is the main character, the film's lasting appeal is built on its diverse ensemble of sewer-dwelling rodents and other creatures. These characters provide the necessary conflict, comedy, and heart to Roddy's journey. Incorporating these entities is crucial for a complete understanding of the Flushed Away universe.
Rita Malone: The Deuteragonist and Scavenger
Rita Malone (voiced by Kate Winslet) is the true heart of the sewer world. She is a tough, quick-witted, and highly capable scavenger rat who captains her own boat, the Jammy Dodger. Rita is fiercely loyal to her large family and is on a mission to retrieve a valuable ruby, which is the catalyst for her meeting with Roddy. Her working-class, street-smart personality provides the perfect foil to Roddy's upper-class naiveté, leading to a classic romantic-comedy dynamic.
Spike and Whitey: The Incompetent Henchmen
The two main rat antagonists, Spike and Whitey, serve as the bumbling henchmen of the villainous Toad. Spike (voiced by Andy Serkis) is the sharp-witted, more vicious of the pair, often frustrated by Whitey’s dim-witted nature. Whitey (voiced by Bill Nighy) is the large, albino rat who is surprisingly sympathetic and less cruel, yet easily manipulated. Their comedic incompetence, a hallmark of Aardman's style, drives much of the film's slapstick humor.
Sid: The Sewer Pest
The character who sets the entire plot in motion is Sid (voiced by Shane Richie), the overweight, lazy sewer rat who invades Roddy’s Kensington flat. Sid's sole intention is to enjoy Roddy's life of luxury, leading Roddy to attempt to "flush" him—only to be flushed himself. Sid is a minor character but an essential plot device, representing the chaotic, unrefined world Roddy is trying to escape.
The Technical Marvel: CGI Meets Claymation
Flushed Away is a landmark film in animation history, not just for its story but for its unique technical execution. It was the first fully CGI-animated film from Aardman Animations, the studio famous for stop-motion classics like Wallace and Gromit. The production was a collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, and the creative challenge was immense.
The goal was to retain the signature "Aardman look"—the distinctive, hand-crafted, slightly squash-and-stretch aesthetic of claymation—but in a computer-generated environment. This was done by painstakingly designing the CGI models to mimic the imperfections and textures of plasticine. The rats' designs, in particular, feature the exaggerated mouths and expressive eyes common in Aardman's stop-motion work. The decision to use CGI was driven by the complex water effects required for a story set in a sewer, which would have been prohibitively difficult and time-consuming in traditional claymation. This technical compromise, though leading to a split between Aardman and DreamWorks later on, resulted in a visually unique film that stands out in the animated landscape.
Anticipating the 20th Anniversary Buzz (2026)
With the film's 20th anniversary on the horizon in 2026, anticipation is growing among animation fans. While no official sequel or reboot has been announced, the milestone is expected to reignite discussion about the film's legacy, its unique animation style, and the stellar voice cast. The Matty Healy connection, being a recent and highly publicized piece of trivia, ensures that the film and its central rat character, Roddy St. James, will remain a popular topic in the lead-up to the anniversary, guaranteeing its place in pop culture discussions for years to come.
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