Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s, you probably have a very specific, high-pitched "Hee-hee-hee, hon-hon-hon!" burned into your brain. That’s the calling card of Chef Louis, the eccentric, cleaver-swinging madman from Disney’s 1989 classic The Little Mermaid.
He’s a weird one. On one hand, he’s a slapstick comedy goldmine who provides some of the best physical humor in the movie. On the other, he’s a literal nightmare for our favorite crab, Sebastian. He spends his entire screen time trying to murder, stuff, and sauté a member of the main cast. Yet, somehow, we don't hate him. We kind of love him.
Why? Because Chef Louis is the only person in Prince Eric’s castle who actually seems to be having a good time.
What Really Happened with Chef Louis and That Infamous Song
Most people remember "Les Poissons" as the catchy French ditty where a guy hacks up fish. If you look closer, it’s actually a pretty dark scene. Think about it. We just spent forty minutes learning that fish are people, too. They have dreams. They sing 80s-inspired calypso. Then, we meet Louis.
Louis doesn't see "people." He sees ingredients.
The song, performed with manic energy by the legendary René Auberjonois, is a masterpiece of character introduction. Louis isn't just a cook; he’s an artist who is deeply, perhaps pathologically, obsessed with his craft. He treats a fish carcass with the same reverence a sculptor treats marble. He pulls out the "entrails" and "bones" with a level of glee that would make a horror movie slasher blush.
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But here is the thing: Louis is the only character who presents a genuine, immediate threat to the "humanity" of the sea creatures. He represents the harsh reality of the food chain that King Triton warned Ariel about.
The René Auberjonois Connection
A lot of fans don't realize that the voice behind the mustache was a massive deal in the acting world. Before he was the shapeshifting Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, René Auberjonois was a Tony Award-winning Broadway star.
His performance as Chef Louis was almost entirely improvised in the booth. That iconic, wheezy laughter? That was René just leaning into the absurdity of a Frenchman who loves butter a little too much. It’s reported that he was so energetic during the recording that he actually lost his breath.
The Mystery of the Missing Chef in 2023
When the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid dropped in 2023, fans were divided. Some loved Halle Bailey's voice (rightfully so), but a huge chunk of the internet was asking: "Where is the chef?"
Chef Louis was completely cut from the 2023 movie. Director Rob Marshall explained that the "Les Poissons" sequence felt too "cartoonish" for a film trying to be grounded in realism. He wasn't wrong. Seeing a CGI crab get chased by a man with a giant knife while singing about disemboweling fish would have shifted the tone from "romantic fantasy" to "fever dream" pretty fast.
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Still, it felt like a missed opportunity for a fun cameo. Imagine if they’d cast someone like Jean Dujardin or even John Stamos (who played the role in the 2019 Live! TV special) for a quick scene. Instead, the kitchen sequence was replaced by more "meaningful" bonding time between Ariel and Eric. It’s better for the plot, sure, but it’s definitely less fun.
Is Chef Louis Actually a Villain?
This is a hot debate in Disney fandom. Technically, he’s an antagonist because he’s trying to kill Sebastian. But is he "evil" in the way Ursula is evil?
Not really.
Louis is just a guy doing his job. He’s the palace chef. Prince Eric likes fish. If Louis doesn't cook the fish, he gets fired. From his perspective, Sebastian isn't a "distinguished court composer"—he’s a runaway appetizer.
The Great Kitchen Battle
The fight in the kitchen is one of the best-animated sequences in the Disney Renaissance. It’s pure Chuck Jones-style slapstick.
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- Louis gets pinched on the nose.
- He hits himself with a mallet.
- He accidentally destroys his own workspace.
- He ends up looking like a total fool in front of Carlotta, the head maid.
In the end, Louis is the one who suffers. He loses his dignity, his kitchen, and in the final wedding scene, he even loses his teeth when Sebastian knocks him out. He’s a "villain" who gets punished way more than he actually deserves for just trying to make dinner.
Why We Still Talk About Him
Chef Louis matters because he adds a layer of "human world" grit to a story that’s otherwise very magical. He reminds us that the world Ariel wants to join is a bit dangerous and messy.
If you’re looking to revisit the character, skip the remake and head straight back to the 1989 original. Or, if you’re a real completionist, check out his appearances in The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea or the animated TV series. He’s always the same: obsessed, loud, and weirdly charming.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to bring a bit of that chaotic energy into your own life (minus the crab-chasing), you can actually find "Les Poissons" inspired recipes online—though most people recommend sticking to a simple bouillabaisse rather than anything that requires a cleaver and a song. For those who want to see the performance that started it all, look up the behind-the-scenes footage of René Auberjonois in the recording studio. It’s just as entertaining as the animation itself.