Antz (1998)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Eric Darnell
Tim Johnson

Writers:

Todd Alcott (writer) &
Chris Weitz (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Every ant has his day.

Plot:

A rather neurotic ant tries to break from his totalitarian society while trying to win the affection of the princess he loves.

Plot Keywords:

Ant | Princess | Worker | Love | Individuality

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Z (voice)
Dan Aykroyd	...	Chip (voice)
Anne Bancroft	...	Queen (voice)
Jane Curtin	...	Muffy (voice)
Danny Glover	...	Barbatus (voice)
Gene Hackman	...	General Mandible (voice)
Jennifer Lopez	...	Azteca (voice)
John Mahoney	...	Grebs / Drunk Scout / Additional Voices (voice)
Paul Mazursky	...	Psychologist (voice)
Grant Shaud	...	Foreman (voice)
Sylvester Stallone	...	Weaver (voice)
Sharon Stone	...	Princess Bala (voice)
Christopher Walken	...	Colonel Cutter (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Additional Voices (voice)
April Winchell	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jerry Sroka	...	Bartender / Additional Voices (voice)

Directed by
Eric Darnell
Tim Johnson

Writing credits
Todd Alcott		(writer) &
Chris Weitz		(writer) &
Paul Weitz		(writer)

Produced by
Penney Finkelman Cox	....	executive producer
Brad Lewis	....	producer
Sandra Rabins	....	executive producer
Carl Rosendahl	....	executive producer
Aron Warner	....	producer
Patty Wooton	....	producer

Original Music by
Harry Gregson-Williams
John Powell

Film Editing by
Stan Webb

Casting by
Leslee Feldman

Production Design by
John Bell

Art Direction by
Kendal Cronkhite

Production Management
Patty Bonfilio	....	production manager
Denise Nolan Cascino	....	production supervisor
Erica Frauman	....	post-production supervisor
Jane Hartwell	....	production manager
Denise Minter	....	production manager

Art Department
Guillaume Aretos	....	concept artist
Damon Bard	....	sculptor
Cliff Boulé	....	artist in visual development
Mike Cachuela	....	storyboard artist
Randy Cartwright	....	storyboard supervisor
Peter Chan	....	concept artist
Mary Grandpré	....	artist
Steve Hickner	....	additional storyboard artist
Shannon Jeffries	....	illustrator
Robert Koo	....	storyboard artist
Cecile Picard	....	artist: character modeling unit
Simon Wells	....	storyboard artist
Catherine Yuh	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Bruce Balestier	....	sound transferer
Mark Coffey	....	sound transferer
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist
Avram D. Gold	....	supervising dialogue editor
Elliott Koretz	....	supervising sound editor (as Elliott L. Koretz)
Gregg Landaker	....	sound mixer
Steve Lee	....	sound effects wrangler
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist
Eric Lindemann	....	sound editor
Steve Maslow	....	sound mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Steve Orchard	....	percussion recordist
Sonny Pettijohn	....	assistant sound editor
John Pospisil	....	special sound effects
Bruno Roussel	....	assistant sound engineer
Gregg Silk	....	assistant sound engineer
Carlos Sotolongo	....	original dialog mixer
Ralph Stuart	....	first assistant sound editor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	sound

Special Effects by
Rahul Chandrakant Thakkar	....	research and development

Visual Effects by
Steven Albert	....	digital matte painter
Lisa Atkinson	....	lighting production supervisor
Damon Bard	....	sculptor
Ken Bielenberg	....	visual effects supervisor
James Buckhouse	....	rough layout
Michael A. Chang	....	systems administration: PDI
Webster Colcord	....	animator
Michael Collery	....	digital matte painting supervisor
Rhett Collier	....	effects animator
Bart Coughlin	....	character technical director
Sean Curran	....	directing animator
Sumit Das	....	research and development
Brian Deans-Rowe	....	modeler
David 'Grue' Debry	....	senior technical director: lighting
Alain De Hoe	....	effects animator
David Doepp	....	surfacing artist
Sylvain Doreau	....	senior previz artist
Thomas Esmeralda	....	additional digital matte painter
Dado Feigenblatt	....	technical director
Sautai Fred	....	lead lighter
Jennifer Freeman	....	visual effects coordinator
David Gainey	....	character animator: PDI
Jonathan Gibbs	....	visual effects lead
Sue Gleadhill	....	layout artist
Philippe Gluckman	....	visual effects co-supervisor
Keith Gorham	....	matte painting technical director (as Keith Goreham)
Chad Greene	....	lighting and texturing
Jonah Hall	....	digital effects artist
John Hanashiro	....	lead film/color technician
Susan Hayden	....	lighter
Matt Head	....	visual effects
Collin Hennen	....	animator
Mel Kangleon	....	render wrangler
Steven Kirchner	....	digital artist
Lee Lanier	....	digital artist
Ed Lazor	....	digital artist
Gerald McAleece III	....	render wrangler
David B. Mooy	....	digital modeler
Tony Morrill	....	digital artist
Shawn Neely	....	software development
Joe Palrang	....	lead lighter
Brice Parker	....	film recordist: PDI
Matthew Paulson	....	modeler
Peter Plevritis	....	digital effects artist
Sean Pollack	....	lighting & layout technical directort
Bert Poole	....	technical director
Craig Ring	....	lighting supervisor
John 'JR' Robeck	....	visual effects associate production supervisor
Milton E. Rodriguez-Rios	....	lighter
Bill Seneshen	....	senior visual effects animator
Apurva Shah	....	visual effects lead
Scott Singer	....	effects lead
Marty Sixkiller	....	layout technical director
Simon J. Smith	....	head of layout
Stephen Sobisky	....	3D modeling producer
Alan Sonneman	....	digital matte painter
Curt Stewart	....	lighter
Mark Sullivan	....	additional digital matte painter
Erdem Taylan	....	visual effects
Michael Thompson	....	systems administration
Melissa Tseng	....	layout
Carlos A. Vidal	....	technical director: PDI
Joshua Wachman	....	visual effects: animator
Nick Walker	....	digital artist: modeling department
Michael C. Walling	....	render wrangler
Bob Whitehill	....	layout artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean M. Cunningham	....	lighting supervisor
Janet Rentel	....	lighting supervisor
Paul Wang	....	lighting supervisor
Carter Tomassi	....	animation camera operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Larry Bafia	....	animator
Tim Cheung	....	animator
Denis Couchon	....	directing animator
Sean Curran	....	directing animator
Donnachada Daly	....	directing animator
Raffaella Filipponi	....	animator
Rex Grignon	....	supervising animator
Todd Heapy	....	layout artist
Raman Hui	....	character designer
Raman Hui	....	supervising animator
Steve Keele	....	animator
Tim Keon	....	animator
Boris Kossmehl	....	animator
Judy Kriger	....	animator
Todd Kurosawa	....	additional story artist
Eric Lessard	....	animator
H.B. 'Buck' Lewis	....	character designer
Noel McGinn	....	animator
Fredrik Nilsson	....	character animator
Bertrand Ong	....	layout artist
Jason Reisig	....	animator
Tom Sito	....	story artist
David Spivack	....	animator
Triva von Klark	....	animation production supervisor

Casting Department
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting

Editorial Department
Steve Bloom	....	second film editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Terry Claborn	....	color timer
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Lorelei David	....	assistant film editor
Sven E. Fahlgren	....	post-production coordinator
Devon Miller	....	first assistant editor
Ingrid Schulz	....	assistant editor
Chris Clancy	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Ryeland Allison	....	musician: percussion loops
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Bob Daspit	....	musician: percussion loops
Tonia Davall	....	orchestra contractor (as Tonia Duvall)
Marcy Dicterow-Vaj	....	orchestrator
Elizabeth Finch	....	orchestrator
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator (as Bruce L. Fowler)
Steven Fowler	....	orchestrator
Walt Fowler	....	orchestrator
Gavin Greenaway	....	composer: additional music
Gavin Greenaway	....	conductor
Rupert Gregson-Williams	....	conductor: choir
Brian Gulland	....	musician: crumhorn
Todd Homme	....	executive in charge of music
Steve Jablonsky	....	composer: additional music
Steve Jablonsky	....	music assistant
Marylata E. Jacob	....	executive in charge of music (as Marylata Jacob)
Louis Jardim	....	musician: percussion
Skaila Kanga	....	musician: harp
Chris Lawrence	....	musician: solo bass
Oren Marshall	....	musician: elphant and antelope horns
Ladd McIntosh	....	orchestrator (as Ladd MacIntosh)
Alan Meyerson	....	score mixer
Perry Montague Mason	....	orchestra leader
Yvonne S. Moriarty	....	orchestrator
Jennifer Nash	....	music editor
Brian Richards	....	music editor
Frank Ricotti	....	musician: bass marimba
Maggie Rodford	....	music coordinator
Adam Milo Smalley	....	supervising music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Jack Smalley	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Snowden	....	musician: flute soloist
Tony Stanton	....	music copyist
Phil Todd	....	musician: sax soloist
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	music editor: temp music
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist
Geoff Zanelli	....	composer: additional music
Geoff Zanelli	....	music assistant
Hans Zimmer	....	executive music producer

Other crew
Kenny Andrews	....	voices: "Antz Go Marching"
George Bruder	....	supervising technical director
Jennifer Dahlman	....	production coordinator
Marcos D'Cruze	....	voices: "Antz Go Marching"
Michael Dmitri	....	voices: "Antz Go Marching"
Anthony Domingo	....	hardware engineer
Anthony Domingo	....	production supporter
Ted Elliott	....	creative consultant
Ted Elliott	....	story consultant
Anne Fletcher	....	assistant choreographer (as Ann Fletcher)
Nik Gervae	....	technical writer
Lawrence Guterman	....	director: additional sequences
Denise Howard	....	system programmer
Tripp Hudson	....	production supervisor
Jack Jackson	....	assistant: Mr. Wollage
Lauri Johnson	....	adr voice
Patrick Kenney	....	senior recruiter
Lawrence Kesteloot	....	software developer
Janet Mooney	....	wasp voices
Moanike'ala Nakamoto	....	assistant: Hans Zimmer
Matt Palmer	....	assistant: Mr. Orchand
Zak Penn	....	story consultant
Stacy Rentel	....	production coordinator: lighting
Terry Rossio	....	creative consultant
Terry Rossio	....	story consultant
Eric Salituro	....	lead technical director
Adam Shankman	....	choreographer
Rahul Thakkar	....	research and development
Nicole Tibbles	....	wasp voices
Wendy Vogt	....	additional writer
Gary L. Wohlleben	....	production controller

Thanks
Bob Badami	....	special thanks
Wendy Crewson	....	special thanks
Nina Jacobson	....	with gratitude to
Michael Kahn	....	special thanks
Philip LaZebnik	....	special thanks (as Phil LaZebnik)
Jennifer Nash	....	special thanks
Brad Reinke	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG
• Pacific Data Images (PDI)

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1999) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1999) (Sweden) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Video I/S (1999) (Denmark) (VHS)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Red Feather Photoplays
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pacific Data Images (PDI)
• Viewpoint Datalabs International (3D character and environment digitizing and modeling)

Other Companies

• Air-Edel Associates  music co-ordination (as Air Edel & Associates)
• Angel Records  soundtrack
• Barbara Harris Casting  loop group
• Leigh French's Custom Looping  loop group
• Loop Ease  loop group
• Management Graphics Inc.  film recording equipment
• Media Ventures  music production services
• Monaco Laboratories  film processing (as Monaco Labs)
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering
• Technicolor  prints
• Viewpoint Datalabs International  3-D character and environment digitizing and modeling

Also Known As:

Ants (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and menacing action.

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Norway:7 | Canada:G (Alberta/Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:PG | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #36210)

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally offered the part of Weaver. When Schwarzenegger wanted to be paid for the role, it went to Sylvester Stallone who was willing to do it for free.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Z and Barbatus are standing side by side in formation. The platoon then executes a right face and Barbatus encourages Z to move up putting him side by side with Barbatus again. While this is convenient for conversation, it wouldn't have worked because whomever had been in front of Barbatus in formation would now be in that spot.

Quotes:

Z: Handling dirt is... ugh... is *not* my idea of a rewarding career.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Just a Minute: (#4.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Almost Like Being in Love

so lifelike, so didactic

It's probably the first time Woody Allen is so much like himself when he isn't at all. Ant Z, a neurotic, fatalistic, depressive, sorry ant with a record low level of self-esteem transforms into a (part-time) content, revolutionary hero of his utterly totalitarian and fascistic colony ever imaginable. Apart from the incredibly precise animation and "logical" fantasy, one feels a bit distracted with the subliminal messages the picture tries to impose. While it would be easy to reduce the moral to the frequently recited motto: "think for yourself once!", there are too many of them to ignore. This definitely is not a kid's flick, it is meant for and appreciated by adults, with many philosophical, psychological and social references and conflicts. One big "bravo!" to Dreamworks. I think they have achieved the point where adults can actually enjoy animation movies while believing the whole stuff. These insects are surely going to bite some Disney bugs.