A Bug's Life (1998)

Directors:

John Lasseter
Andrew Stanton (co-director)

Writers:

John Lasseter (story) &
Andrew Stanton (story) ...

Release Date:

25 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Animation | Comedy | Adventure

Tagline:

An epic of miniature proportions.

Plot:

A misfit ant, looking for "warriors" to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.

Plot Keywords:

Ant | Grasshopper | Bug | Circus | Food

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Dave Foley	...	Flik (voice)
Kevin Spacey	...	Hopper (voice)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Atta (voice)
Hayden Panettiere	...	Dot (voice)
Phyllis Diller	...	Queen (voice)
Richard Kind	...	Molt (voice)
David Hyde Pierce	...	Slim (voice)
Joe Ranft	...	Heimlich (voice)
Denis Leary	...	Francis (voice)
Jonathan Harris	...	Manny (voice)
Madeline Kahn	...	Gypsy Moth (voice)
Bonnie Hunt	...	Rosie (voice)
Michael McShane	...	Tuck / Roll (voice)
John Ratzenberger	...	P.T. Flea (voice)
Brad Garrett	...	Dim (voice)

Also Known As:

Bugs (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Portugal:M/4 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Belgium:KT | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-8/5 | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:G | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G (certificate #36295)

Company:

Pixar Animation Studios

Trivia:

The restaurant at Bug City is a can of "Low Fat Lard".

Goofs:

Continuity: Flik couldn't reach the back of his invention when he tried to get a seed for Dot. Later, he is caught by a blade of grass and is flung backwards, and all the seeds fall out of his invention. Then we see him running toward the offering stone with his invention full of seeds. He couldn't have put them back in, because he can't reach his invention when it is on. How did the seeds get in there?

Quotes:

Manny: Utilizing psychic vibrations, I shall select the perfect volunteer.
Molt: Oh, oh, oh, oh! Pick me! Oh, oh! C'mon, I'm asking you with my brain.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#22.13)" (1999)

Amazing

Released right on top of ANTZ, it's a bit of a tossup between the two. Plots are quite different, as is the voice work. Dave Foley is no Woody Allen, but he's darned good as the hero of this epic comedy about saving the ant colony. Amazing CGI, and a nice followup to A TOY STORY with more expressive facial work. Better you should see both flicks, although I lean slightly in favor of ABL over ANTZ if only for the greater level of humor.