Antz (1998)

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

Directors:

Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson

Writers:

Todd Alcott (screenplay), Chris Weitz (screenplay)

Stars:

Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Z (voice)
Dan Aykroyd	...	Chip (voice)
Anne Bancroft	...	Queen (voice)
Jane Curtin	...	Muffy (voice)
Danny Glover	...	Barbatus (voice)
Gene Hackman	...	Mandible (voice)
Jennifer Lopez	...	Azteca (voice)
John Mahoney	...	Drunk Scout (voice)
Paul Mazursky	...	Psychologist (voice)
Grant Shaud	...	Foreman (voice)
Sylvester Stallone	...	Weaver (voice)
Sharon Stone	...	Bala (voice)
Christopher Walken	...	Cutter (voice)
Jim Cummings	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jerry Sroka	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Storyline

In an anthill with millions of inhabitants, Z 4195 is a worker ant. Feeling insignificant in a conformity system, he accidentally meets beautiful Princess Bala, who has a similar problem on the other end of the social scale. In order to meet her again, Z switches sides with his soldier friend Weaver - only to become a hero in the course of events. By this he unwillingly crosses the sinister plans of ambitious General Mandible (Bala's fiancé, by the way), who wants to divide the ant society into a superior, strong race (soldiers) and an inferior, to-be-eliminated race (the workers). But Z and Bala, both unaware of the dangerous situation, try to leave the oppressive system by heading for Insectopia, a place where food paves the streets.

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Plot Keywords:

ant | anthropomorphic insect | good versus evil | profanity | princess | 

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Taglines:

Actual Size of the Next Big Star

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and menacing action

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ants

Box Office

Budget:

$105,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,195,160, 4 October 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$90,757,863

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$171,757,863

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks,Pacific Data Images (PDI),DreamWorks Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the motivational signs in the ant colony, "Free Time Is For Training", is a real motivational sign at PDI DreamWorks.

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Goofs

Water changes its scale at various times during the movie. Sometimes, it features surface tension consistent with the scale of the ants, then at others acts like water on the scale of humans (ie. the flood scene). The directors acknowledge this discrepancy.

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Quotes

Z: I guess you prefer old Blood and Guts, huh? His idea of a romantic date is two seats at a public execution. Boy, you sure chose the right husband.
Bala: For your information, the general and I are deeply, deeply in... in... engaged.

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Crazy Credits

A child's hand holding a magnifying glass brings into focus the tiny names of the cast.

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Alternate Versions

In 2008, Cartoon Network started broadcasting the film in an edited format, with all explicit language completely removed, despite airing it virtually uncut in 2004.

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Connections

References Annie Hall (1977)

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Soundtracks

Almost Like Being in Love
Performed by Woody Allen
Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

User Reviews

It's really for adults

This is not a kids movie. I hesitate to even call it a family movie. I think that an adult would get more out of the movie. It's about the structure of society and it also discusses the subject of war and it's quite a lot of death in the movie. It also explores individualism. The voice work is great but what else can you expect from Hollywood legends like Christopher Walken and Sylvester Stallone. The stand out being the great Gene Hackman as the villain. It is not a movie you should show your kid they will either be bored or confused. Many of the jokes will also go over the children's heads. But that doesn't mean this is a bad movie. It a very good movie smart and well-written. Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz and Todd Alcott has done a good job and Antz is well-made.But don't bother to show this movie to your kids and if your kids doesn't speak English or can't read subtitles really don't bother to showing this movie to your kids half of the fun comes from the celebrity voices.