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This is part 7 of my Pixar review series. Today I'm talking about their 2nd feature film, 1998's adventure-comedy
A Bug's Life. This film involves a colony of ants that lug grains for grasshoppers to eat. Unfortunately, an ant named Flik, who creates life-hack inventions, accidentally drops the grain supply leaf, therefore causing the villainous grasshoppers to get mad and therefore the ants need to get more grains, and so, the ants have a limited time to get more for them, and there is only a small amount of grains left. Flik is accused of the loss of grains, and as such, gets given a challenge, to find some tough bugs in the city to help fend off the grasshopper clan. Unbeknownst to Flik, he acquired a group of circus bugs. When the bugs fly back to the anthill, a bird comes and tries to attack 'em. But, this also is foreshadowing a later event. The princess of the colony notices something weird about the bugs that Flik brought, and thinks that they aren't fit for a battle. But Flik thinks he got the perfect group. Later on, during a ceremony, the bugs say that they aren't fit for a war like that. But they are still there for entertainment. Flik then comes up with Plan B, a huge bird that would scare the bajeebus out of the grasshoppers, led by Flik and the young girls of the Girl Scout-esque troop of the ant tribe. Unfortunately for the ants, the bird catches fire from a lightning strike. The grasshoppers catch note, and the leader of the baddies unleashes his inner Makarov from Call of Duty by senselessly beating Flik while ranting about his uselessness.
But the circus ants make a big show for the grasshoppers, who feel the entertainment is enough, since they've got grains at home.
Overall, the animation is slightly better than Toy Story, with realistic bump mapping and sheen effects. I'd give the score a listen as well! The main motif is like a victorious and determined war theme that fits the plot like a nitrile glove on the hand of a doctor.
9/10
