DVD An inventive ant named Flik hires a group of "warrior bugs" to defend his colony from a swarm of freeloading grasshoppers. When Flik's cavalry turns out to be nothing more than a group of circus performers, the stage is set for comic confusion and unlikely heroes.
Details
The story centres on an ant colony that is forced each year to gather food as an offering for a gang of bullying grasshoppers led by the menacing Hopper. When the well-meaning but clumsy Flik accidentally destroys the entire offering, he takes it upon himself to leave the colony and find a group of warrior bugs to defend them. The rest of the colony are only too happy to see him go, assuming he'll never return.
Flik soon encounters a troupe of down-on-their-luck circus performers who he mistakenly believes to be fearsome warriors after witnessing them accidentally fend off a group of flies. Hiring them to save the colony, both sides are blissfully unaware of the misunderstanding - the "warriors" think they've been booked for a performance, while Flik believes he's found an elite fighting force. Needless to say, things don't quite go according to plan.
Picture & Sound
This DVD boasts what was, at the time, a groundbreaking direct digital transfer, and it shows. The image is exceptionally clean and sharp, with colours that leap off the screen. Some scenes are so detailed that you could be forgiven for thinking you're looking at real environments rather than computer-generated imagery - the opening shot sweeping through the grass is particularly stunning.
The animation itself is nothing short of remarkable and easily outclasses its rival Antz. The level of detail is extraordinary, and it's quite believable that individual frames took hours upon hours to render. If ever there was a disc designed to sell DVD as a format, this is it. Video and Laserdisc simply can't compete with the clarity and vibrancy on display here.
Menu & Extras
In an impressive technical feat, the disc includes both widescreen and fullscreen versions of the film, with certain scenes re-rendered specifically for the fullscreen presentation rather than simply cropped - a nice touch. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is also put to excellent use, with the grasshopper swarms sweeping from rear to front and the bustling bug city scenes filled with lively ambient detail.
While the extras may appear limited at first glance, they are of excellent quality. The two sets of end-credit "outtakes" are genuinely hilarious (a concept later reused in Toy Story 2), and the inclusion of the Oscar-winning short Geri's Game is a real bonus. Fans may also recognise Geri as the toy repairman from Toy Story 2.
Overall
Pixar followed up Toy Story with another triumph, delivering a charming, funny and visually stunning film that works for both children and adults alike. The story may follow a familiar underdog formula, but it's told with such warmth and humour that it never feels tired.
What really sets A Bug's Life apart is its technical achievement. At the time, this was quite simply one of the most impressive examples of computer animation ever produced, and it still holds up remarkably well today. Combined with a strong voice cast and plenty of genuinely funny moments, it's easy to see why Pixar quickly became the benchmark for animated films.
As a DVD, this is just as impressive. Stunning picture quality, excellent sound and a handful of genuinely worthwhile extras make this an essential purchase - and a perfect demonstration disc for showing off what the format can do.
Special features
- Animated short 'Geri's Game'
- Two sets of 'Outtakes'
