Antz

1998 Comedy

DreamWorks and Pacific Data Images collaborated on this all computer-animated comedy-adventure about the ant angst of misfit worker ant, Z (voice of Woody Allen), who feels trapped by the conformist confines of his totalitarian ant civilization and eventually sets forth in search of Insectopia. After DreamWorks began animating Prince of Egypt June 1, 1995, the company launched Antz in Palo Alto a year later (5/20/96), the same month the DreamWorks/PDI partnership was announced. The screenplay by Chris and Paul Weitz and Todd Alcott has uncredited input by Woody Allen (who matched dialogue to fit his usual style of verbal delivery). The story suggests the possible influence of Yevgeny Zamatin's classic novel We (1923) and Ayn Rand's similar-themed Anthem (1936), filmed in the early '70s in a rarely seen unauthorized film adaptation (which Rand never allowed to be shown commercially). Following the 1995 Toy Story (1995), Antz is the second fully computer-animated feature, preceding the release of Disney's all-CGI A Bug's Life by seven weeks. Antz begins with worker ant Z discussing his feelings of insignificance with a shrink (voice of Paul Mazursky) before heading off to his tunnel-digging job, work supervised by General Mandible (Gene Hackman) and Colonel Cutter (Christopher Walken). Mandible has big dreams of conquest, and he convinces the Queen (Anne Bancroft) an attack is necessary to prevent a termite invasion. Her daughter is Princess Bala (Sharon Stone), who's not overly enchanted by her engagement to Mandible. The Princess goes slumming, visiting the bar where Z hangs out with his friend Weaver (Sylvester Stallone). To the tune of "Guantanamera," Bala dances with Z -- in a scene with allusions to the dance in Pulp Fiction (1994). Entranced by the encounter, Z convinces Weaver to swap places, so a military parade will allow him to see Bala in the reviewing stand. Befriended by soldier ant Barbatus (Danny Glover) during the parade, Z nervously realizes he's actually marching into battle. Attacked by termites, the troops experience horrors highly reminiscent of the Starship Troopers (1997) bug battles. The dying Barbatus tells Z, "Don't follow orders all your life." As the only survivor of the slaughter, Z returns home a war hero. Threatened by Mandible, Bala and Z are thrown together in a journey into the outside world, and they travel toward the legendary Insectopia. Major city newspaper critics were almost unanimous in their praise of Antz. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. more..

Director: Eric Darnell

Starring: Woody Allen, Sharon Stone,Sylvester Stallone, Gene Hackman, Christopher Walken

Reviews

  • Sophisticated, funny, and joyously subversive animated bug epic.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

  • It's sharp and funny--not a children's movie, but one of those hybrids that works on different levels for different ages.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

  • Sorry, stinging fire ants couldn't make me reveal the outcome of this witty and, yes, surprisingly suspenseful adventure.

    Michael O'Sullivan - The Washington Post

    29 November 2012

  • Refreshingly naughty and nice.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    29 November 2012

  • A humongous animation event that ratchets up the level of the computer art that Hollywood is swooning over these days.

    Peter Stack - The San Francisco Chronicle

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1999)

  • Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production

    Annie Awards (1999)

     
  • Best Special Effects

    BAFTA Awards (1999)

     
  • Harry Gregson-Williams

    BMI Film & TV Awards (1999)

  • Best Sound Editing - Music - Animated Feature

    Motion Picture Sound Editors (1999)