A Bug's Life

from Deconstructing Disney · host Erin Casey Westin, Rachel Casey

Episode SummaryDespite competing with a similar insect-themed offering from DreamWorks, Pixar’s sophomore feature film, A Bug’s Life (1998), earned positive reviews at the box office and solidified the reputation of the animation studio. Although misogyny, racism, and fatphobia are sprinkled throughout, Rachel eagerly celebrates this movie as a depiction of Marxist class revolution; Erin is less enthusiastic. Episode BibliographyAntz. (n.d.). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120587/?ref_=bo_se_r_1Bansinath, B. (2022, November 16). All of the Allegations Against Kevin Spacey. The Cut. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.thecut.com/article/all-of-the-allegations-against-actor-kevin-spacey.htmlBrew, S. (2016, March 24). Widescreen, pan and scan, and the slow rise of letterboxing. Den of Geek. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/widescreen-pan-and-scan-and-the-slow-rise-of-letterboxing/Brown, A. (2012, June 12). Ants. Why Did It Have To Be Ants?: A Bug's Life. Tor.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.tor.com/2012/06/12/ants-why-did-it-have-to-be-ants-a-bugs-life/A Bug's Life. (n.d.). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2420737537/A Bug's Life. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bug%27s_Life#cite_note-PixarTouch01-6A Bug's Life (1998) - Full Cast & Crew. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120623/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_smBurrows, P. (1998, November 12). ANTZ VS. BUGS: The inside story of how Dreamworks beat Pixar to the screen. Business Week. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/19991128083348/http://www.businessweek.com/1998/47/b3605013.htmBurrows, P. (1998, November 13). STEVE JOBS, MOVIE MOGUL: Can he build Pixar into a major studio? Business Week. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://web.archive.org/web/19991128070945/http://www.businessweek.com/1998/47/b3605001.htmCarlson, W. E. (2017). 6.7 Pacific Data Images (PDI) – Computer Graphics and Computer Animation: A Retrospective Overview. The Ohio State University Pressbooks. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/graphicshistory/chapter/6-7-pacific-data-images-pdi/Caruso, S. (2022, October 6). A Timeline of Kevin Spacey's Controversies, as He Faces Sexual Assault Trial in New York City. People. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://people.com/tv/kevin-spacey-controversy-timeline/Clinton, P. (1998, November 20). Review: 'A Bug's Life' hits a bulls-eye. CNN. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9811/20/review.bugs.life/Corliss, R. (1998, November 30). Cinema: Bugs Funny. TIME.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,989666,00.htmlCuenca-Orellana, N., & López-Heredia, P. (2020). Male and female workers: Gender treatment through Pixar’s films. index.comunicación, 10(1), 97-123. Davis, S. (1998, October 2). Animated Film Directors Bring Insects to Life. The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 21, 2023, from https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1998/10/02/animated-film-directors-bring-insects-to-life/62267152007/Ebert, R. (1998, November 25). A Bug's Life movie review & film summary (1998). Roger Ebert. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-bugs-life-1998Failes, I. (2017, November 25). 'Geri's Game' Turns 20: Director Jan Pinkava Reflects On The Game-Changing Pixar Short. Cartoon Brew. Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cgi/geris-game-turns-20-director-jan-pinkava-reflects-game-changing-pixar-short-154646.htmlGleiberman, O. (1998, November 20). A Bug's Life | EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://ew.com/article/1998/11/20/bugs-life/Gomez, P. (2020, May 26). A Bug's Life is the technological marvel Pixar left behind. The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.avclub.com/a-bug-s-life-is-the-technological-marvel-pixar-left-beh-1843575964Grebey, J. (2018, November 24). Why A Bug's Life Is an Underrated Pixar Classic. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/why-a-bugs-life-is-an-underrated-pixar-classicHunter, S. (1998, November 25). 'A Bug's Life' (G). The Washington Post. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/reviews/bugslifehunter.htmIverson, J. (1999, February 14). A Bug's Life Becomes First All-Digital DVD Release. Sound & Vision. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.soundandvision.com/content/ia-bugs-lifei-becomes-first-all-digital-dvd-releaseJulie, & T.J. (2013, January 31). A Bug's Life - Director's Commentary Review. Pixar Post. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://pixarpost.com/2013/01/a-bugs-life-directors-commentary-review.htmlKing, S. (1999, April 22). A New Look for 'Bug'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-22-ca-29763-story.htmlLasseter, J., & Stanton, A. (Directors). (1998). A Bug’s Life [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures. Marshall, A. (2022, November 16). Kevin Spacey Faces New Sexual Assault Charges in U.K. The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/arts/uk-kevin-spacey-sexual-assault-charges.htmlMcCarthy, T. (1998, November 29). A Bug's Life. Variety. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/a-bug-s-life-1200455803/Mulder, C. P. (2013). It’s the time of your life: Marxism in animated films. Rethinking Marxism: A Journal of Economics, Culture & Society, 25(2), 284-292. DOI: 10.1080/08935696.2012.696806Murray, R. L., & Heumann, J. K. (2011). That’s all folks? Ecocritical readings of American animated features. Nebraska. Ness, M. (2017, February 23). Insects and Corporate Infighting: A Bug's Life. Tor.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.tor.com/2017/02/23/insects-and-corporate-infighting-a-bugs-life/Pixar. (2016, October 13). Filmmakers Round Table | A Bug's Life | Disney•Pixar. YouTube. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKWKasuMXtkPixar. (2023). Translucency and Subsurface Scattering. Pixar's RenderMan. Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://renderman.pixar.com/resources/RenderMan_20/subsurface.htmlPixar Animation Studios - a bug's life. (2023). Pixar Animation Studios. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.pixar.com/feature-films/a-bugs-lifeStack, P. (1998, November 25). "Bug's" Has Legs / Cute insect adventure a visual delight. SFGATE. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Bug-s-Has-Legs-Cute-insect-adventure-a-visual-2976395.phpSubsurface scattering. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 19, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsurface_scatteringVHS BTS. (2019, March 28). Living A Bugs Life. YouTube. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Msedi5Ao0WAusJackBauer. (2016, March 4). A Bug's Life - Behind The Scenes (1080p). YouTube. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHfMUZ73ybgWilmington, M. (1998, November 24). A BUG'S LIFE. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-25-9811250037-story.htmlWisecrack. (2022, January 31) Antz vs. A Bug's Life: Who Loves Capitalism More?[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCpxP51SOmE

What this episode covers

Despite competing with a similar insect-themed offering from DreamWorks, Pixar’s sophomore feature film, A Bug’s Life (1998), earned positive reviews at the box office and solidified the reputation of the animation studio. Although misogyny, racism, and fatphobia are sprinkled throughout, Rachel eagerly celebrates this movie as a depiction of Marxist class revolution; Erin is less enthusiastic.

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This episode was published on February 28, 2023.

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