A Bug's Life is perhaps Pixar's most under-rated film. Personally, I love everything about it, from the world creation to the themes that it discusses. It is also one of the few Pixar films that does not warrant a sequel because it works incredibly well on its own.
A Bug's Life is the story of an ant who goes looking for warrior bugs to save his colony from grasshoppers. There are so many things to love about this film. Firstly, Fliks' character arc is flawless. Flik is an inventor who gets laughed at by the rest of the colony because his inventions never work. It is because of this that the colony sends him away to find warrior bugs because they know he will fail. The important thing is that he does not fail, and the warrior bugs help Flik realize his potential, and by the end of the film the entire colony has realized how important he is to their survival. Also, the relationship between the grasshoppers and the ants is quite interesting. The ruler of the grasshoppers, Hopper, believes that they are at the top of the bug food chain. However, he also acknowledges the fact that the ants present a potential threat to them. There is a wonderful moment in the film where Flik teaches Hopper a lesson by explaining to him who really needs who. This is a lesson that teaches us that just because someone is bigger and more threatening does not mean they are more important. In fact, it is the little guy that is crucial to the big guys' survival. There is also the issue that is discussed, albeit briefly, regarding the character of Francis the Ladybug, and the fact that just because Francis looks like a girl does not mean he actually is one. I personally believe that this character is Pixars' way of showing support for the LGBT community, and that you can be whoever you want to be in life. All in all, A Bug's Life is a wonderful movie that is the total package for people of all ages.
John Lasseter is the director of A Bug's Life. I love the world that Lasseter creates in this film because it actually operates like a human world. There are different hierarchies, the bugs have friends from different locations, and there are even cities and suburbs. All of these aspects give the film such a grand scale, and give Fliks' journey an epic feel. I also love that both of the grasshoppers arrivals to Ant Island are treated like something out of a horror film. This puts more emphasis on how evil and intimidating they are. The final battle between the ants and the grasshoppers in the rain is so thrilling to watch and, in a true "circle of life" moment, Hopper meets a grisly demise. Throughout this entire film, you can feel Lasseters' passion for storytelling, and he succeeds brilliantly.
Maybe it is just me, but when I hear people talk about the Pixar films, I do not hear anyone mention A Bug's Life. This film deserves so much more recognition than it gets. If you have not seen this film, I highly recommend that you do.
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