Antz
Short description
Antz is an animated adventure set inside a vast ant colony divided between workers and soldiers, where the two groups live according to strict and unchanging rules. Z-4195, known as Z, is a neurotic worker who chafes at the conformity of colony life and falls for Princess Bala after a chance meeting at a dance. To see her again, he trades places with a soldier friend and joins a military parade, only to find himself swept into a campaign against a termite army under the command of the ruthless General Mandible.
Directed by Eric Darnell and Tim Johnson, the film was the first each of them directed, and both went on to further animated features. The screenplay is by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz and Todd Alcott, and the voice cast includes Woody Allen as Z, Sharon Stone as Princess Bala, Gene Hackman as General Mandible, Dan Aykroyd, Anne Bancroft and Danny Glover.
Released in 1998, the film had a budget of 60 million dollars and took 172 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.5 out of 10 from around 171,000 votes, while on TMDB it has 6.2 out of 10 from roughly 4,855 votes. A critics' rating of 7.7 out of 10 from 90 reviews places critical appraisal noticeably above the audience scores. The film runs 83 minutes.
What's left behind the scenes
- Woody Allen's first animated film.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger was initially offered the role of Weaver, but he demanded a fee, and the role went to Sylvester Stallone, who was willing to work for free.
- The American Film Association gave the film a PG rating (parental guidance suggested) due to occasional profanity heard on screen.
- Christopher Walken's work was so impressive that his character's role was significantly expanded. Initially, he was supposed to be just an unnamed aide to General Manure, but Walken was so good that his character was made Colonel Burrow.
- The faces of the main characters bear a certain resemblance to the actors who voiced them, but a commentary on the DVD states that the characters were created even before the voice actors were chosen. This is especially true of Weaver's lips, which are so similar to Sylvester Stallone's. Incidentally, it was initially planned that Zed would wear glasses with thick lenses, like Woody Allen, but this idea was later abandoned.
- Initially, Princess Bala was voiced by Sarah Jessica Parker, but for unknown reasons, the filmmakers decided to forgo her services and Sharon Stone re-voiced the role.
- No ants drowned in the flood scene, because the animators decided it would be too cruel.
- A very loose interpretation of Aldous Huxley’s (1894-1963) satirical dystopia “Brave New World” (1932).
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