Get ready for today’s…Blast from the Past!
From Dreamworks Pictures, comes this delightful animated adventure comedy feature…
Princess Bala: “I’ve been kidnapped by the village idiot.”
Z: “Who’s the bigger idiot? The idiot or the idiot who gets kidnapped by the idiot”?
Although the film released earlier on September 19th 1998 at the Toronto International Film Festival, “Antz” released throughout the whole USA on this day October 2nd that same year, making the film 20 years old as of today.
The plot follows a neurotic ant named Z (voiced by Oscar winner Woody Allen, who as you probably know is most famous for usually portraying a neurotic character in his motion pictures) who tries to break free from his authoritarian society while simultaneously tries to win Oscar nominee Sharon Stone’s animated character, the spirited Princess Bala’s heart.
Fun fact: the film earned a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) nomination for Best Special Effects, and is also the mentioned studio’s first animated film, and the second feature-length computer-animated motion picture after Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” (1995).
While the termite battle sequence may be upsetting to all viewers, as well as a beloved character’s death (which will not be spoiled here), some of the film’s highlights include themes such as individuality, story, animation, cast which includes Oscar winners Gene Hackman and Christopher Walken, Oscar nominees Dan Aykroyd and Sylvester Stallone, Primetime Emmy nominee Danny Glover, Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Lopez, and the late Oscar winner Anne Bancroft and Golden Globe nominee John Mahoney, voice performances, humor for both children and adults, dialogue, and charm.
On a personal note, the film will likely be included in my upcoming list; Top 10 Films You Won’t Believe are Turning 20.
If you are looking for an entertaining yet thought-provoking film that audiences of all ages can enjoy, then this is for you, or for anyone you know, who likes the aforementioned aspects.
Recommended to 90s children and fans of animation and the listed actors.
Poster design and artwork: Unknown.