A Bug’s Life

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Theatrical Release Date: November 20, 1998
Estimated Budget: $120 Million
U.S. Box Office Gross: $162 Million
Worldwide Box Office: $363 Million

Cast
Dave Foley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kevin Spacey, Hayden Panettiere, Phyllis Diller, David Hyde Pierce, Bonnie Hunt, Denis Leary & John Ratzenberger.

Credits
Music by: Randy Newman
Produced By: Darla K. Anderson & Kevin Reher
Story by: John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton  & Joe Ranft
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton, Donald McEnery & Bob Shaw
Directed by: John Lasseter

Tidbits

  • In the initial version entitled Bugs, the main character was a fire ant named Red, who was the ringmaster of the insect circus. Andrew Stanton re-wrote the script with Flik as the main character.
  • In an effort to make the ants more likeable, they were designed to stand upright and their six legs were reduced to two arms and two legs (much like the effort in Ratatouille to make them less creepy).
  • Robert DeNiro reportedly turned down the part of Hopper multiple times before Kevin Spacey was hired for the role. Other names considered included Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin.
  • Pixarian Joe Ranft is absolutely hilarious as the voice of Heimlich. Another actor was hired for the part, but Nancy Lasseter kept laughing at Ranft’s temp track and Lasseter decided that he was the right person for the part.
  • John Lasseter voices Fly 1 and Andrew Stanton does Fly2.
  • A Bug’s Life was composed as a Lawrence of Arabia type epic and was the first animated film to use the widescreen scope of 2.35:1.
  • The A Bug’s Life DVD was the first feature film to be transferred digitally. No analog processes came between the creation of the computer images and their representation on the DVD.
  • This was the first Pixar film to have “outtakes” during the end credits.
  • A Bug’s Life has inspired two attractions at Disney theme parks.
    • A Bug’s Land – Disney’s California Adventure  – was opened in 2003 and features the 3d film It’s Tough to be a Bug!. Other attractions include Fliks Flyers, Francis’ Ladybug Boogie, Tuck & Rolls Drive em’ Buggies, Heimlichs Chew Chew Train, and Dots Puddle Park.
    • It’s Tough to be a Bug! at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.