Antz Bugs Life

Loading...

Flash Player 9 (or above) is needed to view presentations.
We have detected that you do not have it on your computer. To install it, go here.

0 comments

Post a comment

    Post a comment
    Embed Video
    Edit your comment Cancel

    Favorites, Groups & Events

    Antz Bugs Life - Presentation Transcript

    1. ANTZ vs. A Bug’s Life Critical Comparison
    2. Med 6 Comparative Critical Analysis: Introduction
    3. * Synoptic Unit “ Candidates must demonstrate their understanding of the connections between the different elements of the specification. Candidates will be expected to produce evidence of their attainment of the broad objectives of the specification – critical autonomy and media literacy – through the comparative analysis of texts. They will be required to analyse, explain and account for the similarities and differences between media texts.” *presenting a summary or general view of a whole
    4. Do this by... (i) demonstrating your critical reading abilities using the Key Concepts (5% of marks) (ii) drawing upon your knowledge of major ideas, theories, debates and information (21⁄2% of marks) (iii) using your knowledge of a range of relevant contextual factors. (21⁄2% of marks)
    5. 15% • Med 6 is worth 15% of the overall A2 grade. • The final 5% of marks are for demonstrating the ability to analyse critically and comparatively a range of texts to determine and account for their similarities and differences
    6. The best grade... • Candidates make extensive use of their learning at AS and A2 levels, showing sophisticated application of wider contexts relevant to the texts informed by extensive exploration and debate. • There is very good evidence of critical autonomy - the ability to make individual judgements informed by relevant theories, issues and debates, underpinned by appropriate reference to the texts. • Candidates show a sophisticated identification of the relationship between the two texts and their form and function, grounded in sophisticated usage of the Key Concepts in a well structured, articulate and engaged response.
    7. Critical Comparison Example
    8. ANTZ vs. A Bug’s Life • Both films released in 1998, with ANTZ slightly ahead of A Bug’s Life • In the UK, A Bug’s Life was released in Feb ’99 • Both CGI animations, both about ant colonies, both feature an individual ant who rebels (or wants to) against the collective/ hive.
    9. ANTZ was the first collaboration between new Hollywood institution DreamWorks and computer animation company PDI (Pacific Data Images). DreamWorks began in 1994 as a collaboration between Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. PDI was a pioneer in computer-generated animation.
    10. A Bug’s Life was the second feature film from Pixar Animation Studios, produced under an original 3- film deal with Walt Disney Studios
    11. Mergers and Aquisitions • Both PDI and Pixar eventually became part of their studio parents. • DreamWorks acquired 40% of PDI as early as 1995, while Disney paid $7.4billion in stock to merge with Pixar in 2006 • Dreamworks was eventually acquired by Viacom/ Paramount, but has more recently spun off to partner with an Indian investment company, Reliance ADA
    12. Competition • DreamWorks Animation and Disney/Pixar have since released many animated films in competition with each other. • Dreamworks Animation: ANTZ, Shrek (and sequels), Shark Tale, Magagascar (and sequels), Flushed Away, Bee Movie, Kung Fu Panda • Disney/Pixar: A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, WALL-E
    13. Flops • DreamWorks has suffered more box office failure than Pixar. • Partly, this is because DreamWorks releases adult and live- action films as well as DreamWorks Animation films. • While film critics have disliked some of their films (e.g. Shark Tale, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek the Third, Bee Movie), it hasn’t necessarily hurt the box office. • On the other hand, DreamWorks have reportedly been close to bankruptcy on several occasions following expensive flops such as Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and The Island.
    14. Both companies employ well-known talent to create character voices. ANTZ begins with a credit sequence featuring a magnifying glass, which scans over the (tiny) names of the cast, which includes Woody Allen, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, and Jennifer Lopez.
    15. A Bug’s Life, on the other hand, holds its credit sequence till the end – why?
    16. Voice Talent • While A Bug’s Life includes such famous voices as Kevin Spacey and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, this is only the case for English-language countries. • In international markets, these films are often dubbed into the local language using local voice talent. • One of the ways in which DreamWorks shows its lack of finesse is to promote the Hollywood voices at the expense of (perhaps) more expressive animation. • Nobody cares it was Sylvester Stallone when it has been dubbed into French/German/Italian/Polish...
    17. ANTZ begins with a silhouette of what looks like the New York skyline, and with a voice-over from Woody Allen, reminiscent of the same idea used in Allen’s 1979 film Manhattan
    18. Again, this intertextuality is somewhat lost when the voice talent being used is an obscure French/Polish/ Italian/Spanish actor. So why put it in?
    19. The “New York Skyline” is actually roughly trimmed grass – note that the meaning carried by the twin towers of the World Trade Centre has changed since 1998, and will change more in the future.
    20. A Bug’s Life also begins with a shot of grasses – but they are specifically not trimmed, and are instead obviously wild and producing seeds. These two films already appear to be having a conversation! But what is being discussed?
    21. Animation Styles • PDI and Pixar are both pioneers of computer animation. • Each film released makes strides in the use of texture and lighting – and the ability to imitate reality. For example, Monsters Inc. showcases fur and hair. • Pixar’s opening to A Bug’s Life features realistic-looking grass, rippling water and high-key lighting • PDI’s opening to ANTZ is much darker, with lower-key lighting – but the insects themselves are more anatomically accurate than Pixar’s. The Pixar ants only have 4 legs!
    22. ANTZ overhead shot reveals the “Woody Allen” character on his therapy couch (more intertextual references to Woody Allen movies). Note that the ant is red and has six legs! The low-key, low-contrast lighting might conceal less accomplished animation.
    23. Our first view of a Pixar ant shows an ant with a less “natural” colour, and only 4 limbs – a more human appearance.
    24. The lighting in ANTZ is noir-like, the colour palette is darker and more muted, perhaps hinting at darker themes. It’s hard to argue for a greater level of “realism”, however when you consider the idea of a worker ant in a therapy session!
    25. Our entry into the ANTZ world has taken us from the trimmed (i.e. city) grass down through layers of earth and introduced the main character. The camera eye now moves past the Allen-ant into the heart of the ant Metropolis. Note the Fritz Lang reference.
    26. Life in the totalitarian ANTZ colony is brutal and impersonal. The visuals are straight out of dystopian film texts like Metropolis and Blade Runner. The theme of the film is the struggle of the individual in society. The backdrop is a very modernist idea of the city.
    27. The ANTZ are surrounded by propaganda messages from the ANTZ media. The language is martial: CONQUER IDLENESS
    28. FREETIME IS FOR TRAINING: such scenes are reminiscent of Western ideas of far-Eastern industrial production, but also remind us of the horrors of modernity: Ford-ism, communisim, and fascism.
    29. ANTZ are labelled for life by unseen authority figures: “Worker” ... “Soldier” What are the implied values here?
    30. After our overview of ANTZ society, we’re back with our main character and introduced to his friends as the plot begins...
    31. While ANTZ is a 16:9 production, A Bug’s Life is presented on a 2.35:1 ratio screen. Its open spaces contrast with ANTZ claustrophobic underground setting. The colour palette is blue/green as opposed to red/brown
    32. Both films make jokes of hive behaviour – in this example, the ant panics when a leaf falls in his path and he loses the (invisible) trail he was following. Whereas ANTZ hints at totalitarian society, A Bug’s Life implies that individualism is a rare and precious commodity.
    33. In A Bug’s Life, ant society is represented as an essentially benign monarchy, with the elite portrayed as more capable, compassionate and intelligent than (most of) the worker drones. This is in contrast to the (at first) hidden authorities in the more totalitarian ANTZ.
    34. Both films question the place of individuals in their respective societies. In A Bug’s Life, Flik is shown to be innovative and inventive, while Z in ANTZ is shown as anxious and neurotic.
    35. Flik’s individualism is barely tolerated by his conservative society, and his monomaniacal invention is shown as brilliant but insufficiently thought through.
    36. After squashing the Princess – twice – with the by-products of his intensive agriculture, Flik is remorseful and apologetic. Both films find ways to portray industrial production in negative terms. Both can be seen as modernist critiques, though Flik in A Bug’s Life clearly has the best of intentions.

    + The Cottesloe SchoolThe Cottesloe School, 10 months ago

    custom

    1722 views, 0 favs, 1 embeds more stats

    Introduction to (legacy spec) Med 6 module - critic more

    More info about this document

    CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenseCC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenseCC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

    Go to text version

    • Total Views 1722
      • 1660 on SlideShare
      • 62 from embeds
    • Comments 0
    • Favorites 0
    • Downloads 34
    Most viewed embeds
    • 62 views on http://westudymedia.wordpress.com

    more

    All embeds
    • 62 views on http://westudymedia.wordpress.com

    less

    Flagged as inappropriate Flag as inappropriate
    Flag as inappropriate

    Select your reason for flagging this presentation as inappropriate. If needed, use the feedback form to let us know more details.

    Cancel
    File a copyright complaint
    Having problems? Go to our helpdesk?

    Categories