You remember back toward the end of the century it seemed all the movie companies were copying each other?
It was Dante’s Peak vs. Volcano, Armageddon vs. Deep Impact,and perhaps the biggest showdown of all was DreamWorks’ Antz vs. Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.
I don’t know the story behind what went on with the volcano and the astroid movies (although I can say that Armageddon is the best out of all of them), but I can at least give you the rundown as to what really happened with the two really big insect movies.
At the time, only one fully-CGI animated movie had hit the big screens – Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story – and I don’t need to tell you how much of a success that was.
There was this guy named Jeffrey Katzenberg who worked under Michael Eisner at Disney, whom we actually 
have to thank for The Lion King. Eisenberg and Katzenberg had many, many fallings out (all of which can be read in Disney War by James B. Steward). Katzenberg finally had enough in the summer of 1994 and decided to leave Disney and start a competitive animation studio with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen, which became known as DreamWorks SKG.
That’s why the big debate over who stole the insect idea first was so intriguing. Did Katzenberg leave the idea with Disney before he left and Disney used it anyway?
No. Katzenberg had never heard of A Bug’s Life before he left. In fact, he stay in touch with John Lasseter (Pixar founder and chief creative officer). Lasted, a jovial, spirited, trusting man who wanted to maintain a friendship with Katzenberg answered Katzenberg’s questions about what films he was doing next…
At the word “insect,” Katzenberg pressed more on it. And more, and more, and more… Then Katzenberg asked when it was slated to be released.
Around 1996, Lasseter realized the gravity of his mistake when he heard that DreamWorks was working on their own CGI movie (their first) about an ant being its lead character. When Lasseter called Katzenberg up to inquire about the rumor, he admitted it was true and lied, “We had the idea long ago.”
Katzenberg later admitted that he sped up the production of Antz, which actually beat A Bug’s Life to theaters by six weeks. Despite the rushed product, Antz was favorably accepted by critics and audiences, raking in $91 million domestically.
But A Bug’s Life was much more epic, colorful, and mind-blowing. Richard Corliss of Time wrote that A Bug’s Life made DreamWorks’ film seem like radio by comparison. Rightly so, A Bug’s Life did twice as well as Antz, grossing $163 million domestically.
So there you have it. The whole buggy story. Which one did you like better?
Life Through the Big Screen 
“Look! I’m a beautiful butterfly”!
LikeLike
That’s what I call cheese that really works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! =D
LikeLike
Hmm, I never knew much about the Ants vs. A Bug’s Life story so thanks for clearing that up! Personally, it’s always been A Bug’s Life for me. I never really got into Antz; in fact, I hardly recall what the story was to that one. Also, on the other movie battles you alluded to, Dante’s Peak and Volcano cancel each other out (neither are good), and frankly I thought Deep Impact was better than the Michael Bay explosion-fest Armageddon.
LikeLike
Antz is good, but forgettable and full of too many dirty jokes that it just comes across as really off-putting. And I’m sorry to say, but I’m standing strong on Armageddon, lol. Always been a guilty pleasure favorite of mine.
LikeLike
Deep Impact left no impact on me. All I can remember about it was that Morgan Fremen was in it. It pretty much sucked, as I recall. Armageddon was cheezier than Kraft Dinner, but it was Epic in places. I’d say good but not great.
LikeLike
Agree completely. Deep Impact is very blah.
LikeLike
I though A Bug’s Life was much better. I’ve watched it several times xD
LikeLike
It’s pretty hilarious, too. Keeps me laughing every time.
LikeLike