Bug's Life, A (DVD)

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Now comes the interesting part. Buena Vista offer the film in two screen formats. The first is the film's original theatrical widescreen, measuring an approximately 2.13:1 ratio across a normal television. The second screen format is a specially recomposed full-frame at 1.33:1. But, surprise, thanks to the reformatting techniques used, the full-frame picture occasionally reveals more (added) image on the top and bottom of the screen than the widescreen picture and with only a small loss of information at the sides. Of course, in most scenes the widescreen is clearly the superior choice with more side information, but I can tell you, for a change, that the standard, full-frame version is not entirely to be shunned. In any case, both screen sizes are located on disc one, with a choice of either format coming on the opening menu, thus making comparisons and personal preferences easy to determine.

Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, too, is superb. Channel separation, dynamics, and frequency range are all are first rate, although the soundtrack is perhaps a tad light in deep bass and impact. But it's still fun listening to the various insects flying back and forth over one's head. The audio and visuals add to the total excitement of the story.

Extras:
Disc one contains the widescreen and full-frame presentations of the film with the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, English and French spoken languages, and English captions for the hearing impaired. In the widescreen mode only there is an audio commentary with director John Lassiter, co-director Andrew Stanton, and film editor Lee Unkrich and an optional music-only track, while in the full-frame mode only there is a sound effects-only track. In addition, disc one provides a THX Optimizer set of audiovisual tests and thirty-six scene selections, including outtakes.

Disc two contains the legions of bonus materials we expect, much of which may be of more interest to adults than to kids. These extras are divided into eight sections, most sections and their subdivisions being introduced by various of the filmmakers. The first section, the longest, is titled "Pre-Production." It includes early production tests, original story treatments, pitch boards, storyboards-to final-film with split-screen comparisons, and abandoned sequences; plus, segments on research, design, characters, locations, concept art, and color scripts. The second section is "Production." It includes a "Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Creation of A Bug's Life" promotional featurette that last about three minutes; a voice-casting featurette at four minutes; some early tests at five minutes; and a progression demonstration of layout and animation.

Section three is called "Sound Design," a thirteen-minute exploration of the audio aspects of the film, voices, sound effects, and the like. Section four is "Release," which includes theatrical and video-release trailers and spots, plus a featurette on the way Pixar went about reframing the original widescreen film to a 1.33:1 ratio video format. They explain they added new artwork, moved characters and objects closer together, and utilized old-fashioned panning and cropping. Section five is about the closing-credits "Outtakes," of which there are two sets. How can you have outtakes in an animated cartoon? It's a joke, of course, but watching these bugs goof up like real actors is a kick, and along with Randy Newman's delightful theme song they make up one of the best parts of the show. Six is "Geri's Game," Pixar's 1997 Academy Award-winning animated short film. Seven is a sneaky trailer for Pixar's new film, "Finding Nemo." And eight is "A Bug's Land," two interactive activity games designed for two very different dispositions.

Parting Thoughts:
If you've seen "Antz" or "Shrek" or "Monsters, Inc." and liked them, you'll like "A Bug's Life" as well. Even if you're an old grump about cartoons as I am, you'll enjoy "A Bug's Life." Like looking through a kaleidoscope, there's always something new and fascinating to see. Add the new anamorphic video and the 5.1 Surround sound and you've got a sensory treat that's hard to resist.

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