A Bugs Life Analysis- Opening Scene

A Bugs life is a Fantasy/ Adventure Childrens film- as its based around a family of talking insects.

Analysis of the Conventions in the clip

The Film immediately sets the theme, as it starts outdoors, showing us the sun, a bright falling leef, and a perfect green field. This addresses its summertime and introduces the film, as the titles and credits are shown. The opening scene gives us a good picture of what the film will be like, zooming from an establishing shot, right into a blade of grass. We see the ants working together, but then the use of a crain shot reveals there is a colony of ants, this is where their home is, and their working to collect stocks of food. It includes some comedy- for example when the cherry falls and sticks on the ants head- this shows the film is aimed at a younger audience. The music is a clam and happy tune, that fits in with the summertime theme and introduction of a childrens film. It gives us an insight into who we should side with in the story, being sided with the ants, who appear vulneable, being scared by a leaf.

Discuss how the Genre is reprasented

The genre of Fantasy/Adevture is immediately introduced as we are shown ants working and talking together- this clearly wouldnt happen in real life. We are shown that the action is taking place in the great outdoors- showing no boundries. This has an ora of adventure.

Discuss how the micro elements are used

The scene begins with an establishing shot, this sets the scene and tone of the film- being in the bright, summery outdoors. A zooming shot is then used which turns into a close up, so we can see the characters in the film, whilst giving a sense of perspective, seeing them clime a blade of grass. As mentioned above a crane shot is then used to show the viewer where the ants home/colony is, this also shows where they are stockpiling the food that they are collecting. When the leafs falls in front of the queing ants a couple of close up shots are used to show the panic, disrupted and confused look on the ants faces.

Overall this is very good start to Bugs Life it establishes the setting and genre very well and it uses a number of good shots to do this, also the fact that the ants are collecting food up makes us the viewer question this and so we want to watch on to find out.