A Bug's Life Collector's Edition DVD

A Bug's Life Collector's Edition DVD

On Tuesday, November 23rd, Walt Disney Home Video and Pixar Animation Studios will release the two-disk A Bug's Life Collector's Edition DVD. At a suggested retail price of $49.99, the DVD will contain extensive bonus programming which includes original concept art and treatments, abandoned sequences, storyboard-to-film comparisons and an early short.

In a first for a Disney animated DVD release, Disc One of A Bug's Life Collector's Edition DVD features the movie in both widescreen 16X9 anamorphic and a re-composed full-screen version (1.33:1 aspect ratio) as well as a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack. A Bug's Life also features audio commentary with John Lasseter (director), Andrew Stanton (co-director/co-writer) and Lee Unkrich (supervising film editor). Additional highlights include an isolated music track in 2.0 stereo sound and an isolated sound effects track in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound.

Disc Two's highlights include Pixar's 1998 Academy Award-winning animated short Geri's Game and many fun-filled and informative supplemental materials: introductions and explanations by the filmmakers; an early presentation reel called Fleabie; original story treatments and storyboard pitches; a still-frame gallery of art tracing the development of the characters and locations from early concepts to final designs; abandoned sequences and a storyboard reel featuring a split screen comparing the final movie to the original storyboards.

Additional footage includes a behind-the-scenes peek at the creation of the movie; a look at the voice talent; early production tests; a discussion of the movie's sound design; and a still-frame view of the movie's trailers and domestic and international posters.

Further bonus programming includes an extensive behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was recomposed from its original widescreen presentation to a full-frame presentation for its home video release, as well as two sets of hilarious outtakes and a look at their production.

A Bug's Life was the first movie to be created directly from the original digital source rather than through the standard film-to-videotape process. Since A Bug's Life was created entirely in a digital format, this process presented the movie with the most pristine images possible. It also permitted the directors to reframe the entire widescreen movie for the best presentation possible on television screens.

A Bug's Life was the second 3D computer-animated feature release for two-time Academy Award-winning director John Lasseter, Disney Feature Animation and Pixar Animation Studios following the 1995 hit Toy Story. A Bug's Life was a huge hit grossing over $160 million domestically.

A Bug's Life tells the story of a band of greedy grasshoppers that descend upon an ant colony to demand a hefty portion of their hard-earned harvest. When a contraption designed to help increase food production actually destroys the ants' food offering, the head of the grasshoppers demands even more food. Desperate, the ants resort to outside help and unknowingly enlist an unemployed troupe of bug performers from a second-rate flea circus to join the fight against the grasshoppers. Working together in their newfound friendship, the ants and the circus bugs prepare for a climactic confrontation in an attempt to save the colony.

The movie features a cast of top vocal talents that bring personality and fun to the entertaining ensemble of insect characters, including: Dave Foley (NewsRadio), Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey (Best Supporting Actor, 1996, The Usual Suspects), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), comedienne Phyllis Diller, Richard Kind (Spin City), John Ratzenberger, (Cheers), Jonathan Harris (Lost in Space), Madeline Kahn, Denis Leary, David Hyde Pierce (Frasier), Bonnie Hunt (Jerry Maguire), Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) and the late Roddy McDowall, among others.

A Bug's Life Collector's Edition DVD also includes Pixar's Geri's Game, the 1997 Academy Award-winner for "Best Animated Short Film.'' The movie tells the tale of an elderly man who passes the time by playing chess by himself in the park.

A Bug's Life is rated G by the Motion Picture Association of America and has a running time of 94 minutes.

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