Bugs life
1:50 - 1:55, 2:40 - 3:00 - color
red berries are used as pacing elements in the line. The red not only breaks up the predominantly cool color palette, but also helps the audience keep track of the line movement and progress, like colored marks on a measuring stick.
2:58
Mr. Soil is clearly framed against the trapezoid of the anthill, directing the audience's attention to him.
3:00
the movement of the red berry to the female ant, along with Mr. Soil's head gesture, help transfer the audiences's attention to screen right, where the next line of dialogue will be said.
3:04
3 ants stand in front of the 3 rock columns, re-enforcing the vertical line elements
3:13
the gap in the line is re-enforced by the gap in the grass
3:16
the placement of the red berry helps to ensure the audience is looking at the center of the screen, where the speaking actors are.
Also, the curved crisscrossing lines of the sloping leaf, the foreground surface and the left mid-ground (darker) surface create a dynamic composition.
4:04
The supersaturated green grass helps the actors pop out
4:01
Dot is positioned underneath the line of ants, who appear to be walking above her, which re-enforces her frustration of feeling like a failure when she tries to fly.
10:00
The cool blue subterranean color scheme automatically feels like a safe zone for the ants, as it matches their cool blue/purple skin
10:45 - 10:55
The reveal of Hopper is classic. The feet first, imprisoning the two crawling actors on each side, followed by the low angle pan up to Hopper, whose head is enveloped in light, almost making him seem like a superior species or god (sun-king?)
11:05 - 11:50
Some great shots of Hopper moving about the cave. Note how several shots start without Hopper in them, but with a crowd of ants focused on him off screen. Their movement BEFORE he appears on screen gives Hopper and even larger presence. The Medium shot in front of Hopper that moves backwards frames him from the perspective of someone moving away from him. Powerful!
Hopper's dramatic turn at the end of his walk makes his line ("Where's my FOOD!?!?") delivery even more powerful. Note the snappiness of his turn, and how it emphasizes the "FOOD" beat!
Red, used as a visual cue to direct attention:
22:42 - the fly eyes
23:10 - the dog collar directs the audience to the chinese food box (chamber of metamorphosis)
23:21 - matchsticks above the pill bugs
