Did Pixar really take influence from the all-time classic Seven Samurai when making A Bugs Life, we wonder?
If youre looking for inspiration for an animated film, then its generally all around you.
But how many have looked to Akira Kurosawas classic movie,Seven Samurai?
The answer, predictably, is one.
And the identity of that one?
seven samurai to protect the harvest from people looking to steal it.
Its a stunning film, and, it should be noted, a much longer one thanA Bugs Life.
It regularly appears on lists of the best films of all time.
Rightly so, too.
So, where does this cross over with Pixars second movie?
To the best of my knowledge, Pixar has never gone on record to talk about theSeven Samurailink.
Instead, it cites a different inspiration as sparking the germ of the idea for the film.
On its official website, Pixar offers Aesops Fables as the starting point forA Bugs Life, instead.
The rest of the narrative was spun out from there.
Yet, for me, its theSeven Samuraithat seems the most potent influence.
In short, its not too much of a stretch to suggest thatA Bugs Lifeis an homage of sorts.
And itd be fascinating to see if more animation studios looked at remakes as potential source material.
At the very least, youll be giving fresh light to Pixars most underappreciated movie.
A Bugs Life is available on Blu-ray in the UK now.
