Time to go small for this Disney Sunday Movie Night: let’s get an ant’s perspective with A Bug’s Life. Released in 1998, this is Pixar Animation Studio’s second film (the first was Toy Story). A Bug’s Life follows Flik as he inspires his ant colony and a troupe of circus bugs to resist an oppressive gang of grasshoppers. We have created a discussion and activity guide for your A Bug’s Life movie night.
Like all of our movie night guides, this is meant to involve minimum preparation and no stress. We have some suggestions for snacks and extension activities, but you can also keep things simple with just a copy of the movie and this discussion guide.
Where to Find A Bug’s Life
A Bug’s Life is currently available on Disney+. If you do not have access to Disney+, we suggest checking your local library for a copy of A Bug’s Life. We never stop being amazed by what we can find at our own neighborhood library. (Bonus points if you find a VHS copy… too bad points do not mean anything here, but let’s move on.)
After you watch A Bug’s Life together, it is time to warm-up for a group discussion with a fun activity.
Warm-up Activity for A Bug’s Life Discussion
This first activity is meant to help your group build some trust and get thinking creatively. If you want, you can set out some props like balls, yo-yos, pillows, hats or other objects you think might inspire your group to create “circus acts.” You can also do this with no props at all. It is really just about being creative.
Say the following to your group:
Imagine that you are a member of the circus bug troupe. What would your act be? Can you show some of that act to us right now?
Now say:
Like the ants and the circus bug troupe, we all have gifts to share. Sometimes it can be hard to understand how our gifts can help others. Let’s take a moment to recognize the gifts we have in this room.
First, let’s form a circle. One at a time, we are going to each sit in the center of this circle. While one person is seated in the center, everyone else is going to speak out loud the gifts they recognize in that person. Before we begin, I am going to give you some time to think about what you want to say so that you can share some really thoughtful reflections.
Once everyone in your group has had a chance to sit in the middle of the circle, be sure to thank everyone for participating. Hearing nice things about yourself can be a surprisingly vulnerable experience, and sharing kind feedback about someone else is an act of generosity. After this activity, we you can move on to some discussion questions about the movie.
Some Helpful Tips for Leading a Discussion
We wrote these questions for you to share with your group after watching A Bug’s Life. They are meant to guide you into a conversation about the film. More than that, we hope they will help you connect and better understand yourselves and one another. We hope these tips will help everyone in your group feel comfortable sharing.
Create a Cozy Environment for Sharing
Try to create an environment where everyone in your group feels comfortable sharing. Gentle lighting and a seating arrangement where everyone can see each other is helpful. Let everyone know that their thoughts are valued.
Writing & Drawing Can Help
Are you afraid your group will have trouble expressing themselves? Have a room full of introverts? Before you ask everyone to share, read the questions out loud and give the group ten minutes to draw or journal. Some people need individual time to process their thoughts before they share.
Listen Well
When someone chooses to share something difficult, it can be hard to know what to say. Just let that person know you are listening with empathy. Try to avoid the temptation to minimize a problem or offer suggestions right away. Be attentive and acknowledge their feelings. You can say things like, “How did you feel when that happened?” Or, “That sounds very hard. Thank you for sharing this with me.”
Discussion Questions for A Bug’s Life
Here are some A Bug’s Life discussion questions. We encourage you to focus on the ones that are helpful for your group.
- What was your favorite part of A Bug’s Life?
- Which A Bug’s Life character do you most identify with and why?
- Do you ever feel small and overlooked like Dot? Creative and misunderstood like Flik? Conscientious and sometimes overwhelmed like Princess Atta?
- How did you feel when Flik stood up to Hopper and his gang the first time?
- Think of a time when you stood up to someone. How did you feel when it was happening? How did you feel afterwards?
- How did you feel when Flik, then Atta and then all of the ants stood up to Hopper towards the end of the film?
- What was different this time from the first time Flik stood up to the grasshoppers?
- Think of a time when you were supported by others. What did that feel like?
- Think of a time when you supported someone else. What did that feel like?
- How can you show your support for someone right now?
Extended Activities for A Bug’s Life
If you enjoyed A Bug’s Life and want to continue your family movie night with some additional activities, here are three quick ideas:
Enjoy a Themed Snack
For a quick healthy snack to enjoy with the movie, you could try the childhood classic “Ants on a Log.” Just spread peanut butter (or a nut-free spread like cream cheese) inside celery sticks and then stick a row of raisin “ants” to the spread.
You could also do a little active snacking with this themed food activity. Set out small dry ingredients including nuts, dry cereal, small chocolate candies, raisins and other dried fruits. Hand each person in your group an empty bowl or bag and tell them that you are going to be gathering food just like the ant colony. From there, everyone is responsible for creating their own trail mix.
Finally, we always love popcorn with our movie nights. Here is a link to our post with our favorite popcorn hacks.
Learn About Insects
Younger kids might enjoy the chance to learn about what makes an ant (or a ladybug, or a fly) an insect. PBS Kids has an excellent printable guide and activity on this subject, courtesy of Elinor Wonders Why. You can find Elinor’s “Is It An Insect?” here.
Of course, you can also just head outside and start peeking under rocks. That is an all time favorite activity in our family.
Watch A Real Bug’s Life
Finally, did you know that Disney+ offers a “reality show” version of A Bug’s Life? Really!
It is called A Real Bug’s Life and the second season just came out in January 2025. Watch this show for footage of real bugs from all over the world going about their daily lives. You will not see any circus performers here, but you will encounter some fascinating facts and stories.
Thank you for reading this discussion and activity guide for your A Bug’s Life movie night.
For other movie night guides, see Disney Movie Night: Reflection Guide for The Muppets, Inside Out Disney Movie Night: Emotion Sharing Guide and Disney Movie Night Discussion Guide: Inside Out 2. And, do not forget to check-out those Easy Popcorn Hacks for Family Movie Night. Thanks again for reading, and please subscribe to our free newsletter below to get the latest posts right in your inbox.
