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Pixar launched with Toy Story in 1995, then followed it up with A Bug’s Life in 1998. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like it’s telling a grand story. It’s simply about ants living under the oppression of grasshoppers before rallying together with the help of other bugs.

I call this film underrated because it’s genuinely clever. It avoids generic storytelling and predictable tropes, instead delivering an original story with great character moments and dynamics. The main antagonist, Hopper, is genuinely menacing and has zero redeeming qualities, which is refreshing.

Overall, it’s a solid film that often gets overshadowed by Pixar giants like The Incredibles, Toy Story, and WALL·E. It’s not perfect, though. It has a few minor issues and never reaches the emotional heights of Pixar’s very best. Still, the humor lands, the pacing is strong, and the story tackles surprisingly heavy themes like oppression, self identity, and unity. It executes them so well that kids can enjoy the adventure while adults recognize the deeper message of courage and hope beneath it all.

It may not be one of Pixar’s greatest films, but it absolutely deserves more attention.

(Cough, cough… a sequel.)