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7.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Grasshopper and the Ants remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like vintage animation with that weirdly stiff, rubbery movement, you’ll dig this. It’s perfect for people who like their moral lessons served with a side of light panic. If you’re the type who hates being told to 'save for a rainy day,' maybe skip it. It’ll just make you feel guilty for sitting on the couch.
The grasshopper is honestly kind of a vibe. He’s just out there playing his fiddle, not bothering anyone, and the ants are just obsessively marching around with grain. It’s a weird contrast. The ants don't seem to have a single hobby that isn't lifting heavy stuff.
The transition to winter is genuinely bleak. One minute it’s all sun and music, and the next, the grasshopper is shivering in a way that feels a bit too real. I remember seeing this as a kid and being low-key terrified of starvation. Not many cartoons manage that in seven minutes.
It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in On Ice, where everyone is just moving way too fast for their own good. Why is everyone in these old shorts so stressed? Maybe they should’ve watched Hawaiian Romance instead and just chilled out for a bit. 🎻
The ending is a classic 'well, okay, I guess we’ll let you stay' moment. It’s not exactly a warm embrace. It’s more like, 'fine, just keep playing that thing so we don't have to listen to you cry.' A bit cynical? Maybe. But look at their faces when they finally let him in. They aren't exactly smiling.
It’s fine. It’s a short. Don't overthink it like I am.