Toys, Bugs, Antz
Enter another A-list talent: a two-time Oscar winner and all around, adored celebrity, Tom Hanks. The success of "Aladdin" might have lured Hanks towards Pixar's revolutionary "Toy Story" (1995), but there was also the thrill of the picture's technical newness. Then, there was, of course, the added benefit of just how good "Toy Story" turned out to be, though neither Tom Hanks nor Tim Allen could have known exactly how good until much further into the process. In fact, Billy Crystal turned down Hanks' part of Woody, the old-fashioned cowboy doll, while Bill Murray, suggested for astronaut toy Buzz Lightyear, reportedly lost the producer's number -- something he's claimed to regret. A gorgeously crafted, exciting and tenderly told tale that appealed to both children and adults, the entirely computer animated feature garnered big bucks and major respect.

But, with great respect comes great ... competition, leading to the dueling dance of two bugs. Though the full story has never been entirely revealed, gossip abounds concerning the close releases of two computer animated films about insects: DreamWorks SKG's "Antz," and Pixar Animation Studios' "A Bug's Life." There's a long story -- something to do with Jeffrey Katzenberg leaving Disney the same day pre "Toy Story" director John Lasseter pitched a movie about bugs way back in 1994. Lasseter ended up co-directing "A Bug's Life,"while Katzenberg oversaw "Antz," released in October 1998 to "A Bug's Life" in November of the same year. But never mind all that. "Antz" is the superior project, not just for its PG-rated, wittier and more adult storyline, but also for its impressive celebrity vocal talent -- primarily Woody Allen, who makes perfect sense as the lead neurotic ant. Working off the likes of Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Lopez and Sylvester Stallone, the star-studded "Antz" works. And while the sweet "A Bug's Life" gave us Dave Foley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kevin Spacey, it lacked much of "Antz" edge. Quite clearly, Katzenberg had some powerful friends. Allen, in an interview with The New York Daily News, said he was simply having a drink with Katzenberg when he was hit up to play an ant. "I've never seen 'Antz,' Allen said, "but it made more money than my last five pictures put together. I wish it was mine."

A Cast of Thousands ... Almost
Indeed, money is often a factor in these decisions, since studios know big names will draw big audiences. And sometimes it's a shame -- a shame for all those talented, out-of-work vocal artists, and a shame for audiences listening to less impressive oratory skills. Sure, it's a kick to hear Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese goombah-gabbing in "Shark Tale," but is it simply just that? A kick? And, does Angelina Jolie really need to be there? The gifted actress is much more effective as flesh and blood, not as a sexy fish puffing extra large lips. Still, one can understand why Jolie, among many other stars (including Madonna in "Arthur and the Invisibles"), wants to offer us an earful. While Jolie's stated that acting in animated features is wonderful for actors who like to "play kid" again, the actress also has children, and Jolie knows hers aren't going to be watching "Original Sin" anytime soon. An extra plus, as Jolie discussed in interviews promoting the movie, was the great fun it was for Maddox (as weird as this sounds written) to get his very own Mommy Fish doll.

Other actors simply love the process, the invention and the challenges. Tom Hanks, who played five characters in "The Polar Express," related this in an interview with IGN Film Force: "It is actually a return to a type of acting that acting in films does not allow you to do. It was exactly like rehearsing a play in the round. You don't have to worry about lights, angles, rails, cameras, over-the-shoulders coverage. We essentially did a great series of 10 or 15 minute plays in which we did it real, we did it all in real time ... So, as far as being an actor goes, it was a blast."

A blast that doesn't seem to be abating. From family pictures like "The Incredibles" (starring Holly Hunter and Craig T. Nelson); to more artistic, experimental features like the rotoscoping animation of Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly" (starring Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder); to the Western stars (including Christian Bale, Billy Crystal and Lauren Bacall) providing voices for the English-speaking version of Hayao Miyazaki's gorgeous anime, "Howl's Moving Castle"; to all the usual and terrific suspects back for "The Simpsons Movie" (Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer and more) -- a larger net has been cast for stars to shine or (in some cases) drown, in animated features. No longer is a star a hilariously drawn Edward G. Robinson or Bette Davis in those glorious Warner Brothers shorts -- they are the stars, even while playing fish, or fowl, or Iron Giants. As the great Mel Blanc might have said (had he lived to see and hear all this business): "Th-th-th-that's NOT all, folks."

What are your favorite celeb vocals in an animated feature? Write us at heymsn@microsoft.com

In addition to her regular contributions to MSN Movies, Kim Morgan is a film writer for the LA Weekly, Fandango and Reel.com. She was a film critic for The Oregonian and has written about movies for various print and Web media. She served as DVD critic on Tech TV's "The Screen Savers" and has appeared as guest film critic on "Ebert and Roeper," AMC's "The Movie Club with John Ridley" and on E! Entertainment. She writes the MSN Movies blog.

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