Having recently revisited A Bug's Life, one of the things that stood out to me was just how well --at least, for its time-- the 1998 Pixar film did in magnifying the nature-focused setting to tell a story from the perspective of bugs. It also made me wonder how a film like that might be done today, more than a decade later. Shrinking down the camera's eye to show nature from a bug-size perspective has the potential for something visually extraordinary given the advancements in animation since A Bug's Life. Looking at the trailer for Twentieth Century Fox's upcoming 3D CG animated film Epic, it seems like this movie may attempt to demonstrate just that.
From Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky, Epic is described as "an ongoing battle [that takes place] deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a rag-tag team of fun and whimsical characters in order to save their world…and ours." We learned this Spring that Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried and Josh Hutcherson are among those whose voices will be featured in the film. And today Good Morning America unveiled the new trailer.
Set to Snow Patrol's "The Lightning Strike," the trailer focuses on the visuals and the promise of adventure, leaving just a little extra for a bit of humor in the form of a slug, and the introduction of the teenage girl who's been "magically transported" into this exciting and likely dangerous adventure. While the perspective is a little reminiscent of A Bug's Life, the description and setting seems like it may be closer to Fern Gully. Comparison's aside, it looks like an exciting story and one that may prove to be a visual treat on the big screen.
Epic arrives in theaters May 24, 2013.
