The Grasshopper and the Ant (1913)
The Grasshopper and the Ant Review
The Grasshopper and the Ant is a 1913 animated short film directed by Wladyslaw Starewicz. It is such a great flick.
Starewicz was such an influential, astounding early animation director and here we’ve got one of his earliest triumphs. This is the film where he adapted the famous eponymous fable where the grasshopper sits around and sings while the ants are working hard, preparing for winter. Eventually, he asks for their help and they refuse to let him in the house so he is left to freeze.
Yes, here we have the darkest ending possible for this story unlike other cartoon adaptations of it. And I appreciated that as it led to such a powerful, sad and cautionary ending. I wanted more from the ants as they were underutilized here, but the hopper was terrific and very memorable. The film is well directed, well edited and paced. But the animation is the true star as the leaves, the house and everything looks gorgeous with the ants and especially the hopper being stupendously designed and polished.
The Grasshopper and the Ant is a tremendous early Starewicz vehicle thanks to stellar animation and a respectably dark ending.
