The Ant Bully (film)

The Ant Bully is a 2006 American animated fantasy adventure comedy film co-produced, written for the screen, and directed by John A. Davis and based on the 1999 children's book of the same name. The film features an ensemble voice cast including Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Paul Giamatti. The story follows Lucas Nickle, a 10-year-old bullied boy who, after attacking the nearby ant colony out of frustration, is shrunk by the ants and is ordered to work amongst them. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, who also produced it alongside Legendary Pictures in their first animated film, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman's Playtone, and Davis and Keith Alcorn's DNA Productions, which also provided the film's animation.

Released on July 28, 2006, The Ant Bully received mixed reviews from critics and became a box-office failure, grossing $55 million against its $50 million budget. Due to this, many DNA employees were laid off, leading to the studio's closure. This was Ricardo Montalbán's final film role before his death in 2009.