Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants!

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how something so little can have a big impact on the world.  Okay, one would think I was referring to perhaps teaching Little One that though she is one person and may feel small, she is capable of doing great things.  Right?  Well, that is true.  However, I was actually referring to how something as little as a mosquito can have such a huge impact on ME!  An insect so tiny can drive me so crazy.

It’s June and it’s mosquito time. Little One saw me smack my hand on a mosquito and got upset when I proclaimed victory by saying, “AHA! I got you!”

My six year old daughter’s response was, “Mommy! Don’t you love Mother Nature? Mosquitoes are part of nature.”  She went on to ask me why I had to kill the mosquito, and I told her that I really don’t like getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!

Then the conversation went on to her telling me about Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants.  Little One wanted me to see things from an insect’s perspective and cleverly used the synopsis for a movie she recently watched.

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants is a 2013 France/Belgium animated film, co-written and directed by Hélène Giraud and Thomas Szabo

After a couple leaves their picnic in a hurry, a gang of hungry ants moves in to steal what could be their most coveted treasure: a tin box filled with sugar cubes.  But before they can get away with the loot, a newly-born ladybug strays from its own family and gets trapped inside the box!  The ladybug is soon spirited away by the ants as they try to transport their prize across the woods toward their colony. Together, the insects embark on an epic journey to protect their sugar.

I think what my little daughter was trying to explain to me is that every creature has its journey and a role to play.  I said I still thought that a mosquito’s role was to suck our blood and make us itchy.  Little One reminded me of all the other animals, birds and insects that rely on mosquitoes to feed.

Back to the movie.

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants is an epic adventure with almost no dialogue.  Surprisingly, Little One was immersed in the story (that contained practically no dialogue).  I noticed that Little One tends to enjoy films with little to no dialogue.  I’m quite the opposite.  For Little One, it’s all about the visual storytelling.  Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants is like Wall-E meets A Bug’s Life!

These animated stars communicate solely via a synchronized soundtrack featuring music and sound effects to tell the tale of their journey. With the lone voice of Richard Dreyfuss as the narrator, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants is the buzz worthy spring feature you won’t want to miss.

I sat down and watched Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants with Little One and was able to see things from her perspective.  I was amazed.  Without many words, a story could be told.  The film was visually impressive.

My six year old was right about every creature having a journey and a role in the universe (even if it entails protecting sugar!).  She was also right about one more thing — Good things do come in small packages.

This said, I’m still not feeling the mosquito love!

Giveaway

Do you think your kids would like to watch Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants? You’re in luck!  The amazing folks at kaboom! Entertainment are giving you the chance to win your own Minuscule: Valley of the Ants DVD.  Open to residents of Canada only (excluding Quebec).  Giveaway ends midnight on June 26, 2015.  To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

For more information, visit kaboom! Entertainment on Facebook and Twitter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway