Tune into bumper crop of school holiday toons

A 10-year-old boy brings down the wrath of magic ants upon himself in The Ant Bully.

These school holidays there's not just one big computer-animated cartoon vying for kids' attention - there are four crowding the screens at your local multiplex. Here we talk to the maker of The Ant Bully and preview the talking-creature features Barnyard and The Wild.

In the ant hill for the long haul

You can tell John A. Davis is a happy, friendly, and slightly nerdy chap, even though he's on the other end of a phone line from Dallas, Texas.

He chuckles about how his home and office are overrun with Japanese monsters like Godzilla and paraphernalia from TV shows such as Thunderbirds.

But when you're the director of the new children's movie, The Ant Bully, you can afford to be a big kid.

"It's not so much research, it's about getting my head in the right space. So I've immersed myself with toys. And when I'm working on a kids' movie I also go back and watch things that I used to watch when I was a kid," says Davis, who's best known for the 2001 feature film Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

The Ant Bully is produced by Tom Hanks and features the voices of Hollywood stars Julia Roberts, Nicholas Cage and Meryl Streep.

It's the story of 10-year-old Lucas who is picked on by the neighbourhood bully. To make himself feel better he destroys the ant hill in his front yard - he kicks it, stomps on the ants and squirts their home with the garden hose.

Lucas thinks they're "just a bunch of stupid ants" and doesn't realise there's a whole world of creatures, with feelings and emotions just like him, living underneath his feet.

Finally, the ants decide to take revenge on "Lucas the Destroyer". One night they sneak into his room and pour a magic potion, created by Wizard Ant Zoc (Cage), into his ear and he shrinks to the size of an ant. The ants kidnap him and he is made to live like them as his punishment.

The idea for the movie, which is based on a book by John Nickle, was suggested to Davis by Hanks who was a fan of Jimmy Neutron.

Hanks' son brought the book home from kindergarten and the Oscar-winning actor thought it would make a great movie.

At first Davis was reluctant because of other ant movies in the past like Antz and A Bug's Life. "But hey, there's been lots of cowboy movies, and lots of movies with dinosaurs and aliens in them, too," he says.

"It really comes down to the story and I was given a lot of leeway to take the story where I wanted. I started thinking how I could make it different and the ant world more unique. I loved the idea of this miniaturised kid who has to deal with all these issues, and also what all the action would be - like battling wasps, being eaten by frogs and fighting giants."

In one sequence, Lucas falls from a wasp and lands on the head of Stan, the dodgy exterminator. Lucas comes face to face with an army of goofy head lice and he battles his way through the greasy surroundings.

"I'm always thinking where can I take the audience next. Something just tickled me when I thought about Lucas falling off the wasp and suddenly there's this whole other civilisation living on Stan's head."

It's a great story, with a positive message and obvious life lessons coming through. But Davis is always mindful of not preaching or talking down to kids.

"I like there to be a moral, or a point to the movie, particularly if it's for kids. But you shouldn't hit them over the head with it - it should be implicit."

However, sometimes you do need to make things explicit. During the testing sessions for the movie many of the younger children couldn't understand why Lucas was kicking the ant mound.

"So I went back and made that a little more clear. So, you don't have talk down to kids but sometimes, with certain concepts, it requires a little more explanation."

One thing's for sure though, if you're making an animated movie you had better be in love with the project right from the start.

Davis has been working on The Ant Bully since 2002. "That's a super long time ago," he chuckles. "On the one hand you're anxious to get on to your next project, but on the other hand it's got to be something you are really passionate about and something you love. It takes so much time and it's years of your life going by, you know?"

Barnyard and The Wild

BARNYARD

What it is: Otis is the irresponsible, fun-loving son of cow-in-charge Ben until something tragic happens in a Lion King/Bambi's mother kind of way. Time to grow up, Otis, and stop being a party animal, even if it's entertaining - especially when he goes out people-tipping with his Jersey mates.

What it looks like: A Gary Larson's Far Side cartoon with moving bits and musical numbers.

Whose voices are in it: Kevin James, Sam Elliott, Danny Glover, Dom Irrera, Courteney Cox, Wanda Sykes and Andie MacDowell

Why it might be funny: Cows are always funny. Even boy cows which, in this film, all come with udders - "Barnyard just might be the Transamerica of computer-generated family films," said USA Today.

Who made it: Nickelodeon


THE WILD

What it is: When the son of New York Zoo's Samson the lion is shipped off to Africa he rallies his mates - a giraffe, anaconda, a koala and a squirrel - to escape and head to the old country on a rescue mission. Only Samson has never been in the wild ...

What it looks like: Let's see. Bunch of animals escape New York for the jungle ... Madagascar? Only they seem to have improved the quality of the fur.

Whose voices are in it: Kiefer Sutherland (as Samson), Eddie Izzard (as Nigel the koala), James Belushi, Janeane Garofalo, and William Shatner.

Why it might be funny: Shatner is the voice of wildebeest leader Kazar who has a wacky plan to get his kind to the top of the food chain.

Who made it: Disney. Hence the occasional Lion King references.