THE REAL BUG'S LIFE
January 24, 2024 / Disney+
Narrated: Awkwafina
Series Producer: Bill Markham
Inspired by the World of Disney and Pixar's “A Bug's Life,” the new Disney+ Original Series from National Geographic, A REAL BUG’S LIFE, is an incredible adventure into nine different micro bug worlds around the globe, where the forces of nature play out on a miniature scale and where tiny creatures rely on amazing powers and extraordinary alliances to make it through each day. The stakes are high… even if the critters are extraordinarily small. With new developments in filming technology and narrated by fun and witty guide Awkwafina, follow the incredible stories of the tiny heroes living in worlds beyond the imagination — from a jumping spider looking for a home on the streets of New York to a Costa Rican orchid bee’s first day on the job making perfume! Full of mind-blowing new behaviors and larger-than-life characters, this family-friendly series shows that A REAL BUG’S LIFE can be every bit as fantastical as any animated film.
Written By Darren
Rating 3.5 out of 5
A Real Bug’s Life features great footage of insects in their natural habitats, covering different ecosystems and their functions, that combined with Awkwafina’s spirited narration results in an educational and enjoyable watch.
Nature documentaries are always an interesting watch when you are intrigued by the species that are the subject matter. National Geographic’s latest docuseries is all about insects, taking inspiration from Disney Pixar’s A Bug’s Life just after the film’s twenty-fifth anniversary, giving viewers an insight into insect life within the context of the human world. Each episode focuses on a different environment and the bugs that live there, detailing how they find food, support their surrounding ecosystem and how they coexist with mankind. From the urban jungle that is New York City, to the actual jungles of Costa Rica, and a fully operational farm, each episode provides a different perspective into the bug world. The changing perspective of each episode keeps the series feeling fresh in terms of the information it conveys each episode, but with an under thirty minute runtime per episode, only so much information can be presented to the audience. It’s not as rich as a documentary specifically focused on one environment would be, but with the series being more catered towards younger viewers, it will likely be a success in both keeping them engaged and educating them.
As with most nature documentaries, the footage of the insects themselves is mesmerizing. It transports the viewer down to the ground and allows them to see each of the subject insects in all their glory, performing tasks that the human eye would miss. Bringing to life these visuals is Awkwafina’s narration of the series. As a comedian, she has a perfect voice for telling stories about the insects the series focuses on, bringing some wonderful laughter and joy to the series while also captivating the audience for each episode’s full run time. Awafina’s narration does a wonderful job of engaging younger viewers and making this show about insects exciting, hilarious and enjoyable from start to finish, ensuring that they will enjoy this educational program with ease.
While I am not normally one to watch nature documentaries, there is no denying that there is something truly entertaining about A Real Bug’s Life. But thanks to Awkwafina’s energetic and charming narration that conveys the lives of the insects that are the subject of this documentary with such gusto and laughter, paired with the great footage that allows us humans to see the world as these bugs do, A Real Bug’s Life is a truly enjoyable documentary series for audiences of all ages to enjoy.