Illustration by Jaclyn Kessel; All Photos/Gifs Courtesy Criterion Collection; Pixar via Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video

After offering the bandits what little rice they had to begin with, the villagers are feeling a bit defeated…

Photo: Criterion Collection

…As is Flick, the laughing stock of the colony. He’s comparable to Manzö, the paranoid villager in ‘Seven Samurai’, both in demeanor and the way they care for their daughter figures in their lives: Manzö’s being Shino and Flick’s being Dot.

Gif: Pixar

When the villagers realize the bandits are pissed…

Photo: Criterion Collection

…They’re all like fuuuuuck, what do we do now?

Photo: Pixar

So they run and hide in huts…

Gif: Criterion Collection

…And in ant hills.

Photo: Pixar

The bandits decide to spare the villagers just this once, but they’ll be back.

Photo: Criterion Collection

Hopper, leader of the pillaging grasshoppers, promises the same.

Photo: Pixar

The villagers just want the bandits to take whatever they have left and be done with this torture.

Photo: Criterion Collection

But bullies don’t work that way because they will drag out this starvation process until the last leaf falls.

Gif: Pixar

So after that, the elders are all like, “We should listen to the youngsters and hire some samurais…”

Photo: Criterion Collection

Even though it goes against their pride.

Photo: Pixar

But the youngsters are just looking out for the well-being of future generations.

Photo: Criterion Collection

So the hunt for samurai begins. In ”A Bug’s Life, they’re known as “warriors.” That’s Flick, on that ledge contemplating his fate and the fate of his colony…

Photo: Pixar

…And that’s Toshiro Mifune, also on a ledge, debating the fate of his broken country and wondering if he’ll be unemployed for much longer.

Photo: Criterion Collection

Flick goes to the city and stumbles upon the fiercest warriors he could have ever dreamed up. He decides to be the ring leader of the whole operation…

Photo: Pixar

…And so does Kambei, who’s normally humble, but knows when it’s time to show off his sword skills.

Photo: Criterion Collection