Sound design plays an important role in filmmaking, adding depth, texture, and emotional weight to every scene. In his lecture on the sound design of The Ant Bully, veteran sound editor Bruce Tanis provided a detailed look at how sound was crafted to enhance the film’s unique world.
The Challenge of Shifting Scale
The Ant Bully tells the story of Lucas, a young boy who is shrunk down to the size of an ant and learns valuable lessons about bullying and empathy. The film constantly shifts between Lucas’s normal human-sized world and the micro world of the ants. This presented a challenge for the sound team—how do you create an auditory experience that convincingly sells the massive shift in scale?
Tanis explained that the approach involved taking everyday sounds and dramatically altering their textures and intensity.
For example, jelly beans, which to an ant appear as large as a Volkswagen bus, needed to sound appropriately massive. Rather than using simple candy sounds, Tanis layered effects like rocks tumbling and logs rolling to give the jelly beans a substantial, weighty presence.
Similarly, ant footsteps were created using the tapping of fingernails on various surfaces to mimic the delicate but distinct movement of tiny creatures. Additionally, the scurrying of multiple ants was created by rubbing together clusters of pipe cleaners, giving the impression of multiple legs moving in unison.
To further sell the small-scale perspective, wings of flying insects were simulated by rapidly waving thin sheets of plastic near a microphone, while the rustling of tiny ant tunnels was achieved by crumbling dry leaves close to the mic.
Bringing Inanimate Objects to Life
A particularly innovative sequence involved Lucas trying to use a telephone while shrunken. To him, the device was enormous, and every interaction had to sound exaggerated.
The challenge was to make the phone feel as massive as it appeared on screen. Tanis used a combination of creaking wood and mechanical groans to simulate the exaggerated movements of the buttons.
Even something as simple as bouncing across the number pad required extensive sound layering, incorporating elements like trampoline noises to create a sense of scale and playfulness.
The clicking and pressing of the giant buttons were enhanced by layering metallic creaks and soft drum hits to give them an exaggerated, yet comedic, effect. To emphasize the impact of Lucas’ tiny frame interacting with such a massive device, rubber mallets hitting different surfaces were used, adding a bouncy yet weighty feel to the movements.
The interior of the phone was given a cavernous reverb effect, achieved by recording inside a large metal container and layering subtle electronic hums to give it a sense of being an otherworldly space.
The Frog Scene: A Sound Designer’s Playground
One of the most dynamic sequences in the film involved a giant frog attacking the ant colony.
Every aspect of the frog’s movement—its powerful hops, the slapping of its tongue, the deep resonance of its croaks—had to be carefully designed.
Rather than using a clichéd whip-crack for the tongue snap, Tanis combined a retracting metal tape measure with slurping and rubbery elements to create a more organic, fluid sound.
Additionally, to make the frog’s croaks feel appropriately large, he mixed in alligator sounds and other guttural animal noises, giving the character a sense of weight and menace.
The stomach noises when Lucas gets swallowed were made by recording gurgling water and layering in slow, reversed squelching sounds from a wet sponge to create the sensation of a living, breathing digestive system.
Further texture was added by recording bubbling mud and low, resonant groans from stretched rubber to give the impression of internal pressure and digestion. The sounds were then processed with reverb and pitch-shifting to make them seem cavernous and otherworldly.
For the sound of the ants communicating, a combination of manipulated insect recordings and synthesized clicking noises were used, creating a distinct and otherworldly effect.
An Unconventional Work Environment
Tanis revealed that the film’s sound design was primarily completed outside of a traditional studio setting. The supervising sound editor set up multiple editing stations inside his home, and the team worked from there rather than a studio lot. This environment, though unusual, allowed for a more collaborative process, with frequent back-and-forth discussions between Tanis and the supervising editor to refine sounds in real-time.
The Process of Sound Design
One of the key takeaways from Tanis’ lecture was how sound design is as much about imagination as it is about technical skill. Many of the sounds in The Ant Bully came from heavily modified real-world recordings. The team wasn’t simply capturing existing sounds—they were sculpting, layering, and manipulating them to build a sonic world that felt believable within the film’s setting.
Moreover, the film’s animation process meant that the sound had to constantly adapt to evolving visuals. Tanis explained that animation updates required frequent revisions to ensure the sound remained in sync with new scenes or altered sequences. This iterative process added complexity but also allowed for greater creativity in crafting the film’s unique auditory landscape.
Bruce Tanis’ Work Beyond The Ant Bully
Bruce Tanis has worked on an impressive range of films and TV shows, demonstrating his versatility in sound editing. His credits include Barbie, Tenet, Inception, Watchmen, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and Snakes on a Plane. His extensive experience in both animation and live-action projects has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of how sound can enhance storytelling.
Final Thoughts
Bruce Tanis’ work on The Ant Bully highlights the creativity involved in sound design. Through careful layering, pitch manipulation, and innovative use of real-world effects, he helped shape a vibrant and immersive soundscape that brought the film’s tiny world to life. His insights serve as a valuable resource for aspiring sound designers, demonstrating how attention to detail and a willingness to experiment can enhance a film’s overall impact.
For anyone interested in sound design, The Ant Bully is a great case study in how auditory elements can transform a story. Tanis’ lecture offers a reminder that in filmmaking, sound isn’t just something you hear—it’s something you feel.