Molt

Molt
Series information
Appearance	A Bug's Life
Portrayed by	Richard Kind

"Why go back to Ant Island at all? I mean, you don't even like grain."

—Molt, to Hopper

Molt is a character in A Bug's Life. He is Hopper's younger brother and the self-proclaimed Vice President of the grasshopper gang - although nobody believes that but him.

Background

Molt is is the loud-mouthed, fat, gullible, idiotic, laid-back but essentially good-hearted younger brother of Hopper. He got his name due to the fact that his chitlin armor molts off in flakes. Hopper despises his brother because he is so annoying, and is irritated by his brother's incompetence, and only puts up with him because he promised their mother on her deathbed that he wouldn't kill him. Molt often tries to be scary, but he's never taken seriously, partly because he is so submissive to the genuinely terrifying Hopper.

Molt started out as a supporting antagonist, but in the end he reformed and joined the circus.

A Bug's Life

When the grasshoppers first invade Ant Island, Molt interrupts Hopper's threatening speech to Atta, loudly telling everybody about the bluejay that once nearly ate Hopper. Infuriated, Hopper memorably tells Molt that if their mother hadn't made him promise never to kill Molt, he would kill him. He then vents by decking another grasshopper. Shortly afterwards the grasshoppers leave.

Later, back at the grasshopper headquarters, Molt's "friends" Axel and Loco tell him that it's pointless going back to Ant Island. When Molt agrees, they convince him to put the idea to Hopper as his own, in the hope that if Hopper doesn't like it, Molt will be the one who gets into trouble. When the idea infuriates Hopper, Molt frantically admits it wasn't his idea, and that Axel and Loco suggested it. Realizing there is dissent in his gang, Hopper kills Axel and Loco to point out the possible danger of the ants before heading with the rest of the gang back to Ant Island.

Near the end of the film, Molt is seen eating, enjoying and encouraging the circus. When when the ants charge at the grasshoppers, Molt sheds his peeling skin all at once in fright at the mass of ants, charging at his fellow grasshoppers, but rather than fleeing the island and abandoning Hopper like the others, runs and hides in the grass.

Molt survives the ants' rebellion, and in the end, he joins P.T. Flea's circus as a strongman, with a new nickname: "Tiny." When he climbs into the circus wagon, Molt expresses his thankfulness towards Flik for giving him a fresh start, until Manny and Gypsy close the wagon with Molt saying, "Shutting up," one last time.

Personality

Molt is Hopper's younger brother and the self-proclaimed Vice President of the grasshopper gang - although nobody believes that but him. Fat, gullible, and loud-mouthed, but essentially good-hearted and honest, Molt got his name due to the fact that his chitlin armor molts off in flakes. He reguarly infuriates Hopper to the point that Hopper told Molt early in the film that if he hadn't promised Mother on her deathbed that he wouldn't kill Molt, he would kill him.

Molt often tries to be scary, but he's never taken seriously, partly because he is so submissive to the genuinely terrifying Hopper.

Trivia

• Molt was created for the film to provide some comic relief out of the more uncomfortable moments with Hopper, but it was decided to make him his brother when it was realized that Hopper would never allow somebody as witless and annoying as Molt to stay with the gang otherwise.
• In one blooper, during the credits of the film, when Hopper gains closer on him, Molt accidentally backs into the camera and screws up the crew's equipment. Additional bloopers show Molt acting foolishly when Hopper shakes him angrily.
• Despite Molt being Hopper's younger brother, Richard Kind (Molt's voice actor) is actually three years older than Kevin Spacey (who voiced Hopper).
• Molt is similar to Mr. Smee from Peter Pan and LeFou from Beauty and the Beast, due to the fact they are secondary antagonists and are often abused by their boss; also because they are not considered truly evil.
• Molt is the first Pixar character voiced by Richard Kind.