U GOTTA SEE THIS ANTS MAKE BOY CRY UNCLE.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

Bugs are apparently an endless source of fascination for animators -- from Jiminy Cricket to films like ``Antz'' and ``A Bug's Life.''

Now comes ``The Ant Bully'' -- directed by John A. Davis and based on a book by John Nickle -- which seems a cross between ``Antz'' and ``Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.''

It's a story about 10-year-old Lucas (voiced by Zach Tyler Eisen), who is bullied by bigger boys and in turns takes it out on the ant colony on his front lawn with the family garden hose. Little does he know that it's a magical colony, and one of its wizards, Zoc (Nicolas Cage), sneaks into Lucas' room and gives him a potion that makes him the size of an ant.

Once in the colony, Lucas is brought before the queen (Meryl Streep at her most imperious), who decides that he must live among them and learn their ways. But along the way, he and the colony must survive a persistent exterminator (Paul Giamatti).

Julia Roberts, Regina King, Bruce Campbell and Lily Tomlin are also among the voice talent.

``The Ant Bully'' serves up its lessons of teamwork in a fun visual style. Although a bit talky, it is a fun -- if not original -- trip down the ant hole.

Also out is ``The Cheetah Girls 2 -- Cheetah-Licious Edition,'' the sequel to the Disney Channel hit.

The original four Cheetah Girls that make up the teen all-girl band -- Raven-Symone, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan -- return in a story that takes place around a music festival in Spain. There is plenty of drama and music and energy in this one -- all the things that made the Cheetahs a phenomenon among young girls.

Young girls are the target of another Disney Channel product, ``Molly -- An American Girl on the Home Front,'' which just aired last Sunday. Based on the popular doll, it takes place during World War II in small-town America. Molly McIntire (Maya Ritter) and her mother (Molly Ringwald) are doing their bit to help by taking in an English girl, Emily (Tory Green), who has been evacuated from London to escape the bombings. Meanwhile, Molly's dad is off in Europe fighting the war.

Mild sparks fly between Molly and Emily, but eventually you know things will be all right. And, oh yeah, lessons will be learned.

Animated animals are at the heart of Disney's 1973 ``Robin Hood -- Most Wanted Edition.'' You know the story. This time, though, the characters are all animals. Robin (Brian Bedford) is the fox, who robs from the rich to give to the poor, while country music legend Roger Miller provided the songs. Not one of Disney's greatest, but a fairly enjoyable effort.

Rob Lowman, [phone]

robert.lowman(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Above: 10-year-old Lucas learns a thing or two when he's shrunk to the size of an insect in ``The Ant Bully.'' Below: A fox is the title character in Disney's ``Robin Hood -- Most Wanted.''