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| Other names | Ants in the Can Ants in the SquarePants |
|---|---|
| Designers | Marvin Glass & Assoc. |
| Publishers | Schaper Toys Milton Bradley |
| Publication | 1969; 56 years ago (1969) |
| Years active | 1969–? |
| Genres | Game |
| Languages | English |
| Players | 2–4 |
| Playing time | 10' |
| Age range | 4+ |
Ants in the Pants is agame designed byMarvin Glass and Associates, who sold the rights[1] toWilliam H. Schaper, and was originally produced in 1969 by Schaper's companySchaper Toys. In 1986 it was purchased byHasbro, which still manufactures and markets the game.[2][3]
The name refers to anidiomaticexpression in English which asserts that nervous, fidgety people must have "ants in theirpants." The English word "antsy" (meaning nervous) also derives from thismetaphor.
The fundamental pieces involved inAnts in the Pants are a free-standing pair of miniature, usually plastic, pants; and several plastic ants. The ants arecolor coded - eachplayer uses one color of ants - and designed so that pressing the tail storeselastic potential energy. When the tail is pressed and released, the ants spring into the air.
Theobject ofAnts in the Pants is to spring as many of your ants as possible into the pants.
Some versions ofAnts in the Pants include characters who "wear" the pants. These (usuallycardboard) cutouts depict the character, and also serve asbackboards to deflect the ants into the pants.Plasticsuspenders (orbraces) are another common element, which serve as obstacles.
This game appeared in theSouth Park episode "Damien", in whichCartman receives the game as a gift instead of the toy he wanted, and throws a tantrum.[4]
