Heavy Metal (1981)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Gerald Potterton

Writers:

Daniel Goldberg (screenplay) &
Len Blum (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Fantasy | Horror | Music | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A Step Beyond Science Fiction

Plot:

A glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with a collection of stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.

Plot Keywords:

Heavy Metal | Anthology | Sphere | Pentagon | Alien

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Rodger Bumpass	...	Hanover Fiste (segment "Captain Sternn") / Dr. Anrak (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice) (as Roger Bumpass)
John Candy	...	Desk Sergeant (segment "Harry Canyon") / Dan (segment "Den") / Den (segment "Den") / Robot (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Jackie Burroughs	...	Katherine (segment "Den") (voice)
Joe Flaherty	...	Lawyer (segment "Captain Sternn") / General (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Don Francks	...	Grimaldi (segment "Grimaldi") / Co-Pilot (segment "B-17") / Barbarian (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Martin Lavut	...	Ard (segment "Den") (voice)
Marilyn Lightstone	...	Whore (segment "Harry Canyon") / Queen (segment "Den") (voice)
Eugene Levy	...	Sternn (segment "Captain Sternn") / Male Reporter (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") / Edsel (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Alice Playten	...	Gloria (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Harold Ramis	...	Zeke (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Susan Roman	...	Girl (segment "Harry Canyon") / Satellite (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
August Schellenberg	...	Nort (segment "Den") / Taarak (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Richard Romanus	...	Harry Canyon (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
John Vernon	...	Prosecutor (segment "Captain Sternn") (voice)
Zal Yanovsky	...	Navigator (segment "B-17") / Barbarian (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Caroline Semple	...	Girl (segment "Grimaldi") (voice)
Al Waxman	...	Rudnick (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
Harvey Atkin	...	Alien (segment "Harry Canyon") / Henchman (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
Glenis Wootton Gross	...	Whore (segment "Harry Canyon") (voice)
Douglas Kenney	...	Regolian (segment "Captain Sternn") (voice)
George Touliatos	...	Pilot (segment "B-17") / Barbarian (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Patty Dworkin	...	Woman Reporter (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Warren Munson	...	Senator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (voice)
Vlasta Vrana	...	Barbarian Leader (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Mavor Moore	...	Elder (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Thor Bishopric	...	Boy (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Len Doncheff	...	Barbarian (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Cedric Smith	...	Bartender (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Joseph Golland	...	Councilman (segment "Taarna") (voice)
Charles Jolliffe	...	Councilman (segment "Taarna") (voice) (as Charles Joliffe)
Ned Conlon	...	Councilman (segment "Taarna") (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Percy Rodrigues	...	Loknar (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Gerald Potterton

Writing credits
Daniel Goldberg		(screenplay) (as Dan Goldberg) &
Len Blum		(screenplay)
Dan O'Bannon		(original story) (segment "Soft Landing")
Daniel Goldberg		(story) (segment "Harry Canyon") (as Dan Goldberg) &
Len Blum		(story) (segment "Harry Canyon")
Richard Corben		(original story) (segment "Den")
Bernie Wrightson		(original story) (segment "Captain Sternn") (as Berni Wrightson)
Dan O'Bannon		(story) (segment "B-17")
Angus McKie		(original story) (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Daniel Goldberg		(story) (segment "Taarna") (as Dan Goldberg) &
Len Blum		(story) (segment "Taarna")
Jean Giraud		characters and situations (segment "Taarna") (uncredited)

Produced by
Vic Atkinson	....	sequence producer (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
John Coates	....	sequence producer (segment "Soft Landing")
Michael C. Gross	....	associate producer (as Michael Gross)
John Halas	....	sequence producer (segment "Grimaldi")
Jerry Hibbert	....	sequence producer (segment "Den")
Peter Lebensold	....	associate producer
Leonard Mogel	....	executive producer
Lawrence Nesis	....	associate producer
Ivan Reitman	....	producer
W.H. Stevens Jr.	....	sequence producer (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")

Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Film Editing by
Ian Llande		(segment "Den")
Mick Manning		(segment "Soft Landing")
Gerald Tripp		(segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")

Production Design by
Michael C. Gross		(as Michael Gross)

Art Direction by
Pat Gavin		(segment "Den")

Production Management
Dominic Anciano	....	production manager (segment "Soft Landing")
Francis Gallagher	....	production manager: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Valerie Gifford	....	production manager (segment "Taarna")
Daniel Goldberg	....	post-production supervisor (as Dan Goldberg)
Andrew Gryn	....	unit manager: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Susan Kapigian	....	production manager (segment "Captain Sternn")
Jack King	....	production manager (segment "Grimaldi")
Christine Larocque	....	production supervisor
Philip Lynch	....	production manager (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Elizabeth Murdoch	....	assistant production supervisor
Bob Yuile	....	production manager (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bob Yuile	....	assistant director (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Richard Hawley	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Christos Achilleos	....	designer (segment "Taarna") (as Chris Achilleos)
Neal Adams	....	designer (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Christian Bénard	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Brent Boates	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Howard Chaykin	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Kurt Conner	....	storyboard artist (segment "Taarna")
Richard Corben	....	original art (segment "Den")
John Dorman	....	storyboard artist (segment "Taarna")
Jeffrey Gatrall	....	storyboard artist (segment "Taarna")
Juan Giménez	....	designer (segment "Harry Canyon)
Juan Giménez	....	storyboard artist (segment "Harry Canyon")
J.S. Goert	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Blake James	....	designer (segment "B-17")
Sherman Labby	....	storyboard artist (segment "Taarna")
Brian Larkin	....	storyboard artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Angus McKie	....	designer (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Angus McKie	....	original art (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Lee Mishkin	....	storyboard director (segment "B-17")
Phillip Norwood	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Michael G. Ploog	....	designer (segments "B-17" and "Taarna") (as Mike Ploog)
Alex Tavoularis	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Hank Tucker	....	storyboard artist (segment "Taarna")
Ira Turek	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
George Ungar	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Thomas Warkentin	....	original art (segment "Soft Landing")
Harold Whitaker	....	storyboard artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Charles White III	....	designer (segment "Taarna")
Bernie Wrightson	....	original art (segment "Captain Sternn") (as Berni Wrightson)
Corny Cole	....	designer (segment "Neverwhereland") (uncredited)

Sound Department
Marc Chiasson	....	sound effects editor
Rod Crawley	....	sound effects editor
Austin Grimaldi	....	sound re-recordist
Joe Grimaldi	....	sound re-recordist
Joanne Hovey	....	assistant sound editor
Joanne Hovey	....	sound effects editor
Peter Jermyn	....	synthesized sound effects
Andy Malcolm	....	post sync sound effects
Peter McBurnie	....	post sync sound effects
Tony Reed	....	dialogue editor
Nick Rotundo	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Thilaye	....	supervising sound editor (as Peter Thillaye)
Gord Thompson	....	assistant sound editor (as Gordon Thompson)
Gord Thompson	....	sound effects editor (as Gordon Thompson)
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Jerry L. Allen	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Judy Allen	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Terry Allen	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Don Amundson	....	effects designer: traveling shot (segment "Taarna")
Barry Atkinson	....	color coordinator (segment "B-17")
Barry Atkinson	....	special effects (segment "B-17")
Lee Atkinson	....	color coordinator (segment "B-17")
Lee Atkinson	....	special effects (segment "B-17")
Rodolfo Azaro	....	airbrush artist (segment "Soft Landing") (as Rudolfo Azaro)
Brian Borthwick	....	model construction (segment "Grimaldi")
Brian Borthwick	....	technical artist (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
John Bruno	....	special effects director (segment "Taarna")
Gordon Coulthart	....	color coordinator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Gordon Coulthart	....	special effects (segment "Harry Canyon")
Mick Crane	....	airbrush artist (segment "Soft Landing")
Carol Desbiens	....	live action model (segment "Taarna")
Lee Dyer	....	effects animator (segment "Taarna")
Vance Frederick	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Alex Funke	....	effects designer: traveling shot (segment "Taarna")
Jackie Hall	....	color coordinator (segment "Den")
Dale Herigstad	....	animator: main title
John Leprovost	....	animator: main title (as John LePrevost)
Michele Moen	....	effects background painter (segment "Taarna")
Max Morgan	....	camera operator: multiplane camera (segment "Taarna") (as Maxwell Morgan)
Rex Neville	....	special effects (segment "Den")
Peter Petronio	....	special effects (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Philip Phillipson	....	effects background painter (segment "Taarna")
Arthur Provis	....	model photography (segment "Grimaldi")
Robert Schaefer	....	effects background painter (segment "Taarna") (as Bob Schaefer)
Gregory Schafer	....	camera operator: multiplane camera (segment "Taarna")
Scott Sinclair	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Jay Teitzell	....	animator: main title
Tim Tondreault	....	model construction (segment "Taarna")
Lisa Atkinson	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	maintitle animation element cinematography: Bo Gehring Associates (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
André Beaulieu	....	assistant camera: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Peter Bromley	....	camera operator (segment "Taarna")
Peter Brown	....	camera assistant (segment "Taarna")
Michèle Carrier	....	camera assistant (segment "Taarna")
Gabriel Caya	....	camera assistant (segment "Taarna")
Peter Jones	....	camera operator (segment "Den")
Wayne Kimball	....	camera effects (segment "Taarna")
Serge Langlois	....	camera operator (segment "Taarna")
Claude Lapierre	....	camera operator (segments "Captain Sternn" and "Taarna")
Warren Lipton	....	still photographer: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Harry Moreau	....	camera effects (segment "Taarna") (as Harry J. Moreau)
Graham Orrin	....	camera operator (segment "Den")
Peter Petronio	....	camera operator (segment "Grimaldi")
Richard Potterton	....	camera operator: video (segment "Taarna")
Jean Robillard	....	camera operator (segment "Taarna")
Peter Turner	....	camera operator (segments "Soft Landing" and "Den")
Paul Van der Linden	....	camera operator: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Richard Wolff	....	camera operator (segment "Den")
Robert Edward Crawford	....	camera operator: rostrum camera (uncredited)
Ray Evans	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ron Haines	....	camera operator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17") (uncredited)

Animation Department
José Abel	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Danny Antonucci	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Barry Atkinson	....	background artist (segment "B-17")
Vic Atkinson	....	animator (segment "B-17")
Hilary Audus	....	animator (segments "Soft Landing" and "Den")
Carlos Baeza	....	background artist (segment "Taarna") (as Carlos Lillo Baeza)
Colin Baker	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Robert Balser	....	animator (segment "Den") (as Bob Balser)
Michael Bannon	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Jean Bello	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Christian Bénard	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Alan Best	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Alexandra Bex	....	paint and trace coordinator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Christiane Bissonnette	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Phyllis Blumenfeld	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Brent Boates	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Andrew Breen	....	assistant animator (segment "Soft Landing")
Michel Breton	....	background artist (segment "Captain Sternn")
Michel Breton	....	layout artist (segment "Captain Sternn")
Kevin Brownie	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Errol Bryant	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Sue Butterworth	....	layout artist (segment "Harry Canyon")
Roland Carter	....	paint and trace coordinator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Kathi Castillo	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Cathy Castillo)
Anne Chevalier	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Roger Chiasson	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Rodger Chiasson)
Chris Chu	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Christopher Chu)
Joan Churchill	....	paint and trace supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Scott Claus	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Vanessa Clegg	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Jim Cleland	....	assistant animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Bobby Clennell	....	animator (segment "Den")
Hester Coblentz	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Richard Coleman	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Kurt Conner	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Kurt Conner	....	layout supervisor (segment "Taarna")
John Cousen	....	animator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Paul Cowen	....	assistant animator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
John Cox	....	assistant animator (segments "Den" and "Taarna")
Rich Cox	....	animator (segment "Den")
Dan Craig	....	assistant animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Ian Craig	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Doug Crane	....	animator (segment "Den") (as Douglas Crane)
Doug Crane	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Jane Jurasek Currie	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Ray daSilva	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon") (as Ray de Silva)
Retta Davidson	....	assistant animation supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Daniel DeCelles	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Daniel DeCelles	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Daniel de Niger	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Bernie Denk	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Bernie Denk	....	layout artist (segment "Taarna")
John Dorman	....	layout artist (segment "Taarna")
Chuck Downs	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Charlie Downs)
Malcolm Draper	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Norman Drew	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Norm Drew)
Michael Dudok de Wit	....	animator (segment "Den")
Helga Egilson	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
David Elvin	....	layout artist (segment "Den")
Marie Faucher	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Richard Fawdry	....	animator (segment "Den")
David Feiss	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Ian Freedman	....	assistant animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Euan Frizzell	....	animator (segment "Grimaldi")
Al Gaivoto	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Alvaro Gaivoto)
Zdenko Gasparovic	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Joseph Gilland	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Scott Glynn	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Milton Gray	....	key animator (segment "Taarna") (as Milt Gray)
Sebastian Grunstra	....	animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17") (as Sebastian)
Paul Gruwell	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Michel Guérin	....	background artist (segment "Harry Canyon")
Jeff Hale	....	animator (segment "B-17")
Joanna Harrison	....	animator (segments "Soft Landing" and "Den") (as Joanna Fryer)
Michael Hayes	....	paint and trace supervisor (segment "Den") (as Mike Hayes)
Fred Hellmich	....	animator (segment "B-17")
Fred Hellmich	....	layout artist (segment "B-17")
Jerry Hibbert	....	animator (segment "Den")
Mike Hibbert	....	animator (segment "Den")
Michael Hirsh	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Renee Holt	....	assistant animation supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Richard Hoover	....	layout artist (segment "Taarna")
Dick Horn	....	animator (segment "Den")
Pierre Houde	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Blake James	....	layout artist (segment "B-17")
Susan Kapigian	....	assistant animator (segment "Captain Sternn")
Susan Kapigian	....	paint and trace supervisor (segment "Captain Sternn")
Janos Kass	....	background artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Michael Kaweski	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Sam Kirson	....	background artist (segment "Soft Landing")
Ruth Kissane	....	animator (segments "B-17" and "Taarna")
Bert Kitchen	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Tapani Knuutila	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Knuutila A. Tapani)
Lureline Kohler	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Lureline Weatherly)
Julie Krasniewicz	....	assistant animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Brian Larkin	....	animation director (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Brian Larkin	....	animator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Brian Larkin	....	layout artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Raymond Lebrun	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Michel Lemire	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Michael Lessa	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Elizabeth Lewis	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Elizabeth Lewis Steele)
Leticia Lichtwardt	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Leticia Ruiz)
Bill Littlejohn	....	animator (segment "B-17")
Dave Livesey	....	animator (segment "Den")
Lonnie Lloyd	....	layout artist (segments "Grimaldi" and "Taarna")
Mike Lodge	....	assistant animator (segment "Soft Landing")
Reg Lodge	....	animator (segment "Den")
Michael Longden	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Mike Longden)
Ernesto Lopez	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Roger Mainwood	....	animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Rick Maki	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Roderick Miles Maki)
Sue Mantle	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Hasmig Marangian	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Mauro Maressa	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Danielle Marleau	....	background supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Brenda Martin	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Lorenzo E. Martinez	....	background artist (segment "Taarna") (as Lorenzo Martinez)
Lorenzo E. Martinez	....	layout artist (segments "Grimaldi" and "Taarna") (as Lorenzo Martinez)
Gaston Marzio	....	assistant animator (segments "Den" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Alain Masicotte	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Marie-Christiane Mathieu	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Paul McGarry	....	assistant animator (segment "Captain Sternn")
Alastair McIlwain	....	animator (segment "Den")
Angus McKie	....	background artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Robyn Milks	....	paint and trace supervisor (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Robyn Milks	....	xerox supervisor (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Peter Miller	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Bernie Mireault	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Gary Mooney	....	key animator (segments "Captain Sternn" and "Taarna")
Russ Mooney	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Wayne Morris	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Sharon Murray	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Art Nelles	....	background artist (segment "B-17")
Sean Newton	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Judith Niver	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Phillip Norwood	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Belinda Oldford	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Richard Ollive	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Les Orton	....	assistant animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Fabio Pacifico	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Spencer Peel	....	animator (segments "B-17" and "Taarna")
Bill Perkins	....	animator (segment "B-17")
John Perkins	....	animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "Den")
Anne E. Petersen	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Ted Pettengell	....	background artist (segment "Grimaldi") (as Ted Pettingell)
Ted Pettengell	....	layout artist (segment "Den") (as Ted Pettingell)
Philip Phillipson	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Marika Pinter	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Marika Schwarcz)
Weldon Poapst	....	paint and trace supervisor (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Weldon Poapst	....	xerox supervisor (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Corina Poore	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Steve Rabatich	....	assistant animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Edric Radage	....	animator (segment "Den")
Shivan Ramsaran	....	key animator (segment "Captain Sternn")
Irene Rappaport	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
William Recinos	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Greg Reyna	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Børge Ring	....	animator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Louise Robinson	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Mitch Rochon	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Norm Roen	....	animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Denis Ryan	....	background artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Paul Sabella	....	key animator (segment "Captain Sternn")
Mike Salter	....	assistant animator (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Jean Sarault	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Mireille Sarault	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Philip Scarrold	....	assistant animator (segment "Den") (as Phil Scarrold)
Pat Schaverien	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Chris Schouten	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
George Scribner	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Paul Shardlow	....	background artist (segment "Den")
Paul Shardlow	....	layout artist (segment "Den")
Kunio Shimamura	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Ron Stangl	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Grace Stanzell	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Ken Stephenson	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Jack Stokes	....	animator (segment "Den")
Paul Stone	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Joanne Storch	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Mike Stribling	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Michael Stribling)
Susan Sugita	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Julian Szuchopa	....	key animator (segment "Captain Sternn")
Danny Tarondo	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Marilyn Taylor	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Wynn Thomas	....	background artist (segment "Den") (as Wyn Thomas)
Dan Thompson	....	key animator (segment "Taarna")
Marshall Lee Toomey	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Marshall Toomey)
Pierre Tremblay	....	paint and trace supervisor (segment "B-17")
Pierre Tremblay	....	xerox supervisor (segment "B-17")
Richard Tremblay	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Richard Max Tremblay)
France Trudeau	....	assistant paint and trace supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Marianne Tucker	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Mary Ann Tucker)
George Ungar	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
George Ungar	....	layout artist (segment "Taarna")
Rick Villeneuve	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna") (as Richard Villeneuve)
Norton Virgien	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Barry Ward	....	assistant paint and trace supervisor (segment "Taarna")
Neal Warner	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Rosemary Welch	....	assistant animator (segment "Den")
Helen Wenzelbach	....	assistant animator (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Stephen Weston	....	animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Harold Whitaker	....	animation director (segment "Grimaldi")
Harold Whitaker	....	animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Harold Whitaker	....	layout artist (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Robin White	....	assistant animator (segment "Harry Canyon")
Mike Williams	....	animator (segment "Den")
Terry Windell	....	background artist (segment "Taarna")
Terry Windell	....	layout artist (segments "Grimaldi", "Captain Sternn" and "Taarna")
Vicky Wintz	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Michael Wolf	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Arnie Wong	....	animator (segment "Taarna")
Don Wong	....	layout artist (segment "B-17")
Ronald Wong	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Hugh Workman	....	assistant animator (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Lynn Yamazaki	....	assistant animator (segment "Taarna")
Woody Yocum	....	animator (segment "Taarna") (as Trell W. Yokum)
Lisa Atkinson	....	painter (uncredited)
Corny Cole	....	animator (segment "Neverwhereland") (uncredited)
Katherine Fitzgerald	....	cel painter (uncredited)
George Murphy	....	assistant animator (segment "Harry Canyon") (uncredited)
Hans Perk	....	assistant animator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Aries	....	editing assistance
Janice Brown	....	supervising editor
Jeff Bushelman	....	editorial consultant
Thomas Cadieux	....	editing assistance
Marc Kaskouski	....	editing assistance
Jason Levy	....	assistant editor
Eva Ruggiero	....	editorial consultant
Gary Toole	....	editing assistance

Music Department
Irving Azoff	....	executive producer: soundtrack album
Elmer Bernstein	....	conductor
Peter Bernstein	....	orchestrator
Jeff Carson	....	music editor
Bob Destocki	....	producer: soundtrack album
Keith Grant	....	recording engineer
Jeanne Loriod	....	musician: ondes martinot
Christopher Palmer	....	orchestrator
David Spear	....	orchestrator
Bruce Dickinson	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Katherine Fitzgerald	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Christina Asimacopoulos	....	production secretary
Nicole Beaudry-Pilon	....	assistant: Gerald Potterton
Gerard Brunet	....	production assistant: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
John Bruno	....	sequence director (segment "Taarna")
Michèle Carrier	....	production assistant: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
John Halas	....	sequence director (segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
Jacqueline Johnson	....	production secretary
Michael Larocque	....	production assistant: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Christian Lecour	....	production assistant
Wendy Loblaw	....	production secretary
Burke Mattsson	....	title designer
Joe Medjuck	....	production coordinator
Jimmy T. Murakami	....	sequence director (segment "Soft Landing")
Barrie Nelson	....	sequence director (segment "B-17")
Richard Potterton	....	production assistant: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Irene Rappaport	....	production assistant: live action shoot (segment "Taarna")
Clennell Rawson	....	coordinator (segment "Den")
Nick Roberts	....	production assistant (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
Paul Sabella	....	sequence director (segment "Captain Sternn")
David B. Simpson	....	technical advisor (segment "Taarna")
Jack Stokes	....	sequence director (segment "Den")
Tracy Stundon	....	production assistant
Julian Szuchopa	....	sequence director (segment "Captain Sternn")
Debby Tiffin	....	script assistant
Pino Van Lamsweerde	....	sequence director (segment "Harry Canyon")
Harold Whitaker	....	sequence director (segment "Grimaldi")
Rusty Gilligan	....	sequence penciller (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Guardian Trust Company
• Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
• Famous Players

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Clearwater Productions (models: segment "Soft Landing")
• Camera Effects (segment "Soft Landing")
• Precision Film Group (stop motion photography: segment "B-17")
• Systems Simulation (computer animation: segment "So Beautiful and So Dangerous")
• Precision Film Group (segment "Taarna")

Other Companies

• TV Cartoons  animation (segment "Soft Landing")
• Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films  animation (segments "Grimaldi" and "So Beautiful and So Dangerous") (as Halas & Batchelor Animation Ltd.)
• Atkinson Film Arts  animation (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
• Haines-Camron  animation camera (segments "Harry Canyon" and "B-17")
• Votetone  animation (segment "Den")
• Boxcar Films  animation (segment "Captain Sternn") (as Boxcar Animation Studios Inc.)
• Wally Bulloch-Anicam  multiplane camera (segment "Taarna")
• Pathé Sound and Post Production Center  dubbing
• Sonolab  processing
• Studio Film Laboratories Ltd.  processing
• Humphries Laboratories  processing (as Humphries Film Laboratories)
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  processing
• MGM Titles  titles (as MGM Title)
• Olympic Sound Studios  score recording
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  score performed by
• London Voices  chorus
• Metrocolor  prints
• Full Moon/Asylum Records  soundtrack
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Runtime:

86 min | USA:90 min (premiere)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12 | Italy:VM14 | South Africa:13LS | Brazil:18 | Australia:MA (video rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

In the original Den storyline, Catherine is revealed to have been an 80-year-old woman on Earth. Like Den, her change is for the better.

Goofs:

Continuity: The color of the Queen's hair and robe.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: A shadow shall fall over the universe, and evil will grow in its path, and death will come from the skies.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Step Brothers (2008)

Soundtrack:

True Companion

Fine showcase of a great magazine.

Heavy Metal, the movie, is great encapsulation of Heavy Metal, the magazine. Heavy Metal was and is an anthology of the best of American and European comic writers and artists. It has carried the work of such masters as Moebius, Druillet, Liberatore, Bernie Wrightson, Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson, Arthur Sydam, Enki Bilal, Richard Corben and Simon Bisley. The movie adapts some of the great stories from the glory days of the magazine.

The movie is much like the magazine: a mixed bag of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comedy, and erotica. Some of it is good, some not. My personal favorites are Harry Canyon, Den, Captain Sternn, B-17, and Tarna. Harry Canyon is a sci-fi tale of thugs, femme fatales, and cynics ala Dashell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, transported to the future. It has been cited as an inspiration for The Fifth Element, by some; but it bears some resemblance to the works of French artist, Moebius, who created designs for The Fifth Element. Moebius also factors into Tarna, as the entire look of this sequence is almost xeroxed from Moebius' Arzach stories.

Captain Sternn is the anti-hero/criminal from Bernie Wrightson, co-creator of Swamp Thing and illustrator of a beautiful edition of Frankenstein. This is a fun sequence, full of comedy and chaos, much like the Sternn stories. Sternn has more than a slight resemblance to a certain Kryptonian.

B-17 captures the flavor of the old EC horror comics, like Tales from the Crypt and the Vault of Horror. The sequence features design work from Mike Ploog, a horror comics master and artist of Marvel's Man-Thing. It has a nice creepy, decayed atmosphere and lets the visuals tell the story.

Den is adapted from Richard Corben's tales. The melon-breasted women that Corben is known for are on fine display here. We also get the humor that also permeates Corben's work. John Candy was quite good here, giving Den the perfect adolescent voice.

Tarna is the most lush sequence, with sweeping vistas and the use of rotoscoping for the character. It is also quite violent. Again, it owes a great deal to Moebius' Arzach.

So Beautiful, So Dangerous is pretty forgettable, with juvenile humor and boring animation. Soft Landing is fairly pointless, except to serve as a title sequence. The whole linking device is unnecessary, as the segments bear little relation to one another and are stronger as separate entities. The soundtrack is great, with most pieces capturing the flavor of the animation.

Ultimately, the uneven stories and lower budget animation holds this movie back. The movie is best viewed as an anthology, rather than a complete story, and with a forgiving eye to the budget. With that said, it's still entertaining and an important work of adult animation.