Fantastic Planet (1973)

On a faraway planet where blue giants rule, oppressed humanoids rebel against their machine-like leaders.

Director:

René Laloux

Writers:

Stefan Wul (novel), Roland Topor (adaptation)

Stars:

Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jennifer Drake	...	Tiwa (voice)
Eric Baugin	...	Young Terr (voice)
Jean Topart	...	Master Sinh (voice)
Jean Valmont	...	Adult Terr - Narrator (voice)
Sylvie Lenoir	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Michèle Chahan	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Yves Barsacq	...	Om (voice)
Hubert de Lapparent	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Gérard Hernandez	...	Master Taj (voice)
Claude Joseph	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Philippe Ogouz	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jacques Ruisseau	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Max Amyl	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Denis Boileau	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Madeleine Clervanne	...	Additional Voices (voice) (as Madeleine Clervannes)

Storyline

Slaves and masters dominate the narrative of the faraway world of Ygam. Set around the lifespan of Terr, a minute human shaped Om slave, and pet, of the giant blue alien Draags. Escaping into the wilderness and with a device used for intellectual advancement of the Draags, Terr finds refuge and support from fellow Oms and using the learning tool, he finds that knowledge is power and then sets to use the new found knowledge to revolt against the Draag masters...

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Plot Keywords:

animated science fiction | cult film | giant | slave | meditation | 

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Taglines:

A Sublime Trip to a Fine New World.

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Genres:

Animation | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Five years in the making.

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Goofs

The English dub in inconsistent on whether the Draags think the humans had organized life or not. In the original French version, the Draag council discusses that there is proof the humans of Earth may have had intelligence and a culture of their own, but they still think the evidence is not conclusive. The English version however inserts the line "they may have destroyed their entire civilization", making it look like the Draags have been aware that the humans at one point were civilized.

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Quotes

Draag child 1: It doesn't move.
Draag child 2: What a shame we can't play with her any more.

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Alternate Versions

In the German version, the humans aren't called "Oms", they are simply referred to as Menschen (humans) or Menschen-Tiere (human animals). Terr's name is also given a different origin. In both the original French and English versions, Tiwa names her pet Om Terr because his father says he behaves like a "real terror". In the German dub, Tiwa settles on the name after his father compares her pet to a struggling termite.

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Weirdest Animated Movies (2019)

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Soundtracks

Ten Est Assomme
Written and Performed by Alain Goraguer Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

And now for something completely different...

The animation has been compared a lot of Terry Gilliam's animations from Monty Python. But I found the visuals here more interesting and original rather than disturbing with what I mostly remember were bad and distasteful visual puns.

Not saying this film is on par with Gilliam's work as a film director. It's better than Tideland though...

The animations were made with a low budget and rather static but do what they're supposed to do with only one part that is too repetitive (with the cannons). Imaginative design makes up for sometimes crudely drawn characters. The drawing style has a certain old-fashioned quality to it at times, as if you're watching an illustrated children's bible (but with some boob hanging out here and there and some violence that could give some kids nightmares). Beware, it's an adult film.

You won't find another movie like this anywhere and I can recommend this trippy, laid back psychedelic experience. It's mind-expanding without the need for substance abuse!

Details

Country:

France Czechoslovakia

Language:

French Czech

Release Date:

1 December 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fantastic Planet

Box Office

Gross USA:

$193,817

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argos Films, Les Films Armorial, Institut National de l'Audiovisuel (INA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1