La planète sauvage (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...

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

A Sublime Trip to a Fine New World.

---

Genres:

Animation | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

R13

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2016, Rolling Stone magazine named this the 36th greatest animated film of all time.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Narrator: After a while, I lost my intimacy with Tiwa. As she grew up, she gave up her playthings.
Narrator: Deprived of lessons, I decided to run away.

---

Alternate Versions

The German dub changes the dialogue for the Draag council's discussion about the Om extermination. In the original dialogue, Master Taj says that Oms have caused trouble in the region of Telez, and the regions Goham and Urtana have reported similar activities. In German, Taj says that de-Om-izing has failed in Goham, as well as in "Xylan" and "Ultrabanatus". These names do not come up in the original French version.

---

Connections

Featured in Animation Lookback: The Best of Stop Motion - Independent Films (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Méditation Des Enfants
Written and Performed by Alain Goraguer Et Son Orchestre

User Reviews

Brings back great memories

What a great movie! I had completely forgotten about this film -in fact, I hadn't seen it in over 20 years. Well, I rented 'The Cell' and while I was watching the scene where Jennifer Lopez is in her house with the television on, I noticed those blue aliens and the memories came rushing back! Of course, I came to IMDB to figure out what the title of the film was (it was in the trivia section of 'The Cell' review), and I was pleasantly surprised to find the title. I went and bought the DVD, which is truly outstanding! The basic premise of the movie is that a race of aliens keeps domesticated humans as pets, while eliminating their feral brethren in the wild. The story centers around Terr, who is rescued from a pack of cruel alien children by the daughter of a high-ranking official. Eventually he runs away and ends up meeting the humans living in the wild. They become tired of the treatment they suffer at the hands of the alien race, and seek to exact revenge on their captors.

This movie was made nearly 30 years ago, so the animation is not really comparable to modern-day animation, but the story and the plot transcend time. The premise of the film is as valid today as it was in the 70s.

The DVD edition of the movie comes with three additional animated shorts by Rene Laloux, and they are just as entertaining. This is a real gem of a movie...truly beautiful. My kids love it as well. A true masterpiece.

9/10.

Details

Country:

France Czechoslovakia

Language:

French Czech

Release Date:

6 December 1973 (France)

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