Skywhales (1983) User Reviews

Can't believe I found this!

[shane612 · 8/10 · 8 February 2007]

Until recently I thought I had actually dreamt this story! I'd tried to look this up so many times but I guess I was a letter or space away from "Skywhales". I was so close to drawing it up as a comic and using it as my own work - glad I decided to have one last look before I did.

I must have been about 5 when I saw this on TV (I was born in 1982) and have vividly remembered it since. I remember it being very moving (and creepy), I think it made me cry too.

I've looked around and it seems pretty hard to find a copy, thankfully I've found it on YouTube. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post this but here goes; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVmKhNG6S3o

I haven't watched it yet because this is one memory I don't want to ruin.

Beautiful and haunting.

[teamwak · 9/10 · 5 April 2006]

This review is from memory. I have never forgotten seeing this.

It is set on an a strange floating alien world. The people hunt these amazing flying whales in their own home made gas-filled airships . The hunt scenes with harpoons was very vivid as two or three airships hunt and harpoon this magnificent beast before it finally dies and its bloodstained carcass is hauled back to the ground by the hunters.

"SPOILER ALERT"

The story follows a hunter on his return. As he returns to his simple village with his family they come across another creature/person who is a different, ill colour. The family and others shield their eyes and move out of the way as the zombie stumbles past them. It stumbles to a giant hole/well in the village, then falls into the hole!! Later the hunter is at home. He feels ill, cant sleep. Suddenly he turns into one of the zombie things. He lurches out of his hut. His child tries to run to him but its mother holds it back. She reluctantly covers her eyes and lets him stumble off.

He stumbles to the well and throws himself in, and falls.into this bottomless shaft .....

and falls, and falls, and falls A fine web starts forming over the falling body. It eventually covers him like a cocoon.

After a time something is trying to burst out of the cocoon. Finally a baby sky whale emerges from the cocoon just as the shaft ends under the floating world. The new sky whale fly gracefully back up the world. We see the mother and child looking sad in the village when this beautiful whale flies past. The child looks up and points. They don't seem so sad anymore! I thoroughly recommended this if it is ever released on DVD.

gentle animation, evocative, slightly spooky

[ted-410 · 8/10 · 13 January 2007]

I would like to see Skywhales again, hoping it is as good as I remember, and it should be available for others, too. Maybe not earth-shattering, but it was satisfying, and had the feel of a modern fable. The animation was satisfying, and it had a wonderful dreamlike quality. Skywhales has the classic science fiction device of postulating and describing a newly discovered or invented culture - it is like an invented anthropological inventory, but presented in story style rather than in academese. This film had the uninhibited feeling of a demo effort or perhaps an extremely proficient student project. I do hope a print or copy can be found and republished. The world will be a better place.

*ATTENTION* 'Skywhales' IS available officially on DVD and has been for some time!

[a_heathen_conceivably · 10/10 · 9 February 2007]

Why is everyone convinced this isn't available on DVD when IT IS?

Look at this website http://www.britishanimationawards.com

click on 'Buy Animation Classics' link on left hand side,

and you'll find "Skywhales" is listed amongst the contents for British Animation Classics Vol. 1 !

It's a British issue, but it is in fact a Region '0' NTSC release!

I know. I've got one. I didn't know about it either, until I emailed co-director Derek Hayes, who told me all about it.

I saw this in the cinema in 1983 as a support to... I cannot remember. I only remember this masterpiece!

A wild and weird world

[pmcollectorboy · 10/10 · 9 October 2000]

Skywhales is a strange but very deep animated short. It opens on an unknown alien world and in a tribal village floating high in the sky. During the hunting season, many of the village's males go out in airships to hunt the massive skywhales. The father figure of the film's central family is one such hunter. But hunting the massive creatures carries many risks, including a strange curse that turns a random hunter into a ghastly white zombie.

Despite the film's shortness and the characters' alien language, Skywhales has a certain depth to it. You can see and feel the world surrounding the film. The people seen in this film seem to have a living culture and a real language, and despite not being able to understand them, you can still feel and see their emotions. If you ever find a tape of the first international tournee of animation, you should check this short out. It is very deep and very cool.

If it makes a 3 year old cry (for all the right reasons!) it must be good

[wolrab64 · 10/10 · 17 October 2003]

I thought I saw this before 1983 but what the heck. It was a trailer to some main billing at my local cinema and it totally captured my imagination; so much so I can't remember the main film. Finally, through the wonders of the internet I managed to get a copy on NTSC video from the states and yes, it's stood the test of time. It has lost none of it's charm. A great short animation. What really made me realise this was a simple story told well was that my 3 year old daughter watched it and was moved to tears (though she couldn't say why). Recommended.

Beautiful - where's the DVD (or video)?

[beeryusa · 10/10 · 21 December 2002]

This is a wonderful movie - very atmospheric. I wish short films like this would get the attention they deserve. I sure wish I had a copy on VHS or DVD, but all I have are my memory of one viewing of this movie back in the '80s.

There are so many bad movies that make it to VHS and DVD, what a pity then that classics such as this seem destined to fade away into nonexistence.

Finally

[ginolard · 10/10 · 2 March 2006]

Oh thank God for IMDb. This movie has stayed with me since I first saw it as a teenager but I could never remember what it was called. On an off-chance I tried doing a Google searching for "animated movie floating island hunt" as that was pretty much all I could remember. A few links later and I found a few images from this movie and a link to IMDb.

I remember the movie leaving me open-mouthed at the end and I have told so many people about it. I remember the animation being way ahead of its time but maybe that's just false memory ;)

Is there ANY way to buy a copy???

OMG i actually found this!!!!

[danrazmail · 10/10 · 26 May 2007]

I had seen this movie short in a compilation VHS at a friend's house when i was very young and then as life carries along i became part of the animation industry myself. i got aware of other shorts and masterpieces like this one. so recalling my memories i tried to find info on this short movie but at that time nothing was available until today i planned to create an animation on this story my self so if someone saw my piece and they would know the original they would let me know. but as a last search i started typing flying manta, whales, horse people etc. some how i thought it was a French or Belgian produce. huh.

This short gives the feel of moebius artwork. so same situation is for JON ZECK who created RIDER story for EPIC illustrated for marvel comics. that guy is the ultimate artist. awesome. but there is no info where is he now. ...YoHUUUU. IMDb i found skywhales. I exist now.

Memories of 'Skywhales'

[johndelacruz1 · 10/10 · 1 February 2007]

I remember seeing this with the John Hurt/ Richard Burton version of '1984' at the Odeon Haymarket, in 1984 funnily enough!

It may well have been shown on Channel 4 (UK) at some point but like the other contributors it really struck a chord despite such a fleeting glimpse.

A self-contained culture, a genuine message at its heart and compact storytelling makes this a wonderful little short. Grown-up in terms of ideas, and quite prescient in terms of ecology and environment , I'm sure kids would enjoy it too .

I wish it was readily available somewhere!

Amazing, sought this for last 20 years. Want a copy!

[hemenwayc · 10/10 · 14 January 2007]

Like other people commenting, this is a short who's imagery has stayed with me for more than 20 years. I saw it in an art theater in Georgetown, Washington DC. I particularly remember the haunting language used by the creatures. You understood everything they were feeling and saying without knowing a thing about the language. The vivid scenery was also haunting and gorgeous. I had to wait until the computer game Myst before seeing something as well done. I have been searching and searching for a copy without knowing the title, using terms like "whale, white, animation, short, hunt, fly, world, air." Nothing ever came up until today and now I know what I'm looking for! But I can't seem to find anywhere that offers a copy. Echoing the commenter before me, where, oh where can we buy one?

Clever Building of a World

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 25 June 2019]

Strange creatures set out with harpoons and attack flying whales, not for sport but out of necessity. It's dangerous work with many pitfalls. The neat thing is that these characters live in fear of the hunt but know they must fulfill their roles. Well crafted production.

wonderful piece of animation

[tracy-cutmore · 10/10 · 2 April 2011]

I have to say this is a wonderful piece of animation, maybe I am biased, but i praise the camera crew, Neil Bradshaw ( a wonderful guy and good friend) and Steve Cutmore, my father. A very dedicated man to his profession.This was one of the first pieces of animation i see that my dad had worked on, i remember it being shown on channel 4 and us all gathered around the TV with the 'video player' all at the ready. So glad I've found this on this site as i didn't know it was available on DVD, so will be my next quest to locate it. Sadly my dad passed away in January 2010 and this is one of the pieces I have now not got a copy of, so thanks to the website & reviews for letting me know.

Sky whales - is there anyone else out there

[lapanini · 15 April 2023]

Hello ! If this is still open I would love to hear from other s who were very influenced by this incredible film I have been searching for it since the 80 ,s and can't find anyone else that actually saw it on TV It was so unusual for that time and I loved it and never forgot the really strange concepts that were sad and deeply meaningful , extremely thought provoking.

This is only my own interpretation of this amazing story It seems to depict the whole circle of life - the innocents the lesser beings - the strong and the powerful the System that controls the population The rules applied and how despite the population being terrified and dreading obeying fond of the rules , no one stands up against the system to change anything The beauty of those large and free sky whales soaring in the sky and space and the horror of the hunting of these beautiful creatures The Hunter going out on his whale hunting airship in the alien universal sky carrying out the usual ritual Only to end up being sacrificed himself in the next stage of the tradition forced to fall down a deep tunnel And in the end resurfacing out the other end totally transformed into a Skywhale himself and beginning a new life dieting in the alien universe This is where I feel it portrayed a re cycling of life a type of re incarnation perhaps A way out if a cruel controlled way of life.