Movie Info
Movie Name: Fantastic Planet (La Planete Sauvage)
Studio: Argos Films
Genre(s): Animated/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): December 6, 1973
MPAA Rating: PG
Every Draag should look their best!
The Draag rule the planet paying little heed to the rodent like Oms which inhabit it and serve as pets to their children. A baby Om is captured by Tiva and her father Master Sinh and the Om is named Terr. Terr begins to learn the way of the Draag without their knowledge and when Terr escapes, he plans to take this knowledge to his people. The fact that the Oms are growing smarter doesn’t sit well with the Draag and a battle for the planet could ensue if the Oms aren’t controlled.
Directed by René Laloux, Fantastic Planet was France-Czechoslovakia animated film. Originally titled La Planete Sauvage (The Savage Planet), the movie is based on the 1957 sci-fi novel Oms en série by Stefan Wul. The film won a grand jury prize at Cannes and has become a cult classic. The Criterion Collection released a remastered version of the film (Criterion #820).
Nope…this won’t induce any nightmares
Fantastic Planet is one of those films you hear about growing up. It is an animated movie and though only rated PG, it isn’t really for kids. I honestly had never gotten to see Fantastic Planet, and I wish I hadn’t waited.
The story for Fantastic Planet is kind of lost in the translation. The original title The Savage Planet referred to the planet where the Oms and Draags were forced to coexist. The Fantastic Planet is where the two are forced to come together. It is a bit more of an optimistic title. The story (allegedly) has basis in the Soviet Occupation of the Czech Republic.
I find it interesting that the basic concepts of the story are very similar to L. Ron Hubbard’s 1982 novel Battlefield Earth with the “savage” Oms quickly learning the lay of the land and eventually finding peace with the Draag. It is a little less optimistic in Battlefield Earth, but it also goes to show even more lack or originality in Hubbard’s work.
Yeah…I pretty much guessed it would end this way…yeah
The animated for Fantastic Planet is, for lack of a better word—fantastic. The movie applies stop-motion animation to cut out figures for a truly unique and twisted look. The characters take on a rather classical feel in their design mixed with sci-fi fantasy and the whole product resembles a Terry Gilliam style artwork.
Fantastic Planet is one of those movies that is hard to describe. While it is rich at points, it also feels so detached. The movie is just interesting to look at and whether or not you buy into the story, the visuals do pay off. Fantastic Planet is a treat for the eyes that should be sought out by fans of animation.
