Fantastic Planet

OK, so I was never able to get the Anchor Bay DVD version of this film, although I do own the Collector's Edition VHS on Anchor Bay, which is in French with the English subtitles and three Rene Laloux animated shorts tagged at the end. I heard all about the problems of the Anchor Bay DVD about not being able to shut off the subtitles. I am also familiar with the standard English language VHS on Anchor Bay (without the animated shorts) which had subtitles too. There's also some earlier VHS editions that you probably should just avoid, because there are a few scenes that got hacked (United Home Video, for example).But I just got the new Accent Cinema DVD which has its goods and bads. One thing, the controls are faulty, you can't return to the menu by pusing the "menu" button, which seems weird (I am able to return to the menu by pushing the "top menu" button on my controller, but you're not able to return back where you left off). If Anchor Bay was able to treat us with three Rene Laloux animated shorts ("Les Dents du Singe", "Les Temps Mort", "Les Escargots"), why did Accent only provide us with one ("Les Escargots")? Also when you choose the Special Features, they also let you turn on or off the subtitles or have it in English or French, but the big problem is you can only choose one, then it goes immediately to the movie (you'd have to choose the other by pushing the "subtitle" or "audio" button on your remote control when the movie plays). Plus the English audio gets out of sync later on in the film (ie. you hear the talking but the lips are not moving for about one second after), which never did on the old English language VHS on Anchor Bay.Now for the good: you are now able to turn on and off the subtitles, and switch between English and French. That's great for those who were used to hearing this film in English in the old days when the USA Network would air this on Night Flight, or in French to see how the voices were originally like, and of course those bothered by the Anchor Bay version where you couldn't turn off the subtitles. And you also get to hear an interview from René Laloux (did before his passing) and about how he got into animation, and how Fantastic Planet came to be. I was a bit surprised to find out he never had much joy making any of these films, aside from Les Dents du Singe.There's also a music video, "Would I Be the One", a Marc Bolan song recorded by Sean Lennon (as everyone knows, John Lennon's only son from his marriage to Yoko Ono - yes, I'm fully aware of Julian Lennon, he was from a previous marriage). The reason for it is the video features animation that was obviously inspired by Fantastic Planet (the Draags this time around have more than two eyes). And I have to say the music is actually quite good, I can detect some of that Beatles influence in it (but not a full copy), but I guess Marc Bolan had the Beatles in mind writing that song, and of course, Sean Lennon being related to a Beatle sure helps.Now on to the film. I was one who first unintentionally caught this movie on Night Flight back in the late '80s and I was completely blown away by the sci-fi imagery, the funky '70s music from Alain Goraiguer (sounding like Pink Floyd meets Isaac Hayes' "Shaft" to me) and the animation which was so far removed from the usual high-paced animation one is so accustomed to (such as Disney). Since that time, I had rarely seen it (because no station would air it since Night Flight left), until I acquired the VHS copy in 2000, and now the Accent Cinema DVD.Right away, you know this isn't a Disney animation for the kids. It's a rather unusual sci-fi film based on a Stefan Wul novel from 1957, Oms en Séries (unfortunately never translated in English, so you better know French to be able to read that book). It's basically Oms (apparently descendants of Terrans who fled Planet Earth) who are being kepts as pets by giant blue-skinned Traags, until one Om gets a Traag learning device, which causes a revolt. The film was started in Czechoslovakia, but funding stopped due to the 1968 Soviet invasion, and the fact the communists likely deemed this movie anti-communist, so the film had to be completed in France (you have to bear in mind the Soviet Union at that time was under Leonid Brezhniv who basically wanted to bring the Soviet Union back to the bad old days of Stalinism, and didn't like how Czechoslovakia was becoming more democratic). Because of this, it's little wonder it took until 1973 before it finally got released. If it weren't for the political turmoil of Czechoslovakia at the time, not to mention budget problems, the movie would have likely been released in 1969 or 1970 (and the music probably would had a more late '60s psychedelic sound, rather than early '70s funk).There's no getting over the fact the movie really depicted an alien planet full of wonder and of danger full of creatures that hardly look like anything on Earth. This is sure unlike a lot of sci-fi I've seen of recent where everything looks gloomy and depressing. Then you have the wonderful psychedelic imagery, which I find so sorely lacking in most sci-fi, especially the post-Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind-era of sci-fi. And then the music, from Alain Goraiguer. I'm pretty certain had it not been for Isaac Hayes doing "Shaft", and a band like Pink Floyd starting to make it big (The Dark Side of the Moon came out earlier the same year as Fantastic Planet), we would probably not get this wonderful funky music to go with it. I'm certain that both Pink Floyd and "Shaft" were a big inspiration for the soundtrack. The great news was EMI/Pathé Marconi had released a soundtrack album, but that LP has since became very rare and collectible, luckily a small label did reissue this on CD much more recently.Well, in conclusion, still hold on your Anchor Bay DVD, if you want to see "Les Dents du Singe" and "Les Temps Mort", but the Accent Cinema version is still worth getting for many of the great features, although they should have taken more time to iron out the flaws before releasing it. As for the film, it's one of the most unusual sci-fi films you'll ever hope to see, proving you can go far even on a low budget.

Fantastic Planet (French: La Planète sauvage, lit. The Wild Planet) is a 1973 experimental adult animated science fiction film, directed by René Laloux and written by Laloux and Roland Topor, the latter of whom also completed the film's production design.The film was an international co-production between companies from France and Czechoslovakia. The allegorical story, about humans living on a strange planet dominated by giant humanoid aliens who consider them animals, is based on the 1957 novel Oms en série by French writer Stefan Wul.A brief synopsis of the novel this is inspired by has lead me to conclude that this is both an intelligent and accurate rendition. The primary characters and conflicts are kept the same and there is minimal if little changes in regards to how the story is told and how it ultimately plays out. Perhaps, like all novels, the book does do a much better job at providing some contextual information about the setting (Like something akin to An Origin story for the relationship between the Draags and the Oms) That the film may have ultimately benefited from including. I can only guess that this omission is due to some kind of time restraint or perhaps an attempt to avoid convoluting media that is already considerably hard-to-digest.As others have already suggested, this is an exceptionally provocative piece of work. When I say that I don't mean to imply This film is suggestive, but there are so many conflicts and scenes introduced without much insight, and this simply makes it easy to get lost in your own thoughts and assumptions regarding the scenery and overarching plot. Why does Terre leave his Draag owner rather haphazardly in the first place? Some Oms are clearly domesticated and kept as pets - are there any qualities that make one want to domesticate an Om in the first place other than entertainment? is there an acceptable way of punishing domesticated Om’s that act out of place given their current plight in society? Why are the wild Om’s so particular about the source of any knowledge they receive ( are they really in a position to be rejecting knowledge that comes their way??)? I think I've made my point here rather clear - this film introduces lots of questions that have no clear answers. This film seem best enjoyed by people that love ruminating on their own or by groups of individuals that all have different experiences and knowledge related to the subject material.Real world applications and content of side, the animation is wonderfully original and abundantly imaginative; The character designs and setting are as bright as they are refreshing. Everything appears to be an odd combination of vaguely familiar and obviously strange. Regardless of Whatever commentary I can be offered, this is sure to make a strong first impression and is filled to the brim with potential that can't be ignored.I would recommend!

While I enjoyed this, I can understand why others would question it. It's kinda like looking into an alternate world of animation, where Monte Python's style of animation was taken seriously. This is not a light-hearted story... It is brutal, but not for the sake of it. Strange gadgets that almost delve into the realm of magic are presented here as entertainment and work devices.If you want to explore speculative biology with an odd political commentary, this might be for you. Humans in this are small pets and pests, so keep that in mind before going into this.

The media could not be loaded.  This curious oddity hooked me from the start. The story is quite unique. Humans are the playthings for these giant blue aliens. They are treated well by some but others look at them as vermin. One household human finds a device of learning and runs away to the wild humans wildly evolving them in the process.What I loved most about this film was the completely realised and unique world that is created here. Fantastically weird creatures, plants, and structures that are all the way through the film. It is visually striking and wonderfully imaginative.This disc also has several of the director's short films on this that are extremely fun as well. They're all very different and completely worth watching.I can't recommend this film highly enough.

Despite Criterion having released a superior film scan, this release includes some hard to find short films by Rene Laloux.Can I add that the ENGLISH DUB is atrocious and the film should be watched in the original French! The English dub actors sound like they’re on valium and don’t even attempt to give a performance.

A great movie up there with HEAVY METAIL, ANIMAL FARM, WIZARDS, YELLOW SUBMARINE, as a Animation great the story of a pet learning more about his masters and trying to escape his life as a little girl plaything and meet others of his kind.

I have throughly enjoyed this movie. It's a little out there, very unusual by standard terms. Exactly what I was looking for. An artistic, aesthetic and, at times, existential experience. I will likely rewatch it in the future. Wish it was available on the subscription services so that I don't have to hold onto the dvd/bluray set.

This 70s animated film has a very special feel and sound. I saw it as a child on TV, and still remember it decades later. Now Masters of Cinema has released the film on DVD with a good transfer, it was interesting to watch it again! If You like animated film and SF, this is well worth buying. But it deviates a lot from animations and anime made today, this is more 70s style and feels more experimental and less mass-produced...or something. My criticism of the film itself is that the ending seems a little rushed ans simplistic. Highly recommended!