Fantastic Planet (1973)

Directed by René Laloux. Starring (voices) Jean Valmont, Jennifer Drake, Jean Topart, Eric Baugin, Yves Barsacq, Gérard Hernandez. [PG]

Unorthodox French-Czech animated science fiction parable set in the distant future when humans (the Oms) have been taken to the titular la planète sauvage, where they are subjugated by a giant race of mechanized humanoid aliens (the Draags) as either pets in domesticity or pests in the wild. Allegorical almost to the point of being detrimental, as the characters are so remotely and uniformly developed that only vague scientific/observational interest exists in the Oms’ struggle; the species dynamic is such a facile inversion that the point ends up being made too early (and too repeatedly). Sparse, abstract world design provides aesthetic pleasures despite the static and stiff nature of the animation, which, for a couple of minutes at the outset (with the dramatic shading, mannequin motions, and giant descending hands), actually sort of resembles Terry Gilliam’s art stylings with Monty Python! Trippy, dreamlike musical score by Alain Goraguer. Won the Special Prize at Cannes.

69/100