Comments on: Knowing the Alien: René Laloux’s “Fantastic Planet”

By: Carl Rosenberg

Carl Rosenberg — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:25:17 +0000

Many thanks for this perceptive essay on a classic of SF cinema. I loved Fantastic Planet for its surrealistic animation, even more than its ideas and themes. I first saw the trailer in a movie theatre when I was about ten years old, and was utterly fascinated, but didn’t get a chance to see the whole movie for many years.

By: JerryoftheWest

JerryoftheWest — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:26:21 +0000

I think that I have finally nailed down a weird memory from my childhood, being now pretty sure that Fantastic Planet is what I remember watching while being babysat at the house of some friends when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. Honestly, it kind of creeped me out then, partially for the content and partially because I had no idea what it was or what was going on.

I remember an anteater-like creature sticking its “tongue” in a hole, and a bunch of humans inside grabbing on, which I believe is that same creature with the wings, pictured above. What a weird trip.

By: Tuco

Tuco — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:49:17 +0000

I would add that the film’s soundtrack, by Alain Goraguer, is absolutely brilliant.

By: Paul Hodge

Paul Hodge — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:54:05 +0000

My father took me to a London cinema to see this when I was just seven years old. He was under the impression that it was mainstream science fiction and we both had no idea it was even animated! Unsurprisingly we were both shocked by what we saw; my father in a very unimpressed sense whilst I couldn't quite believe my eyes and thoroughly enjoyed it despite the impenetrability of its meaning. I haven't thought of the film for years ....now I can't wait to see it again! Thanks for reawakening my memory to it. Paul