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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Fantastic Planet" or "Divoká planeta' or 'Planet of Incredible Creatures' or 'The Fantastic Planet' or 'The Savage Planet')
Directed by
René Laloux
France 1973
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René
Laloux's mesmerising psychedelic sci-fi animated feature won the Grand Prix at
the 1973 Cannes Film Festival and is a landmark of European animation. Based on
Stefan Wul's novel Oms en série [Oms by the dozen], Laloux's breathtaking vision
was released in France as La Plančte sauvage [The Savage Planet];
in the USA as Fantastic Planet; and immediately drew comparisons to
Swift's Gulliver's Travels and Planet of the Apes (both the 1968
film and Boule's 1963 novel). Today, the film can be seen to prefigure much of
the work of Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke,
Spirited Away) due to its palpable political and social concerns, cultivated
imagination, and memorable animation techniques. Fantastic Planet tells the story of "Oms", human-like creatures, kept as domesticated pets by an alien race of blue giants called "Draags". The story takes place on the Draags' planet Ygam, where we follow our narrator, an Om called Terr, from infancy to adulthood. He manages to escape enslavement from a Draag learning device used to educate the savage Oms — and begins to organise an Om revolt. The imagination invested in the surreal creatures, music and sound design, and eerie landscapes, is immense and unforgettable. Widely regarded as an allegorical statement on the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, Fantastic Planet was five years in the making at Prague's Jiri Trnka Studios. The direction of René Laloux, the incredible art of Roland Topor, and Alain Goraguer's brilliantly complementary score (much sampled by the hip-hop community) all combine to make Fantastic Planet a mind-searing experience. |
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Theatrical Release: May 1973 (Cannes Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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| Distribution | Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Spine # 34- Region 0 - NTSC | Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC | Criterion Collection - Spine #820 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:11:54 | 1:11:36 | 1:12:15.789 |
| Video | 1.66:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.0 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.66:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.17 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Disc Size: 47,404,267,105 bytes Feature Size: 21,275,117,568 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.93 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate: Eureka |
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| Bitrate: Accent Cinema |
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| Bitrate: Criterion Blu-ray |
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| Audio | French (Dolby Digital 2.0), US Track- English (Dolby Digital 2.0) | French (Dolby Digital 2.0), US Track- English (Dolby Digital 2.0) |
LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps /
24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, None | English, None |
| Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • René
Laloux's short film Les Escargots
(10:47) |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Fantastic Laloux featurette/interview with René Laloux (25:58) - 4:3 in French with English subtitles • René Laloux's short film Les Escargots
(10:52) • Trailer
• Photo Gallery |
Release Information: Disc Size: 47,404,267,105 bytes Feature Size: 21,275,117,568 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.93 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P Edition Details:
• Alternate English-language soundtrack Chapter: 20 |
| Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray May 16': Yes, we never covered the Masters of Cinema Blu-ray of Fantastic Planet (La Planete Sauvage) HERE, from 2012. The Criterion is certainly more Blue than the SDs (which, I believe both DVDs came from the same source where this Blu-ray is from a 'New 2K digital restoration'). I have no idea of the color accuracy of the 1080P but I can say that it is housed on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. It doesn't have the minor damage marks of the SDs and it looks very rich and full in-motion. It seems marginally cropped beside the DVDs but the image quality is significantly improved on the HD transfer. I think I prefer the deeper darker contrast appearance.Criterion use a linear PCM 1.0 channel mono track at 1152 kbps (24-bit) in the original French language, and they give the option of a lossy Dolby Digital English DUB (also in mono). The score by Alain Goraguer sounds quite impacting via the uncompressed - more than I have noticed from the film in previous viewings. It's a substantial part of this presentation. The Criterion offers optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked. Criterion include two early short films by director René Laloux and illustrator Roland Topor; Les temps morts (1965 - 9:47) and Les escargots (1966 - 11:17) - the latter also found on both the DVDs. Laloux sauvage is a, 26-minute, 2009 documentary on Laloux and it features and extensive interview with René Laloux. Also included is a 53-minute episode of the French television program Italiques from August 8th, 1974 about Topor’s work directed by Roger Boussinot which features an overview of the art and career of illustrator Roland Topor. We also get a short interview with Topor from 1973 and a trailer. The Blu-ray package contains a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Michael Brooke. I enjoyed seeing the film in this 2K restoration - it really came to life with the richer colors and lossless sound. Plus I appreciated the extras especially the Italiques piece. Wonderful, inventive and thought-provoking science-fiction film and one that encourages repeat viewings - our highest recommendation! *** ADDITION: Accent - November 07': Although taken from the same source (same damage marks) - it appears as though the Accent (distributed by Facets Video) has had some boosting as colors are, perhaps falsely, enriched. Hence it also exhibits a tinge of edge-enhancement. Both are Region 0 in the NTSC format - and both are interlaced transfers. Plus both offer an English language version plus the original French edition with optional English subtitles. Other than that the subtitle font is different (see sample below) as well as the supplements. Accent also offers the René Laloux's 10 minute short film; Les Escargots, but adds a 30 minute interview with the director (with optional English subtitles) - and that is a nice touch. The Accent includes a music video by Sean Lennon - Would I Be The One (supposedly inspired by Fantastic Planet), a trailer and a photo gallery. MoC differs in the addition of Comment Wang-Fo Fut Sauvé (15 minutes - Laloux considered it his best work!) and a 40-page liner notes booklet with some essays about Laloux, Roland Topor, and Alain Goraguer. Hmmm... I lean toward the Masters of Cinema which is currently slightly more expensive at the writing of this comparison. I suspect many will go for the one most accessible to them but the MoC, to my eyes, has the more accurate and preferable image.
On the Eureka
MoC: The only master that Eureka Masters
of Cinema were able to obtain was from an interlaced transfer. The
good side to that is that it is not interlaced due to a weak DVD
rendition. Hence, the 'combing' properties are virtually unnoticeable
(even on most high end systems). I would say the print looks a shade
dirty but I have no experience with this film which is animation from
over 30 years ago (not comparable to today's standards). There appears
to be no untoward damage and matches MoC's previous high quality with
then anamorphic 1.66 original ratio. I suspect that the screen captures
can tell you a better story of how this Fantastic Planet! DVD
looks - it has good detail in warm pastel colors.
It should be noted that there are at least two other DVD
representation of this film available - (US Anchor Bay - now OOP
- and Australian Force Entertainment). Unlike this Masters of
Cinema edition both used a non-anamorphic 1.66 image, with *ingrained
subs*. The fact that this is 1.66:1 OAR anamorphic and has optional subs
leans it to be the definitive digital version available.
Supplements include two René Laloux's animation short
films; Les Escargots (10 minutes) and Comment Wang-Fo Fut
Sauvé (15 minutes - Laloux considered it his best work!).
There is also a 40-page liner notes booklet with some essays about
Laloux, Roland Topor, and Alain Goraguer.
Post Disney's classic era there was
quite a lot of cult animation features made in the late 60's 1970's
including Yellow Submarine, Ralph Bakshi's work and others. In
the vein of artistic expression Rene Laloux's masterpiece "Fantastic
Planet" stands out for its strong message (the evils of propaganda).
A highly important film that we recommend! |
DVD Menus
(Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT)
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Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
NOTE: Not same frame!
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Screen Captures
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Both DVDs interlaced...
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Same damage marks...
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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More Blu-ray Captures
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| Box Cover |
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| Distribution | Eureka - Masters of Cinema - Spine # 34- Region 0 - NTSC | Accent Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC | Criterion Collection - Spine #820 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
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Gary Tooze |
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