Fantastic Planet
A miniature human slave transforms alien knowledge into the means for collective resistance on a surreal planet ruled by giants.
Overview
A journey of rebellion and enlightenment on a distant planet where knowledge becomes the ultimate weapon.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- surreal
- eerie
- disquieting
- late night viewing
- arthouse animation marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film as a singular, eerie, imaginative, and politically resonant work of surreal animation, while acknowledging that its allegory can feel dated or overly self-conscious.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The giant Draags keep diminutive Oms as slaves, pets, and disposable subjects.
Ygam is rendered through bizarre extraterrestrial creatures, landscapes, and dreamlike animation.
Terr uses a Draag intellectual advancement device to learn and help organize Om resistance.
The Om-Draag relationship reframes human subjugation and speciesism through extraterrestrial societies.
Films like Fantastic Planet, and why
The Yellow Submarine
surreal adult animation, psychedelic imagery, and politically charged speculative world-building
Brazil
dystopian science fiction, alienation, and allegorical critique of oppressive social systems
Waking Life
philosophical animated science fiction with striking visual invention and existential themes
Junk Head
visually experimental animation combining social allegory, surrealism, and unsettling atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- René Laloux
- Release Date
- 1973-12-01
- Runtime
- 72 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (1153)
Cast
- Gérard Hernandez
- Jean Valmont
- Jennifer Drake
- Yves Barsacq
- Jeanine Forney
- Éric Baugin
- Jean Topart
- William Coryn
- Sylvie Lenoir
- Philippe Ogouz
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Fantastic Planet about?
- A miniature human slave transforms alien knowledge into the means for collective resistance on a surreal planet ruled by giants.
- What is Fantastic Planet like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Fantastic Planet as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Fantastic Planet violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Fantastic Planet as mild.
- What did critics think of Fantastic Planet?
- Critics broadly praise the film as a singular, eerie, imaginative, and politically resonant work of surreal animation, while acknowledging that its allegory can feel dated or overly self-conscious.
- Which films are like Fantastic Planet?
- Films with a similar feel include The Yellow Submarine, Brazil, Waking Life, and Junk Head.
- How long is Fantastic Planet?
- Fantastic Planet runs 72 minutes.
- Where can I watch Fantastic Planet?
- In United States, Fantastic Planet streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
