Fantastic Planet Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of René Laloux's "Fantastic Planet" receives an impressive 1080p/AVC-MPEG-4 encoded transfer, displayed in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1. This new 2K digital restoration, supervised by Florence Dauman and Fabrice Blin at Eclair/Groupe Ymagis, stems from the 35mm original camera negative, ensuring top-notch image precision. Viewers will notice considerable enhancements in depth, density, and overall sharpness, providing a more immersive visual experience—especially beneficial for those with larger screens or projectors. The color palette balances lushness with expanded nuances of both warmer and colder tones, while black levels are remarkably inky, contributing to the striking visual quality.

The film’s grain structure is carefully preserved and well-resolved, a testament to the meticulous nature of the restoration process. Color stability is vastly improved, eliminating previous issues such as light color pulsations and generic pink grading nuances seen in older releases. The precise restoration also eradicates any distracting elements like debris, cuts, scratches, stains, or warped frames, ensuring a pristine viewing experience. Though there is a slight skew towards blue hues throughout the film, it does not detract from the overall visual integrity. Notably, the line work in the drawings maintains soft lines and uses perspective effectively to generate depth without strong edges.

In summary, Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Fantastic Planet" boasts exceptional video quality thanks to its rigorous restoration efforts. The enhanced color palette, superior image stability, and absence of digital artifacts make this edition a significant upgrade over previous releases. This Region-A locked Blu-ray is a must-have for enthusiasts seeking to experience this animated classic with unparalleled visual fidelity.

The "Fantastic Planet" Blu-ray offers two audio tracks: French LPCM 1.0 and English Dolby Digital 1.0, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Each audio track has been remastered from 35mm magnetic tracks and restored at Eclair/Groupe Ymagis, ensuring a high-quality presentation. Alain Goraguer's remarkable psychedelic score benefits substantially from the lossless LPCM treatment, showcasing clear fidelity and vibrant clarity that significantly enhance the film's atmosphere. The soundtrack's blend of prog rock, jazz, and funk resonates distinctly, with each instrument—from guitars to synthesizers and flutes—standing out impressively.

The audio effects create a crisp and identifiable soundscapes, while the dialogue maintains stability and purity without any pops, dropouts, or digital distortions. The dynamic range is most noticeable in the musical segments where bass levels become distinctly pronounced, making the entire auditory experience immersive. This meticulous care in the audio restoration ensures there are no signs of age or wear, providing a seamless experience akin to its original release but with enhanced clarity that meets contemporary standards.

The Blu Ray extras for "Fantastic Planet" provide a compelling and comprehensive insight into the creative minds behind the film. They include a mix of archival interviews, short films, and documentaries that offer a deep dive into the visionary work of Roland Topor and René Laloux. The inclusion of high-definition transfers, alongside optional English subtitles for French content, ensures accessibility and an enriched viewing experience for international audiences. Each piece is expertly curated to enrich understanding of the surreal and provocative art that characterizes "Fantastic Planet."

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Original trailer for "La Planète Sauvage," in English.
• Roland Topor: Archival interview from the French TV show "Pop Deux."
• Laloux and Topor Short Films: Includes "Les Temps Morts" and "Les Escargots."
• Laloux Sauvage: Documentary exploring Laloux’s life and legacy.
• Italiques: Roland Topor: In-depth look at Topor’s work from an archival TV episode.
• Leaflet: Illustrated essay by critic Michael Brooke.

Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Fantastic Planet," directed by Rene Laloux, is a visually and thematically striking film that has garnered high acclaim since its debut. Awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, this French-Czechoslovakian co-production took five years to complete at Prague's Jiri Trnka Studios and was distributed in the United States by Roger Corman's New World Pictures.

Based on Stefan Wul's novel "Oms en série," the film explores a universe inhabited by the powerful Draags and their oppressed human-like pets, the Oms. The narrative focuses on Terr, an Om who escapes captivity and mobilizes his kind against their oppressors. An escape to Ygam’s moon reveals secrets that eventually enable both races to coexist peacefully.

The animation, spearheaded by Roland Topor, impresses with its surrealist and meticulously crafted visuals. Alain Goraguer's psychedelic musical score enhances the entrancing and otherworldly atmosphere, making it an integral component of the viewing experience.

Working in the science fiction genre, "Fantastic Planet" employs its captivating otherworldly design to critique social and political ideologies indirectly. Themes of racism, speciesism, and mutual destruction are handled deftly without overt didacticism. The cutout stop-motion animation style adds to the film’s unique aesthetic, successfully bringing Topor's innovative designs to life.

Criterion’s Blu-ray includes significant supplemental features: short films by Laloux, original trailers, and archival footage, in addition to insightful essays in the illustrated leaflet. This release offers both new and veteran viewers enriched perspectives on an enduringly relevant and visually captivating film.

René Laloux's "Fantastic Planet" is deservedly celebrated as one of the most iconic animated films ever created. The film, with its political themes, remains strikingly pertinent today, resonating with current global events. Criterion's latest Blu-ray edition leverages a beautifully executed 2K restoration by Argos Films in France, ensuring a visual experience that matches the film's timeless message. The transfer is meticulously done, bringing out the richly detailed animation and vibrant color palette that define the film.

"Fantastic Planet" is not only significant for its thematic depth but also for its distinctive animation style. The narrative, while not fast-paced, delves into complex relationships between different sets of beings, a feature that continues to captivate audiences nearly five decades post its initial release. Animation enthusiasts will find immense value in this Blu-ray iteration, which presents the film with both aesthetic and emotional clarity. Criterion's supplementary materials, albeit lacking a commentary track or CD soundtrack, still provide valuable insights about the film's context and production.

In conclusion, René Laloux's "Fantastic Planet" remains an essential viewing experience. Criterion’s Blu-ray release does justice to this masterpiece, presenting it in pristine quality and enhancing viewers' understanding through its supplemental content. This release is highly recommended for both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre.