Fantastic Planet

What was that song by Porno For Pyros? The line "we'll make great pets"?  Did Perry Ferrell get inspired by 1973's FANTASTIC PLANET, an animated curiosity from France that has long courted a decent sized cult? A film Criterion recently added to its coveted ranks?  Its story of giant humanoids ("Draags") who keep humans, or "Om"s as playthings has as a starting point the idea that enslaving smaller creatures is cruel and demoralizing.  I remember Madonna speaking out against the practice of having domesticated pets, how unnatural it is.  Could you also consider that pets have a good life, with shelter and food they would otherwise have to forage?

A Draag might think that way.  It is far in the future on a planet called Ygam, where Draags keep the Oms in check with magnetic collars that keep them from wandering too far and enjoy a highly technologically advanced society.  They also are very into meditation.  A suddenly orphaned Om named Terr lives with Draag child Tiva, who foolishly allows her pet to listen in on her education sessions over a period of years.  The device is a headphone that transmits the info directly into the mind, a tool I'm sure many humans in the real world would appreciate. When Tiva becomes a teen and loses interest in Terr it becomes a perfect opportunity for the now older and savvy Om to break free and join the other wild Oms.  To perhaps plot a revolution.

In a running time that isn't much over an hour FANTASTIC PLANET thoughtfully explores tribalism, genocide, spirtuality, population control, and of course political structures. The Om societies easily lose control as they massively reproduce, later forming castes.  Meditation is shown for the Draags not only as a method for inner peace but also a way to propagate a species.  The Draags most certainly want to keep their underclass ignorant, lest they become dangerous.  Co-existence with them is not considered, at least, well...see the movie.

Narrative and characterization do suffer for the film's more omniscient point of view, especially in the later scenes.  We lose track of Terr and Tiva, as well as the latter's concerned parents.  We only get cursory knowledge of the many Oms we meet.  But I guess there just wasn't enough time.  Director Rene Laloux has created a visually astonishing motion picture whose utter coldness makes it all the more intriguing.  He is interested in themes, far moreso than individual character development.

Those who dig '70s cinema will also groove to Alain Goraguer's chicka pow score as they ponder their role in the universe.  Wondering if we really already are great pets for something else.