Thanks go to Marten in our forum, who alerted me that British distributor Eureka will be re-releasing René Laloux' "La Planète Sauvage" aka. "Fantastic Planet" next spring in a BluRay edition as part of their "Masters Of Cinema" label. Eureka has confirmed this news.
Often have I commented on the eternal friendly battle between Criterion and Eureka MOC, and how we all benefit from it. Sometimes Criterion has the best version, sometimes Eureka MOC. But so far, Eureka MOC doesn't show the annoying blind spots that Criterion seems to have for all non-Japanese Asian movies and animation. This is very much true for their BluRay line-up so far, which included Johnny To's "Mad Detective" last year and in 2010 includes this animated classic.
For me this is the best news I've heard today: I reviewed their DVD-release of "Fantastic Planet" ( click here... ) and while I was very much taken by it, there sure was room for improvement videowise...
But so far, Eureka MOC doesn't show the annoying blind spots that Criterion seems to have for all non-Japanese Asian movies and animation.
You say "blind spot", I say "deliberate, spiteful, obstinate, pig-headed, ignorant, snotty, incomprehensibly hypocritical disdain". And as if that wasn't bad enough, the holes in their line-up were left to the dubious likes of Dragon Dynasty to patch - and they took one look at what Criterion was doing and proceeded to completely miss the point. It's a shame. That said - this'll be among the first Blu-rays I purchase. Glad I procrastinated on their DVD now.
And should the good people of Eureka "Masters of Cinema" be reading this page, ehm...
...there's this guy in France, his name is Michel Ocelot, please go check him out is all I say.