Voice Cast Highlights

Renowned actors Jeremy Irons, Vanessa Redgrave, and Michael York have joined the voice cast of the upcoming 3D animated family film, The Crystal Planet. This highly anticipated project is being presented at the Cannes Film Festival by Sola Media.

Film Synopsis

Directed by Croatian filmmaker Arsen Anton Ostojic, The Crystal Planet is inspired by an original screenplay from Oscar-winning writer Dušan Vukotić, known for his animated short film The Substitute.

The storyline revolves around 11-year-old Rea, who relocates to a distant planet in an outer-space colony. As her father works in a factory manufacturing robotic creatures, Rea stumbles upon a mysterious animal cub. With the assistance of her new friend Andy, she embarks on a quest to protect the real cub from the factory’s merciless owner, who aims to convert it into a robotic prototype.

Character Insights and Themes

Irons lends his voice to the character of Governor Mordokan, an antagonist characterized by moral complexity. Redgrave portrays The Matriarch, while York takes on the role of The Patriarch from the planet’s unique subterranean species.

“I had a lot of fun playing Governor Mordokan and working with the team on this project,” said Jeremy Irons. “Mordokan is a complex character, both a greedy industrialist and a caring father, but his internal grief puts at risk his new planet and all the colorful animals who live there.”

A Journey into Animation

This project marks Ostojic’s debut in animated features, a notable shift from his previous live-action endeavors. Reflecting on the development process, he recalled, “My late professor, the Oscar-winner Dušan Vukotić, shared a draft of the script with me back in the ‘90s. Years later, after inheriting the rights, I hesitated — unsure I could meet the challenge. But once I partnered with Alkay Animation Prague and its visionary producer Petr Horak, as well as with Peter Badač from BFilm, I found the path forward. Diving into the wonderful world of animation with its seemingly unlimited possibilities allowed me to create a visually rich movie, and it is a journey that I am immensely proud of.”

Environmental Themes and Production Details

Solveig Langeland, managing director of Sola Media, emphasized the film’s timely message, stating: “The Crystal Planet delivers a timely and engaging adventure with a strong environmental message that will resonate with young audiences. It’s a creatively bold film that makes the most of its resources, driven by big ideas, exceptional talent, and an Oscar-winning cast — perfect for the global family market.”

The film is produced by Filmosaurus Rex, BFilm, and Alkay Animation Prague, one of the Czech Republic’s premier animation studios, which previously won the Jury Prize in Annecy and received a Golden Globe nomination for My Sunny Maad.

Animation Supervision and Support

Animation for The Crystal Planet is supervised by Jakub Pistecky, whose impressive portfolio includes works such as Rango, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Avengers.

The project has garnered support from various European film organizations, including the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Czech Audiovisual Fund, Slovak Audiovisual Fund, and Creative Europe/MEDIA.