René Laloux was born in Paris in 1929 and went to art school to study painting. After some time working in advertising, he got a job in a psychiatric institution where he began experimenting in animation with the interns. It is at the psychiatric institution that he made 1960's Monkey's Teeth (Les Dents du Singe), in collaboration with Paul Grimault's studio, and using a script written by the Cour Cheverny's interns. Another important collaborator of his was Roland Topor with whom Laloux made Dead Time (Les Temps Morts, 1964), The Snails (Les Escargots, 1965) and his most famous work, the feature length Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage, 1973). Laloux also worked with Jean Giraud (Mœbius) to create the lesser known film Les Maîtres du temps (Time Masters), released in 1982. Laloux's 1988 film, Gandahar, was released in the US as Light Years, and made in cooperation with the artist Caza. The US version was redubbed by Harvey Weinstein, from a screenplay adapted by Isaac Asimov. The US version was not as successful as the French version, grossing less than $400,000 on its release. Laloux died of a heart attack on March 14, 2004 in Angoulême, Charente, Poitou-Charentes, France.
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Biography from TMDB.
- July 13, 1929
- March 14, 2004 (aged 74)
- Paris, France
- Writer and director, also actor
- 4 on MovieCove · 20 credits in all
What are René Laloux's films like?
Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Power.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 4
Light 3 · Serious 1 · Dark 1
A split, not a type: Grounded 1 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3
Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 0
Steady 1 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 1
Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0
Casual 2 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 0
Resolved 2 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy1
- Bittersweet2
- Ambiguous1
- Cyclical1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch René Laloux's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 4 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for René Laloux's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
20 credits, 4 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
The Rain Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
The Eye of the Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
De l'autre côté (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Ernest the Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
The Chimerical Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Gandahar(1987)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
How Wang-Fo Was Saved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
The Captive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Quality Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
The Time Masters(1982)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Machine-Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
The Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Fantastic Planet(1973)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all filmsThe mountain giving birth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Les escargots(1966)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Little Claus and Big Claus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Dead Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Monkey's Teeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
The Achalunés (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
Tick Tack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Career shape
A full career of 20 titles from 1957 to 2003.
How do René Laloux's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 84th percentile, the median of all 4; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 77th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up4
Shape of the crowd
None of their 4 titles divides audiences: 3 are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved1
- Crowd Pleaser3
Reviewers score the dialogue 47/100 and the plot and story 56/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does René Laloux work with?
People who share at least 2 of René Laloux's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stefan Wul shares the most, 2.
Writers
- Stefan WulShared titles: The Time Masters (1982), Fantastic Planet (1973)See all 2 shared titles with Stefan Wul
- Roland ToporShared titles: Fantastic Planet (1973), Les escargots (1966)See all 2 shared titles with Roland Topor
Actors
- Jean ValmontShared titles: The Time Masters (1982), Fantastic Planet (1973)See all 2 shared titles with Jean Valmont
Composers
- Alain GoraguerShared titles: Fantastic Planet (1973), Les escargots (1966)See all 2 shared titles with Alain Goraguer
Producers
- André Valio-CavaglioneShared titles: Fantastic Planet (1973), Les escargots (1966)See all 2 shared titles with André Valio-Cavaglione
- Simon DamianiShared titles: Fantastic Planet (1973), Les escargots (1966)See all 2 shared titles with Simon Damiani