The undoubted magnum opus of the late Roman Kachanov (1921-1993), and a highlight of child-based sci-fi animation from the Soviet Union (handily outdoing the previous title holder, 1953’s FLIGHT TO THE MOON/Polyot na Lunu). Running 48 minutes, THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET (Tayna tretey planety; 1981) was adapted from stories in the Kir Bulychyov authored Alice Seleznyov (a.k.a. “The Girl from Earth”) series, which also provided the source material for the subsequent animated saga ALICE’S BIRTHDAY/Den rozhdeniya Alisy (2009), while Kachanov returned to Bulychyov’s writing in 1985 for the cartoon fantasy TWO TICKETS FOR INDIA (Dva bileta v Indiyu; 1985).
In 1998 THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET was included, in a cut-down version, in the US anthology series STORIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD (with English language vocals by Kirsten Dunst, Jim Belushi and Harvey Fierstein). It followed a 1987 English dub containing a voice-over that piped up during the non-dialogue portions to explain what was happening (something I’d argue the visuals accomplished on their own). Needless to say, the original Russian language version is the preferable one.
Spring, 2181: the aging Captain Green is piloting the spaceship Pegas, together with the red bearded Professor Seleznyov and his young daughter Alice, on an expedition to collect exotic animals. They stop off at the Planet of the Captains, named for Captains Kim and Buran, who traversed the universe in their spaceship the Blue Seagull but have since gone missing. There the trio meet the sinister museum director Dr. Verkhovtsev.
The protagonists then head to Planet Blook, where “astonishing animals” are sold and traded. On display are some mighty interesting critters, including a tiger rat, invisible fish, a flying cow and a species of “rare bird that always tells the truth” known as Chatter-birds, which have largely vanished from existence. Upon obtaining one of the last surviving chatter-birds Green, Seleznyov and Alice are attacked by robots, but manage to fight them off. The chatter-bird then repeats a conversation it heard, voiced by Kim and Buran about traveling to the Medusa system.
Next the trio answer an S.O.S. from the planet Shelezyaka, populated by robots threatened by an epidemic of paralysis. The culprit is Verkhovtsev, who upon learning that the robots had cured a chatter-bird mixed the oil that sustains the ‘bots with diamond dust. Green and Seleznyov manage to neutralize the effects of the diamond dust, and head for the Medusa System.
Upon landing on the second planet of this system our intrepid trio discover rocks that cast incredibly lifelike mirages. They then head for the third planet, a colorful environ filled with exotic creatures and otherworldly flora. Among the latter is a flower that reflects and plays back what occurs around it, including images of a nefarious Verkhovtsev headed gang that has been afoot on the planet. Not that this is necessary, as Verkhovtsev ultimately gets the jump on the protagonists, entrapping them in an underground cavern where the Blue Seagull spaceship is being held, and where the truth of the disappearances of it, Kim and Buran is finally revealed.
What THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET provides is a credible piece of science fiction in addition to an animation tour de force. The narrative contains enough incident and imagination to pack an American sci fi trilogy, while the imagery, involving gangly figures with pinched faces and highly fluid, flicker-free movement, is utterly distinct and impressive (especially in light of the fact that much of Roman Kachanov’s previous filmography consisted of claymation). His use of (once-innovative) electronic music admittedly takes some getting used to, but ultimately harmonizes well with the whirring and beeping sounds made by all the exotic machinery.
Kachanov, in common with many a fellow countryman, evidently had trouble with happy endings, and concludes the film on an oddly inconclusive note (with Alice being praised as a “true friend”…by her father!). Also, I could have done without the Cutesy elements (such as the flying cow) that it seems are endemic to kid-oriented animation, although the many wondrous sights on display, such as a massive multi-armed robot with syringes for eyes, a snail shell on wheels, blue skinned creatures with giant ears and a field of sentient flowers, more than compensate.
Vital Statistics
THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD PLANET (Tayna tretey planety)
Soyuzmultfilm
Director: Roman Kachanov
Screenplay: Kir Bulychyov
Cinematography: Teodor Bunimovich, Svetlana Kashcheeva
Editing: Nadezhda Treshchyova, Olga Vasilenko
Cast: Olga Gromova, Vsevolod Larionov, Yuriy Volyntsev, Vasiliy Livanov, Grigoriy Shpigel, Pyotr Vishnyakov, Vladimir Druzhnikov, Vladimir Kenigson, Yuri Andreyev