by Alex Billington
July 17, 2026
Source: YouTube
“A future passed, a past yet to come.” Janus Films has debuted a new official trailer for the animation film Gandahar, a 1987 animated sci-fi classic from France. The final masterpiece from French animator René Laloux – also director of Fantastic Planet and The Time Masters previously. This is a 4K re-release of the original French uncut version, since it was only released theatrically in the US before in 1988 as an edited & dubbed version. Janus already did a 4K restoration & re-release of The Time Masters last year, this is up next and it looks just as enchanting & fascinating. On the planet Gandahar where peace reigns and poverty is unknown, this utopian lifestyle is upset by reports of people at the frontiers being turned to stone. Sylvain is sent to investigate this mystery. He learns that a gargantuan brain called Metamorphis is responsible for his utopian society’s strife and, together with the beautiful Airelle, travels through time to defeat him, in the process risking their lives & Gandahar’s very existence “In a thousand years, Gandahar was destroyed, and all its people massacred. A thousand years ago, Gandahar will be saved, and what can’t be avoided will be.” Laloux’s animated films are always worth watching because they’re so unique & intelligent & mesmerizing.
Here’s the new 4K restoration trailer (+ poster) for René Laloux’s animation Gandahar, from YouTube:
“Les année-lumière.” 🚀 An entire civilization must confront its destiny in alternative-animation pioneer René Laloux’s final feature, a cult classic of mind-bending science fiction. In a distant world, a merciless army of automata attacks Gandahar, turning its peace-loving people to stone. Hoping to discover the source of these Men of Metal, a council of matriarchs enlists the brave yet inexperienced warrior Sylvain (Pierre-Marie Escourro), who, while journeying to his planet’s outer regions, teams up with the Deformed, a race cast out from Gandahar after failed science experiments rendered them mutants. Soon, Sylvain learns that a gargantuan brain called Metamorphis (Georges Wilson) is responsible for his utopian society’s strife and — together with the beautiful Airelle (Catherine Chevallier) — travels through time to defeat him, in the process risking their lives and Gandahar’s very existence. Featuring stunningly surreal creatures and wondrously bizarre environments designed by renowned comic-book artist Caza, Gandahar is a visceral, visionary head-trip in which animation opens a gateway to furthest reaches of imagination.
Gandahar is directed by the French visionary sci-fi animator / filmmaker René Laloux, also director of the animated films Fantastic Planet (1973) and The Time Masters (1982) previously. The screenplay is by René Laloux, with dialogue by Raphael Cluzel. Adapted from the French novel “Les hommes-machines contre Gandahar” written by Jean-Pierre Andrevon. With music composed by Gabriel Yared. This initially opened in France in December of 1987, eventually playing in the US in 1988 as a dubbed version. This brand new 4K restoration will be re-released by Janus Films this year. René Laloux’s Gandahar hits select US theaters starting August 28th, 2026 coming up. For more info visit their official site. Has anyone seen this before?
