Battle for Terra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle for Terra |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Aristomenis Tsirbas |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by | Evan Spiliotopoulos |
| Story by | Aristomenis Tsirbas |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Abel Korzeniowski |
| Cinematography | Aristomenis Tsirbas |
| Editing by | J. Kathleen Gibson |
| Studio | Roadside Attractions Snoot Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate Films |
| Release date(s) | September 8, 2007 (TIFF) May 1, 2009 (United States) |
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million |
| Money made | $6.1 million |
Battle for Terra, first shown as Terra, is a 2007 American 3D computer animated action-adventure science fiction film. It is based on a short film also called Terra. The movie is about a peaceful alien race whose home planet is in danger. This danger comes from the last humans, who need a new place to live.
Aristomenis Tsirbas directed the film. He first imagined it as a live-action movie with realistic computer graphics. But working with Snoot Entertainment, they decided to make it fully animated. This made the film appeal more to younger audiences. Famous actors like Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Brian Cox, and James Garner lent their voices to the characters.
The movie first showed on September 8, 2007, at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was released widely in the United States on May 1, 2009. The film was first made in 2D. But it was designed so a second virtual camera could be added later. After showing at festivals, a small team re-rendered the whole film. This created a true 3D effect. Battle for Terra won the top prize for Best Animated Feature at the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Contents
Story of Battle for Terra
A Peaceful Planet Faces a New Threat
Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) and her friend Senn (Justin Long) are young aliens. They live on Terra, a calm planet much like Earth. Their culture is quite advanced but peaceful. They do not develop new technologies without council approval.
One day, a huge, mysterious object blocks part of Terra's sun. The Terrians are curious. But their rules stop them from using telescopes. Mala is brave and likes to invent things. She breaks the rules and builds a telescope.
First Contact and a New Friend
Mala uses her telescope outside the city. She sees smaller objects coming from the big one. These are scout spaceships. They fly into the city and start taking Terrians. Some Terrians even think these ships are new "gods."
Mala's father, Roven (Dennis Quaid), is taken. Mala tricks a ship into following her. She leads it into a trap, causing it to crash. She saves the pilot, a human officer named Lieutenant James "Jim" Stanton (Luke Wilson).
Understanding the Humans' Past
Jim's robot helper, Giddy (David Cross), tells Mala that Jim needs oxygen to live. Terra's air does not have oxygen. Mala quickly builds a special machine to make oxygen. She fills a tent with it so Jim can breathe.
Mala convinces Giddy to teach her human language. Giddy explains that the big object is a generation ship called The Ark. It carries the last humans from Earth. Centuries ago, humans made Mars and Venus like Earth. But a big war broke out between Earth and these planets. This war made all three planets unlivable. The humans traveled for generations in The Ark, searching for a new home. They finally found Terra and named it.
A Secret Base and a Difficult Choice
When Jim wakes up, he learns his ship is badly damaged. Mala agrees to help fix it. She wants to go with Jim to save her father, Roven. They find the ship was moved to a secret underground military base. This base was built by an older, warlike generation of Terrians. The elders, including Doron (James Garner), had kept this technology hidden.
Mala, Jim, and Giddy fix the ship and fly back to The Ark. Jim tells Mala to hide. Meanwhile, General Hemmer (Brian Cox), the military leader, takes control of The Ark. He declares war on Terra. He says The Ark is falling apart.
Sacrifice and a Battle for Survival
Mala finds Roven where humans are studying captured Terrians. As she tries to save him, guards appear. Roven sacrifices himself to help Mala escape. Hemmer tells Jim his plan: drop a huge machine called the Terraformer onto Terra. This machine will change Terra's air to be like Earth's. This would kill all the Terrians.
Hemmer tests Jim's loyalty. He puts Mala and his younger brother, Stewart (Chris Evans), in a room. One button fills the room with oxygen (saving Stewart but killing Mala). Jim saves Stewart, but secretly helps Mala escape back to Terra with Giddy. Hemmer orders Jim to lead the first group of fighters. Hemmer himself goes to Terra in the Terraformer.
A Hero's Final Act
Doron and the Terrian elders decide to use their hidden military technology. Terrian glider-fighters, led by Mala and Giddy, attack the human ships. A huge battle begins. The humans drop the Terraformer. It starts changing Terra's air, which will suffocate the aliens.
Jim realizes that destroying the Terrians is wrong. He sees Mala and Stewart fighting. Jim turns his ship towards the Terraformer. He attacks it, firing missiles at its control center. This destroys the Terraformer and kills Hemmer. Mala, Giddy, and Stewart barely escape the explosion. Jim's ship is destroyed, and he dies peacefully, knowing he did the right thing.
A New Beginning for All
Later, the Terrians and humans agree to live in peace. Terra's atmosphere returns to normal for the aliens. The Terrians create a special place for the human colonists. This sanctuary has Earth-like air. A large statue of Jim is built there. It honors his memory and sacrifice. Mala, Senn (who survived), Giddy, and Stewart find comfort in this new peace.
Voice Cast
- Evan Rachel Wood as Mala
- Luke Wilson as Lieutenant James "Jim" Stanton
- Brian Cox as General Hemmer
- James Garner as Doron
- David Cross as Giddy
- Chris Evans as Stewart Stanton
- Dennis Quaid as Roven
- Justin Long as Senn
- Danny Glover as President Chen
- Amanda Peet as Maria Montez
- Mark Hamill as Elder Orin
- Tiffany Brevard as Singer Soloist
- Danny Trejo as Elder Berum
- Phil LaMarr as Fabric Merchant
- Laraine Newman as Toy Merchant
- Ron Perlman as Elder Vorin
Awards and Recognition
Battle for Terra received several awards for its animation and story.
- Giffoni Film Festival 2008
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
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| Silver Gryphon | First Feature Competition | Aristomenis Tsirbas and Dane Allan Smith | Won |
- Heartland Film Festival 2008
| Award | Nominee | Result |
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| Crystal Heart Award | Aristomenis Tsirbas | Won |
- Ottawa International Animation Festival 2008
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
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| Grand Prize Award | Best Animated Feature Film | Aristomenis Tsirbas and Dane Allan Smith | Won |
Images for kids
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A friendly robot, like Giddy in the film.
See also
In Spanish: Battle for Terra para niños
