NFB Collection
Invasion of the Space Lobsters
20056 min 51 secFilm: Animation
Direction: Janet Perlman
Production: David VerrallMichael Fukushima
Script: Janet Perlman
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress, with the financial participation of Alberta Federation of Labour, Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Columbia Institute, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, Public Service Alliance of Canada, UFCW, United Steel Workers of America and Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada with the participation of the Canadian Labour Congress
An advanced race of giant lobsters from outer space land on Earth "sunny side up," but no one knows why. An utter failure of communication with these galactic crustaceans catapults the world towards Armageddon bisque! World peace is at stake! What can save us? A little straight talk, perhaps?
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, director and writer Janet Perlman untwines the classic 1950s B-movie motif to weave a thoroughly madcap, animated parable pitting the virtues of clear language and good communication against bafflegab evil-doers. Does a contract have to be unreadable? Must political speeches be meaningless? Can assembly instructions be self-evident?
Dire consequences await the foolhardy practitioners of Orwellian doublespeak and just plain gobbledygook. Beware to all contract contortionists, purple prosaists and speech spinners. The jig is finally up. Resistance is futile!
Availability
Other versions
Subject categories
- Literature and Language - Canada > Language Issues
- Media and Communication > Social Issues
- Animals > Stories
- English Language Arts > Children's Stories/Fables
- Health/Personal Development > Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
Credits
- director
- Janet Perlman
- animation
- Janet Perlman
- writer
- Janet Perlman
- animation assistance
- Luigi Allemano
- voice
- Thor Bishopric
- Adrien Burhop
- Mark Camacho
- Craig Francis
- Raveena Rothman-Rudnicki
- Jane Wheeler
- original music
- Judith Gruber-Stitzer
- sound
- Judith Gruber-Stitzer
- arrangements
- Judith Gruber-Stitzer
- Dave Gossage
- foley
- Karla Baumgardner
- digital imaging specialist
- Susan Gourley
- lead infographist
- Randall Finnerty
- infographist
- Neerajkumar Patel
- Jason Smalridge
- Yin Ko Lee
- voice recording
- Luc Léger
- Patrick Knup
- music recording
- Geoffrey Mitchell
- foley recording
- Geoffrey Mitchell
- final mix
- Geoffrey Mitchell
- online editing
- Denis Gathelier
- titles
- Gaspard Gaudreau
- production supervisor
- Richard Lesage
- technical coordination
- Julie Laperrière
- Jelena Popovic
- studio administration
- Gisèle Guilbault
- Rosalina Di Sario
- Jocelyne Lalonde
- marketing manager
- Hélène Tanguay
- executive producer
- David Verrall
- producer
- Michael Fukushima
Awards
- Honorable Mention - Category: Children & Youth International Film and Video Festival
- Diploma of HonourInternational Short Film Festival