Invasion of the Space Lobsters

20056 min 51 secFilm: Animation

G

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!

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