INTERGALACTIC THANKSGIVING – PLEASE DON’T EAT THE PLANET
This was the Nelvana founders’ fourth effort and like the two that preceded it, had a large musical component. It appeared on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. 3 October 1979. The story was by Michael Hirsh, Clive Smith and Frank Nissen, and Screenplay by Greg Duffell, Don Arioli and Martin Lavut who also worked on Heavy Metal. The Director was Clive Smith and the Producers Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and J. Gordon Arnold. Songs were by John Sebastian while the Musical Score was composed by Patricia Cullen and played by Canadian Brass. Voices included Chris Wiggins (The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar), Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek), and Al Waxman (King of Kensington).
The story opens with a wagon train of farmers journeying through space, looking for a new place to settle. One of the wagons driven by “Pa Spademinder” and occupied by his wife and daughter “Victoria” crashes on a planet and is spotted by one of the inhabitants who rushes off to tell the others that aliens have landed. Here we are introduced to the inhabitants called “Laffalotians” because they spend all their time joking around. Their “King Goochi” is their leader because he is best at making them laugh. His son Notfunnyenuff wishes his compatriots would be more serious. Previously we have learned that “Victoria” wishes her parents were less serious. It is natural that the two are attracted to each other.
Things start off well enough the “Spademinders” are given land to set up their farm and the “Laffalotians” are entertained because they find the “Spademinders’” farming the soil quite funny, but here is where conflict begins. “King Goochi”, in a scene reminiscent of Snow White, is told by a mirror on the wall that he no longer qualifies as “King of Laffalot” because his citizens now find the “Spademinders” funnier. Thus competition at least on the part of “King Goochi” is born. “Pa Spademiner” has been hammering into the ground, stakes labelling the different vegetables. The “Laffalotians” have found this hilarious. “King Goochi” in an attempt to show he is funnier grabs the mallet and drives a stake into the ground with such force that he creates a large crack. “Victoria” and “Notfunnyenuff” fall into this crevasse and underground with them we discover that the planet is in deep trouble. It has been hollowed out by “bugs” with giant machines in order to provide food for those on the surface. Apparently, the interior of the planet is edible. There follows quick work by “Notfunnyenuff”, “Victoria” and the “bugs” to reinforce the planet’s weakened structure.
Meanwhile, on the surface, the planet’s fertile soil has created vegetables the size of trees. By working together, the “Laffalotians” and the “Spademiners” pull up these vegetables and are able to bring “Notfunnyenuf” and “Victoria” back to the surface. There follows movement toward balance on both sides. The “Laffalotians” become more serious and the “Spademiners” less so. The film ends with “Notfunnyenuf” and “Victoria” working together. Here, Nelvana has followed its tradition of inserting messages into its story, this time about taking care of the planet and keeping a balance between irresponsibility and being humourlessness.
The film reviewers agree the strength of this film and what makes it worth watching is its animation. Let’s leave the last word to Betty Zyvatkauska:
“The success of the show hinges on the whacky animation of a planet populated by a host of irresponsible laughmongers ….”
SOURCE:
Article periodical:
Globe & Mail Broadcaster Week, 30 September – October 5, 1979: “What Makes a great Laffalotian
animator?”. Writ., Betty Zyvatkauskas: 6.
Sunday Sun Television, September 30-October 6, 1979: 1, cover.
Article newspaper:
Globe & Mail, 5 October 1979: “Thanksgiving on Laffalot is worlds of galactic fun”. Writ., Rick Groen.
Toronto Sun, 2 October 1979: Nelvana’s ‘Thanksgiving’ is Out Of This World”. Writ., George Anthony.
GALLERY:
Sunday Sun Television, September 30-October 6, 1979: Front cover.
Globe & Mail, 5 October 1979. (Notfunnyenuf )