By Geoffrey Golden

It’s been a long, long ride to get to Planet 51, which opens in theaters tomorrow. Since 2002, Illion Animation Studios has been perfecting their first feature length animated movie for theaters. Seven years of re-writing, re-recording and re-animating later, they finally launched their film into theaters, but will it be a smooth landing with audiences?

The best CG animation sweats the details, whether it’s tweaking a story beat or perfecting the bounce of an antenna, so it’s no surprise that Illion wanted to get everything just right for their debut feature. On the visuals, they scored a home run. A perfectionistic attention to detail makes the film pure eye candy.

The textures are especially well-crafted, from the peach-soft alien skin to the glossy metallic shell of Rover, the dog-like space exploration robot. You also can’t help but admire the backgrounds and visual touches, like the glossy bowling alley and the humorously stylized poster for the alien horror movie poster, “Humaniacs 2.”
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Ilion Studios’ Planet 51 will touch down in theaters on November 20th, but distributor Tristar Pictures may feel like they’re screening on the dark side of the moon…. a new moon that is. All the world’s focus will instead be on The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the highly anticipated sequel to the megahit Girls Dig Robert Pattenson (alternatively titled: Twilight), which releases on the same day. However, the million or so people who won’t get to the theater in time to land tickets very well might plunk down $8 for Planet 51. One of our Lineboil operative is previewing the film this weekend, so we’ll give you a heads-up next week. Here’s some EPK footage to tide you over:

Ilion Studios’ Planet 51 is still on track for a November 20, 2009 release, and a second trailer has been revealed. This $60 million CG feature about a reverse alien invasion is being released by TriStar Pictures.

If you haven’t heard of Ilion Studios, you’re not alone. This Spanish studio is fresh on the feature animation scene, but they’re already knocking out a $60 million CG feature – titled Planet 51. The film is slated for release on November 20, 2009, via the TriStar Pictures banner. Here’s the latest trailer for the project – which turns the whole alien invasion storyline on it’s head.

Spotted at Flooby Nooby.