What on Earth!

This animated short proposes what many earthlings have long feared -- that the automobile has inherited the planet. When life on Earth is portrayed as one long, unending conga-line of cars, a crew of extra-terrestrial visitors understandably assume they are the dominant race. While humans, on the other hand, are merely parasites. An Oscar® nominee, this film serves as an entertaining case study.

[@sticksmcfly]

I've been wanting to see this again for about 35 years. Finally figured out the right keywords and found it. Thank you for this post!

[@blainecurtis2634]

What were they?

[@deepakk1347]

@@blainecurtis2634 You mean "key words"

[@sticksmcfly]

@@blainecurtis2634 It was two years ago, so I have no idea.

[@sticksmcfly]

@@KikiTrex Yes! I distinctly remember seeing this on The Great Space Coaster and it was in black and white. We didn't have a VCR yet, but I made an audio tape of it for some reason and played it many times because I liked the narrator. Maybe the animator colored it and cleaned it up for submission to the NFB.

[@mitchsalawine5420]

Right with you. I remembered this from childhood and it took a while to find it again. As an automotive component manufacturer I find the Martians opinion on the reproduction process really funny! If only it were that easy...or that complicated.

[@driftliketokyo34ftw35]

1:24 i wish that was true.

[@louiseugeniojr.3530]

I remember watching this film on Cartoon Network as part of O Canada. Sure brings back memories.

[@Kazzbah]

5:58 This becomes very Rick and Morty-esque right about now

[@ttintagel]

They used to show us this in school every year!

[@MegaCyberleader]

pretty darn close even by todayt

[@cactustree2786]

It has a deep meaning

[@gula_rata]

could someone upload the film by Kaj Pindal which was shown at 1970 EXPO in Osaka Japan, called "The City"

[@MrTruckerf]

From 1966

[@olivialin2207]

What’s the name of all cars?

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

I see hints of Ford, General Motors (bigger ones), Trabant and Volkswagen (smaller ones) vehicles in some of these

[@abdullahempeh5281]

😂😂😂😂

[@ChrisPollitt]

"Although Ford had taken great care to blend into Earth society, he had skimped a bit on his preparatory research, and thought that the name 'Ford Prefect' would be nicely inconspicuous. Ford had simply mistaken the dominant life form. The Ford Prefect was, in fact, a British car manufactured in the 1950s. When he first arrived on Earth, Ford was almost run over while attempting to greet a blue Ford Prefect."

[@pinkstars9324]

42

[@mzmadmike]

@@pinkstars9324 6X9

[@blainecurtis2634]

💗

[@suroguner]

did you remember your towel?

[@matju2]

@@mzmadmike how many roads must a man walk down ?

[@roboko6618]

Pretty much sums up most American cities. Built for the automobile, but not for humans. Of course that is a European perspective. To Americans the car means 'freedom' because you have access to nothing without one in America.

[@OdaSwifteye]

Welp. This inspired Cars.

[@Autostade67]

Made in 1966, this film cannily does an in-house riff on the great NFB film composer Eldon Rathburn. Note how the composer Don Douglas cleverly starts the film using the music from the 1960 multi-award winner 'Universe' for which Rathburn - possibly the most under-celebrated film composer ever to have worked in the medium - created a signature score.

[@WilliamC1966]

The headlights on the cars said.... "salted beans" 😂

[@michaelbarlow9619]

Where?

[@starless9]

michael barlow 3:21

[@starless9]

Also, license plates OH09, OH10

[@defdac]

What is "Salted beans" in reference to? The production company that made the cartoon?

[@shane99ca]

I thought it was "repent sins."

[@psilopsybr]

Non-stop funny, very clever. And very revealing. I couldn't stop wondering how real aliens might view our obsession with these destructive balls of steel.

[@zesty2023]

cars destructive? Give me a break it's people who are destructive.

[@ShafianAF]

This is real dude

[@kayzeaza]

@@zesty2023 if aliens master space flight they probably also have mastered domestic travel. They would understand the concept of cars

[@chodesmond6373]

I don’t think they make cartoons like this anymore

[@KingThrillgore]

"the National Film Board of Mars" Clearly a respectable and creatively minded organization, aimed at promoting the Martian perspective of life.

[@RQBtv]

This is a great little animation. Both surreal and all-too-real at the same time. Very sixties too, and because of the year it was produced (1966) it's in pristine shape for its' age!

[@rando1879]

Huh, I've always wondered how cars were made.

[@notacreatureoftheabyss]

not cars, earthlings

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

As a car I confirm that cars are Earthlings and Martians described everything accurately, from our dinners to our smooth fast life and working class, from our desire of playing games and dancing and social directors to spas and medical centers, and even our education, reproduction processes and even parasites

[@anothermetallyricschannel4399]

What On Earth Did I Just Watch?!?

[@bloxburg_girl_1012]

This is amazing! I love how they see that cars appear to have faces, and how the film is actually about marshians mistaking cars for humans! It’s amazing how true this would be if there were life on Mars. There might be, who knows?

[@Barbarabarbarabarbara]

There was actually signs of a chemical only made by living things in Venus's atmosphere. Rocket lab is sending a rocket to test it

[@mr.d.4175]

Define life.

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

Plot twist: Martians look and live exactly like how they described the cars to

[@bjb008]

My dad used to hire films from the local library and show them in the driveway for all us kids to see, we loved this in 1967, I've been searching for this for years, thanksss

[@scottdawson4705]

I know we used to be able to borrow videos and films from the library that specifically had public exhibition rights, as opposed to home viewing rights only.

[@22Tesla]

Freaky but sadly true to a degree.

[@inactiveuser1981]

Dear Canadians, your sense of humour is wonderful.

[@1manwalkingfreakshow]

I remember seeing this on the TV show "Hocus Focus" back in the "mime" years of the kids' channel Nickelodeon. This one stayed with me for quite a while. Glad I could find it again. Well done, scientists of Mars, indeed.

[@jbvideos6605]

Saw this years later on Cartoon Network when they had a whole series devoted to Canadian animation

[@ZaCloud-Animations___she-her]

@@jbvideos6605 Heh, and I just recently told someone about that series (O, Canada!). Glad I got my memory bumped so I could find this again. :3

[@tiptopsound]

You can tell it’s vintage by the narration. That era of voiceover artists is gone. I bet there is not one v/o actor left that sounds like that.

[@Unguided]

Your earthling has been crushed into a cube.

[@dongjuang4196]

In fact this video illustrates the way of human thinking and how wrong conclusions can be made based on the poor understanding of reality. Automobiles are taken just for example. Absolutely any other thing could be taken instead.

[@Robeykr]

I remember seeing this on the International Animation Festival hosted by Jean Marsh. It's really too bad they can't release the series on home video. The problem must be the tangle of different copyrights involved. This is a classic. Oddly enough, I remember George Vandeman using this story (not the film itself) as a parable in one of his IT IS WRITTEN broadcasts.

[@TheHamadanners]

4:04 so were just not gonna worry about that corpse

[@canon-de-75]

The earthlings are not to concerned about the disposal of dead bodies. Those who die without reproducing, are simply thrown into designated grave sites and left to rot.

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

Ironically, us Earthlings have to sacrifice ourselves to reproduce as seen from the 5th minute onward, so maybe this corpse will eventually be reborn one day

[@realitycheck3363]

Man!! Those martians don't miss a single thing, do they!!

[@mirtabrkulj4951]

I was listening to an audiobook by Carl Sagan and he described exactly this :p I forgot which book it was, because I listened to several one after the other

[@wolfila8873]

Oh, you're referring to his book _A Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space,_ where he wrote, after inviting us the readers to imagine that we're alien explorers searching for life and intelligence after a long journey in the blackness of interstellar space and you suddenly notice Earth: _"When you take pictures at a meter resolution or better, you find that the crisscrossing straight lines within the cities and the long straight lines that join them with other cities are filled with streamlined, multicolored beings a few meters in length, politely running one behind the other, in long, slow orderly procession. They are very patient. One stream of beings stops so another stream can continue at right angles. Periodically, the favor is returned. At night, they turn on two bright lights in front so they can see where they're going. Some, a privileged few, go into little houses when their workday is done and retire for the night. Most are homeless and sleep in the streets. At last! You've detected the source of all the technology. the dominant life-forms on the planet. The streets of the cities and the roadways of the countryside are evidently built for their benefit. You might believe that you were really beginning to understand life on Earth. And perhaps you'd be right. If the resolution improved just a little further, you'd discover tiny parasites that occasionally enter and exit the dominant organisms. They play some deeper role, though, because a stationary dominant organism will often start up again just after it's reinfected by a parasite, and stop again just before the parasite is expelled. This is puzzling. But no one said life on Earth would be easy to understand."_ Delicious read.

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

As a streamlined colorful Earthling I confirm that this is another accurate description of our civilization along with this film

[@mzmadmike]

This was on HBO in the early 80s, along with one about a lander landing on the Capitol dome and finding no signs of intelleigent life. Though my favorite is the Crack Spider, done later in the same style.

[@angelicamata7367]

I saw this as a kid and have been searching for it every few years online. It's so great to finally see it again!

[@mingz7067]

Hmm, i guess KZbin has brought us together again here. See y'all in another 6 yrs i guess

[@nerkoids]

They even use the Mars Sans-serif font for the titles and credits. Talk about thoroughness!

[@jennifercavenee7572]

5:50 "Today, on How it's Made."

[@thequietonesometimes6415]

3:20 the headlights on the cars say SALTED BEANS????? I could understand HIGH BEAMS!!

[@dbeierl]

There was a can of sealed beans in one of the scenes...

[@thequietonesometimes6415]

dbeierl Ahh. I missed that. But still a funny place to find it written on.

[@dbeierl]

Well...Martians, y'know. Can't expect them to get every last detail correct. ;)

[@dbeierl]

When I was a kid "Sealed-beam" headlights were still new enough to be worth boasting about, I think. On the lamp itself, I mean.

[@mingz7067]

5:58 so that's how cars reproduce ? hmm alrighty

[@vanessamurphy4667]

I love when the two cars shake their asses...

[@benpepin7872]

I used to borrow videotapes full of NFB shorts from the library. This was a heck of a trip back.

[@dehydratedwater9806]

I was hoping this was the one I remembered where the humans were parasites!

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

I wonder what aliens would think if they saw the birth process of human beings. A little organism screaming as it struggles through the birth canal, covered in blood. It's only a happy event if you know whats actually going on, but on the surface birth looks like worse than death.

[@ViddyOJames]

I assume they would be able to relate it to their own, because "alien" does not imply a complete difference.

[@Kidzneurosciencecenter]

Nearly 60 years later, this satire of North America's car dependency still remains completely relevant from start to end. If only we would take our own history and learn from it.

[@DavidChipman]

I remember seeing this on The Hospital for Sick Children closed circuit channel HSC-TV in the late 80s or early 90s. I swear for years it seemed like a "Good Drugs"-induced hallucination.

[@missoula2213]

David Chipman “Good drugs” are the #1 most abused drug.

[@DavidChipman]

Well, at least as a Sick Kids In-patient I would have been prescribed mine... for a few days.

[@SmaIlHum]

nobody: that cheater in bedwars: 1:47

[@OccyDaBoss]

lmao yes, just casually scaffold hacks.

[@jatlarge6354]

NFBC, even by your mountainously high standards, this was a belter. Indebted to you for posting this.

[@Bluecamaro8694]

I thought this was about humans but its about....cars?

[@makyhianimations]

3:36 only in ohio

[@IKFKSwitch]

This short has always been win for me. It's never lost its cleverness and funny. The dancing cars (+ a few other shots) looks a lot like Bill Plympton's work, but didn't see him in the credits.

[@Gazdatronik]

Bill was 15 when this came out

[@Trendyflute]

I saw this once on cartoon network in the 1990s and it always stuck in my head. It's brilliant; now as an adult who has both been a car enthusiast but also a civil engineer and someone with an environmental conscience, I'm pulled in several directions about what transportation needs are, what the environment's needs are, and if possible with whatever's left, maybe some of us can enjoy our vehicles a bit...the tone this struck is brilliant, and so prescient and fresh from the 1960s!

[@1995ToyotaCresta]

As a car enthusiast I understand this is a satire on how big the role of the automobile on modern Earth is, but still I love this film for gorgeous 60s cars and the statement that humans are parasites, which is true to some extent

[@MrJans3n]

This is fantastic! So much satisfying, fine detail in the art in terms of shape and perspective.

[@commentator9134]

The high quality of this upload makes me drool 🤤.

[@javiermarega335]

7:34 Like a 1959 cadillac fleetwood.

[@Blaineworld]

That part around 5:30 made me cry.

[@scottdawson4705]

The whole ‘reproductive centre’ sequence… it’s “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” in machine form! Block, cannon, steam engine, locomotive… then that thing with the electric tram… I also like all the bridge parts made of Meccano… * “Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” is the idea that the developing embryo goes though stages resembling the organism’s evolution. (I’m not sure how true that actually is.)

[@Curttehmurt]

I haven't seen this in years, I remember it was shown on Cartoon Network's "Oh Canada"

[@JL-sm6cg]

That's where I last saw this, and before that on The Great Space Coaster.

[@microbusss]

well lets HOPE that real aliens who come here don't think vehicles are life How many noted that the steal bridges are made of Erector? hehe

[@PatrickRsGhost]

Reminds me of a short story I read in 9th Grade dealing with one Martian telling another about what he found on Earth.

[@pancakemacbuttery9142]

This is my average nightmare

[@EllipticGeometry]

This reveals something else about us. We are these apex predators. Other animals are only worth some consideration if they’re pets. Plants are just scenery. When we imagine extraterrestrial life, it’s often some apex humanoid we can just talk to. It took _us_ billions of years to become that notable. We’ve only been spacefaring for a few decades and are already rapidly exhausting our own biosphere. Do you really expect to be on an intersection with basically another human civilization? And then if it didn’t lead to war between the apex predators (if only because of the fear that they might strike first, a universal dynamic when you don’t have cosmic police to shut that down), there is the issue of biological compatibility. This is one thing I like about _The War of the Worlds_ (as conveyed by Jeff Wayne, the way I know it): for all of its own quirks, it acknowledges bacteria. We hardly take our closest relatives here on Earth seriously, but that’s the closest we can get to meaningful interactions with another species. This film-possibly knowingly because it’s a working trope-falls into the same trap of positing that there are _the_ singular Martians and Earthlings. P.S. I do think that spacefaring societies are likely driven by a singular apex predator. Any species capable of it ought to use that capability to ensure utter dominance. Even humans have done this to a good extent among each other, whether or not we would agree that’s such a good idea. This will last until said species proves itself to be too naïve to wield such power, or a truly cataclysmic exogenic event occurs. This still hinges on all of the other assumptions.

[@ooSicknesSoo]

Very nice gem from 1966

[@kamaleddineboudehari3838]

This channel is just amazing

[@alastar1230]

LOL I was like wtf who made this then I saw Canada and it made so much sense

[@RetroNerdGirl]

SO CUTE!!!!!

[@sweetcomments6007]

2:26 white then black then red car, but in 2:30 white black them yellow bus 😮

[@starless9]

Sweet Comments 3:36 OH10 3:38 OH09

[@lj1730]

Omdhdjfdsfhdfkfhf CARS

[@teapeaster]

Wow. Saw this when I was a kid and never forgot it. A major impact on my current art, and what I have been doing for a long time. Thanks.

[@theterribleanimator1793]

What in the name of fuck

[@Just_Kys]

Why does the shaking of a cars back bring so much joy to me?

[@jannettekirwin4530]

Canada Rocks! And stop shaking your eyes. That's where the log driver learns to step lightly!

[@samieb4712]

Cars 4 looks great

[@somecursedcommentguy537]

What the F

[@vengagne809]

This was one of my favorite shorts when I was a kid.

[@neskire]

Created in 1966. Very funny.

[@jatlarge6354]

Saw this aeons ago on our educational anthology show PICTURE BOX, and I'd been looking for it ever since and here it is! Kudos, power and respect to you, National Film Board of Canada (or should that be National Film Board of Mars?) - your animations are awesome!

[@ogostodacachacaseuze2518]

that ending how genious!!!

[@gotnoshoes99]

Yep, that's how cars are made.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Just love how it's seen as "reproduction".

[@maralucia8874]

Os faróis sendo instalados nos carros 😗😙😂😂😂misericórdia.

[@youplanet6281]

This channel is just amazing I really love what you do ... Please keep the amazing work . Thank you

[@osmia]

Good memories :)

[@theblackvo1d]

this movie predicted Disney's masterpiece, "Cars 3"

[@emmanuelunitedchurchottawa4152]

That is such a classic.

[@Supersadist]

I'd say this was heavily inspired by Tex Avery's work

[@jonsmith6331]

this filmed scared me as a kid. from minute 6 on, it's pure terror

[@defy_desperation]

создание автомобиля на самом деле выглядит жутко несмотря на милую анимацию

[@MrShobar]

Delightful film. It was shown on TCM this evening.

[@vitonamous]

clever animation honestly and funny too

[@israelcomputacion]

And the logger and the chair?

[@PurryCat]

Funny, creative, entertaining, genius. Thanks for sharing!💛

[@hongxiuquan69]

I'm Australian, and I must say, I envy the Canadians who grew up on this stuff.

[@valerievargas1548]

Yes indeed us Canadians are weird that way, not like Americans at all.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Also us Americans for having them above us!

[@johnandersonjjr]

Sarcasm will get you nowhere

[@hongxiuquan69]

@@johnandersonjjr That's why I wasn't employing it.

[@pangpengmaster]

beautiful... the 60s vibe is strong with this one.

[@apex2000]

"Roll Out!"

[@Scotttyist]

Brilliant

[@franbantingdreampathconsul634]

I remember this film in elementary school. It was the late 60's or early 70's. I loved it so much as a kid. I was just talking with my son about the movies they used to show us in school when I was small and thought I'd search the internet for it and here it is! Love it.

[@joshlesperanceCa]

@NFB Thanks for a blast from the past!

[@BeerbohmHubery-r7z]

Cornelius Ways

[@sandrajovic9304]

Love the animation here!

[@suganana549]

BRILIANT~!