Planet Unknown (2016) Short Film

At the end of 21st century, mankind was facing global resource depletion. Space Rovers were sent out to find potential inhabitable planets.
Credits:
Written & Directed by - Shawn Wang
Modelling, Texturing, Animation, Compositing & Editing - Shawn Wang
Music & Sound Design by - Echoic Audio
Composer - Sam Foster
Sound Design by - Tom Gilbert & David Johnston
Special Thanks to - Evolutions
Re-recording Mixer - Will Norie
Faculty Producer - Xinyuan Huang
Faculty Adviser - Yucheng Huang
Special Thanks to System Advisers - Horizon Bian / Sicong Wang / Jiawei Cao
Links:
Official Website: www.PlanetUnknownFilm.com
Facebook Page: / planetunknownfilm
IMDb: imdb.com/title/tt5850826
Echoic Audio: www.echoicaudio.com
Shawn Wang: www.shawnwangvfx.com
----------------------------------------------------------
I had been working full time on Planet Unknown from July 2015 to June 2016. It was a passion project as well as my graduation thesis film at Communication University of China. This 11-month journey was very challenging, but it was a perfect learning opportunity as well.
The idea started back in 2014 when Interstellar was released. I was deeply impressed by the movie and was inspired by the two robots TARS and CASE. The idea of intellectual robots exploring space developed from there.
Other inspirations include Pixar movies like WALL-E and Toy Story, as well as CHAPPiE, NASA documentaries about Mars Rover Curiosity, and short films by individuals like Alex Roman’s The Third & The Seventh, Richard Mans’ Abiogenesis, Erik Wernquist’s Wanderers, Alf Lovvold’s Dawn of the Stuff, and so many more.
Echoic Audio, one of the UK’s leading music & sound design studios, joined this adventure with epic cinematic score and detailed sound design which catapulted the film to a new level that I had never imagined.
This project pushed me to do what I never thought I could do. However, it also keeps punching me in the face and shows me how limited my skills are. There are still tons of problems in the making that I can’t figure out even now.
Thanks to everyone for the support along the way. The new adventure begins…

[@dearcrush_XD]

This reminds me of the movie WALL-E.

[@clintandrewvidal5766]

Same

[@ananthukrishna5197]

Yeah it's like that

[@desteertpoog4572]

oh yeah, WALL-E

[@looser2328]

When I was kid👐🏻

[@rishabhyadav2254]

You absolutely right🔥

[@STRIDER_503]

The blue one at 2:24 is like "ah never mind..." What a cute animation, I'm digging this!

[@sabatian1138]

I loved this short. It reminded me of one of my favorite animated movies, "WALL-E." I mean, how can one not pull for these two cute, little, anthropomorphic, heroic robots? LOL. One The opening scene, where they tear-ass across the screen immediately got me smiling. My heart was in their corner from that point on. Great little short! Thank you! 👍🏽

[@GanenRo]

The amount of personality, feeling and attitude from these two put hollywood actors/actresses to shame. Well done. This is simply amazing to watch

[@Odiumiumium16]

My thoughts exactly

[@eduardocorpuz9247]

Shawn Wang did the modeling,texturing and animations, respect

[@seanshady123]

deede

[@whywouldyoucare]

well they DO HAVE it significantly easier though right....like a puppy does too...i mean you wouldnt shout out a puppies GRAAAND ACTING TALENT would you??? It still has enormous personality...thats what people always misunderstand Pixar etc they try their DAMNDEST to make figures that DONT act...because much easier to just be...cute. Obviously people dont see the difference anyway huh?^^ But nonjokes aside, the point is a good example would be wreck it ralph...have you ever wondered why AAAALL the characters in that movie are somehow grown up but...not? Yeah. Exactly. Thats why :) hope that helped a bit.

[@lebaguette5393]

@@whywouldyoucare r/ihadastroke

[@johnwinstondarby]

Your story is engaging and easy to follow. The cinematography is first rate; love your creative camera angles. The characters are approachable, relatable and had me cheering them on. Amazing job Shawn!

[@Andrew-Johnson]

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 💙✨

[@brianwhite9339]

@@Andrew-Johnson The Robots are cute!! too!

[@charlesmangum2100]

Very engaging. Have watched this one several times.

[@user-zu1uq2uf2u]

Авторы мульта очень хорошо передали человеческие чувства у этих роботов.Браво ！👏🌹

[@Me-th3gj]

So glad there was a backstory for how this film was made, in the description. Loved this! Great job!

[@InanaLuRose]

Wonderful film! I love that the rovers feel "tangible" in how you introduce them in the first scene, close to ground. Their personalities are great as well. All the work you put in is incredible, and very pro. Thanks for creating!

[@ShawnWang]

Thanks for your kind words. Glad you liked it!

[@NicVandEmZ]

@@ShawnWang definitely looks like a plant was growing in the end

[@Wargfox]

If China continues to pollute the environment as it is doing today, the Earth will become uninhabitable very soon

[@tsek11]

When I was watching it my brother came and ask me about it. I said that it's a really cool movie that I was watching because of a trailer I saw in KZbin. Not only did he believe it but also he asked me whether it's Disney's or DreamWorks'. I really enjoyed it and as you have understood by the above it looks as if it was made by such a company. Well done!!!!

[@garylawless3608]

This was brilliant! I loved every minute of it. Great animation and an interesting storyline. Good work guys!

[@Andrew-Johnson]

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

[@garylawless3608]

@@Andrew-Johnson - Get a life man and stop dumping this crap every where. It makes no difference to anyone, it’s just sad.

[@Andrew-Johnson]

@@garylawless3608 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1 John 5:12 💙✨ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:19 💙✨ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 💙✨

[@garylawless3608]

@@Andrew-Johnson - I should not be responding to your crap, but people like you push my buttons. Let me guess; you have been born again, and feel the need to pass on your joy in the faith you have found (probably recently) to all and sundry, wether they asked for redemption or not. This won’t work man; it will just make people like me ridicule you. You are obviously an intelligent guy, so given all the crap that is going on in the world, and has been for millennia, why provoke other intelligent people reading your posts to wonder if you are insane, or as I suspect, just a born again pain in the ass. Grow up man and keep your beliefs to yourself, or better still, stand on a box in the park and spread the word there if you must. Just make sure you wear some sort of protective clothing, as thrown tomatoes can stain your clothes. Please don’t respond, as I will ignore it. But if you feel you have to, try to put your own words into a sentence that is at least similar to a normal conversation. It is called ‘talking’, or has your deity replaced that skill, along with your common sense, with blind faith. Although, I might have you all wrong. You might just be a complete asshole that is just out to annoy the crap out of people. Either way, just STOP!

[@kasienkakaminska6915]

Nice

[@erebus3059]

The sound design is just brilliant. Especially the electrical motor and servo whirring sound.

[@geoben9801]

This is a MASTERful work of a film. The level of animated artistry and imagination here is to the Nth Degree to say nothing of the writing and music score. This small movie is of award worthy/winning recognition. This is art. Bravo ❗ 👍👏👍 💙🇺🇲

[@user-mh3ps1rj5g]

Прекрасный мультфильм , спасибо :) Особенно радует, что оба робота остались живы :)

[@thetankgamer3500]

Legendary and sad movie. We want a part 2 on the masterpiece! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@laniarisiani1493]

This movie is like wall e and wall e never had a sequel so this movie will have no sequel

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢

[@johnsmith-oy9kx]

The graphics are Very Good, but the emotions of the robots are conveyed perfectly, that is what amazed me most, excellent jobs guys !

[@hallowenwd4]

That was good animation! I can feel the emotions, nicely done! I really liked the modelling and animating of the robots. Textures are also really nice of them. Congrats!

[@milodeescorpio3658]

This could have been a "Love, Death, Robots" episode.

[@ianpennington5856]

Second season basically sucked

[@joshblaze6821]

Wow... This is beautiful and epic. The cinematography is lit, and the characters are interesting. Totally enjoyed every bit of this.

[@nickalderson4563]

What a lovely piece of work. Some of the little movements of the space rovers made all the difference.

[@markmuldoon805]

Very nice. Execution, story, characterization all done beautifully. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[@K3Flyguy]

Amazing how one can care and worry about a machine that's a cartoon. Excellent, very well done! Thank you for sharing this!

[@StoryGirl17]

They are not human and yet they have emotions. That's it. The depiction of something with emotions that people would usually treat like a working tool, and nothing else. It makes us feel empathy for them.

[@sparkstr01]

Damn, that was really well done. I loved the robot designs, the story and the effects. Really well done.

[@vytrixstudios2184]

The story, the animation and the progression as friends in this story is incredible, but my favorite was the entire soundtrack. Man this booms, this screams sci fi. When I imagine sci fi, I don't just think of fancy spaceships shooting eachother with lazer bolts no. I think of a well crafted story with much detail and good trial and you killed it man. I love this.

[@ironslug]

Edge of my seat. I absolutely loved this! Wonderful job, Shawn!

[@user-qj1yc2vg2z]

Perseverence and curiosity

[@AJ-et8xe]

Yes the 2 NASA rovers!

[@kartikkochhar8995]

This is pirated stuff please have guts to give credits to orignal creator

[@mrkcmahapatra]

@@kartikkochhar8995 oh didn't know that

[@animatewithunique]

No bro this is opportunity and curiosity... Because perseverance launched in 2020

[@themuffincat]

Opportunity and curiostity

[@aaditya_alive]

Excellent Cinematography, intriguing Graphics & storytelling. You build a connection with the characters. Good Job!

[@sampath.7773]

My doubt is that why this video is having only 1lakh views It deserves more than 10M vie ws ❤️ frm KERALA, India

[@rayeesjaleel3830]

Me too 😊

[@mrkcmahapatra]

Level of imagination and quality admirable 👍🏾👍🏾

[@udoworner4399]

Really well done and the story even brought a tear to my eye. Reminded me a little of Wall - e. Gladly more of such videos.

[@piotrd.4850]

This needs full feature length film. Absolutely amazing.

[@sonythomas8188]

You should have a 10M subs for this kind of works.. Keep going.. ❤️ from India

[@robertrichter6113]

Very nice animated film, the rovers are absolutely detailed. Now there could be a direct sequel to this. That would be very exciting. I found the film very entertaining. please do a continuation.

[@lotuselanplus2s]

Yes, i would also love to see a continuation of this, loved it.

[@chn05]

It is just EPIC❣️ Well Done Creators!

[@maximator131270]

Magnifique, qualité parfaite. Un très grand bravo aux concepteurs.

[@MumT05]

Loved the music, the characters of the robots, exciting to watch, I was hooked till the end. Great job!

[@manfredmelcher7803]

Excellent work! Could I use the unscored and none sound designed film to rescore/redesign? I’d love giving it a go as it is such a great film, with so many opportunities to create sound and music (the originals are wonderful btw). Thank you!

[@sharmarahul384]

These 9 minutes were extraordinary! Really loved it!

[@gurupranav967]

Yep that's amazing 💥

[@adithya260]

This looks like a high budget Star Wars animation and you did this by yourself, incredible!!

[@Astronomator]

This film has a lot of heart, and the physics engine is just amazing.

[@Firebrand55]

Masterly! This gets my Oscar for Best Animated Short. A feast for the eyes; brilliant concept and animation........I want one!!...I've christened these two heros Mutt and Jeff after the cartoon/comic characters.....and....what a fantastic soundtrack... play on a good hi fi system!

[@gundorethemighty]

I find it to be really cool how you or yall make these short films like this . The Wal-E movie i really like it . would love to see more movies like it aswell

[@FireAngelOfLondon]

Beautiful. I laughed out loud at the ending, not just because it was funny but because it was joyful as well.

[@Bethi4WFH]

Just one word for this, “brilliant”! Greatest respect, from England.

[@amarantamusic6142]

This is an undeniable masterpiece. Very emotional, very intense.

[@Andrew-Johnson]

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Joel 2:12 💙💛

[@magnificentmuttley2084]

Brilliant production quality animation. Wonderful story and characters. The artwork and rendering is first rate. Your work deserves a feature-length theatrical release. I was captivated from the opening credits. Brilliant. Thank you for posting.

[@UNIVERSEALPHA]

B fvvftyhķ!.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

Wall e and Eve together forever ♾️♾️❣️💝

[@joangordoneieio]

Totally satisfying! Immediately became invested in the robots! Great photography/cinematography. ! Would love to see more of your work!

[@albertorafaelcisnerosperfe4899]

Outstanding ❤

[@Comicsluvr]

Some of the best animation I have ever seen!

[@harivenkatesh3816]

What an excellent work !!!! Animation, Rendering, Bot Physics, sound design were marvellous ! Too bad this video is underrated...

[@gatopardo7994]

Millions dollars wasted in Hollywood productions, and this one overcome them all. Congratulations.

[@wedermawan8696]

The best animation I've ever seen. It reminds me of the video about the Robot that NASA sent to Mars.

[@Jimbo_McBacon]

Just saw this on Dust. Needed to see if there were any other projects. Very nice film.

[@ShawnWang]

Thank you so much Jeffrey! Yes, new project is in development. :)

[@naeemhassan9639]

YOU DID THIS ALL BY YOURSELF?! the character designing, environment designing, animation everything is so on point. if it was done a specialist team, it would enhance to about 20% i think that's how good this is.

[@taraskhan4755]

he did it by himself?

[@Uberpod3]

Its not made by one person.

[@victorypointtutorials]

Damn, feels nice to see this again after about four years. Last i watched this, it was on our school's projector. Brings back some good ol'memories

[@aisling_23]

Their friendship is great ❤

[@techpriestsalok8119]

2 nitpicks here 1. Given the speed they are moving 6 checks for sustainability seem low. 2. Why does the one with tracks keep spinning out while the one with wheels retains their grip? I like how the ais were sent out in pairs though, implies that humans didn’t want them to be lonely.

[@erubianwarlord8208]

id imagine that they have more on what ever ship they use to go to the planets since wheels points to the moon in the closing shot as though suggesting "lets go there next"

[@RajKotigobba123]

😲 Supper Fentastick ( ತುಂಬಾ ಚನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ)

[@afnanraihan2712]

A very good short film, not only good from the animation and graphics, but also the sound eect, the voice of the robot is funny, even the storyline is very good, reminds me of the same Wall-E movie that keeps life alive plants or forest

[@anamitrakanrar]

A great mixture of skill and creativity. Everything on point!

[@randomtimesrandomthings9394]

how cute, they're now proud bean parents

[@noodIebot]

Imagine the people controlling this back at base

[@tennesseebilly]

Third time I have watched it. It a great movie. Very well done.

[@christadauria4362]

I really like 2 different robotic rovers exploring on the unknown planet at best!- “ Planet Unknown “ is the best animated short film at best.

[@timdale9123]

Very nicely done. Speed future globe timelapse to green it out..?

[@4l1-ssmk99]

i loved it very much good technology scene introduced

[@oswald0106]

Lets b honest this video deserves a lot more views

[@timothysantama4102]

I love your animation bro. Great work. Master piece. Keep going, never quit inovating with new ideas

[@jugal1806]

That was Marvelous

[@eaudecologne8629]

Don't tell me our very known would become the unknown someday...

[@johnpatrickoldfield534]

The animation detail is so intricate and such high quality.

[@PaintedTurtle001]

Very creative! 👍🥳 Wish it were longer.

[@rythmic_nation7039]

Man it's a good one 💯

[@nekolover2748]

That looks like earth’s moon. Does that mean this takes place on earth :0?

[@scratchpad7954]

Exceedingly unlikely. There is no way our moon would change that dramatically in the time scale of a statistically average human lifetime of only 79 years as it would take many thousands of millennia to build an atmosphere as dense as what is shown here in the year 2100. This atmosphere appears borderline breathable to humans.

[@taraskhan4755]

This was a masterfully made short animation!

[@amirasyraf5586]

My childhood right here thanks you so much

[@AMEEN40.]

You are a good animator I can see you hardwork for this video.

[@sumitanand4770]

Inspired by wall e, but it's also nice

[@lukasvideosify1596]

This is super cool! And I am not surprised it was inspired by Wall-E because this gives off quite a Wall-E feel to it. I am also working on a short movie, but nowhere as good as yours. Chapeau!

[@sergiisiverskiy3040]

Це надзвичайно, я вражений, мурашки по тілу, дякую за це відео!!!

[@rehwiese1]

Are you sure that the interface between an autonomous robotic car and a vegetation test kit will be buttons which are to be pressed down? Like the rest quite much :-)

[@miyurosewood3837]

it's cheap to manufacture, proven by time and absolutely error-free.

[@rehwiese1]

@@miyurosewood3837 "absolutely error-free": can't believe that; what about e.g. Heat? Deep Freeze? Dust? Acids? Corroding gases? Adhesives? Bacteria? Mold? Lichen?

[@EllAntares]

@@rehwiese1 Those are technically damaging factors, not malfunctions and I was half facetious. Wifi or optical link are just as fragile if not more, they are prone to interference and are very complex, not to mention problems with sensor pads or touchsreen (ever heard about military ship wrecked because touchscreen software malfunction?) Also I personally know examples of rugged, space, submergible and military keyboards and widgets which are cheaper and safer that equally rugged wireless link. Chemically resistant silicone survives radiation, wifi chip doesn't. Ofc it would be using magnetic contacts, not open ones. It was implied that creators were running out of resources

[@asifrangooni]

Its just same as d movie Wall-E ... nothing great n not a original idea as well...

[@pranavkumar8190]

Wall e is was far far better. It gave us a feel.

[@asifrangooni]

@@pranavkumar8190 definitely bro

[@StarBoundFables]

Wonderful, teamwork makes the dream work. What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing this with us all here on youtube 😄🙏🏽🌌

[@qz1412]

兩台可愛的機器完成了他們的任務，太感人了‹3

[@tokaymoi]

2022 : Awesome! Great job.

[@user-se8mr6bk4m]

Очень прекрасный короткометражный мультик❤❤❤❤❤👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@PanagiotisAvramisk8]

I love this movies.🎥 Please bigger. Thank YOY. Greetings from Hellas 🇬🇷

[@ianparrish6543]

Very cool. 😎 Great CGI film. I like the worn out detail on the robots and how it becomes more pronounced as the film continues. We'll done. 👍😃

[@akshayasrivastava2965]

So brilliantly they have connected the past and future.........

[@manash_pr0]

Best thing KZbin has recommended this morning

[@rogerwhiskey8435]

The emotions have worked out spectacularly

[@trippplefive]

Good news: those robots discovered a habitable planet Bad news: Occasionally, your existence is rudely interrupted by meteor showers.

[@paulmiddleton8699]

Brilliant the animation was amazing, and a great story panspermia. Great work I am looking forward to seeing more of your films.

[@-Gunnarsson]

the short films seems to be the best ones. why cant we get those long versions?

[@someguy3330]

Rewaching this after afew years, still grate. Although in real life pepol would send one rover and, instead of sacrificing a seed the robots would be equipped with soil analyzing tools, But realism doesn't always make a stry better.

[@humblegeorge]

Heart Warming and Wonderful !!!

[@walterliedgens6448]

Absolutely great. A great movie. Excellent !

[@stevespalding5095]

Exceptional! Entertainiment that feeds our curiosity with smiles. Go Bots. More please. What a blast,

[@gayfitkin6861]

That was amazing !!! Superb work !!! Hope you are very successful in this medium!!

[@oooo6973]

perhaps your journey was to find the place for new growth to begin on its path in life. the move we can see is not as wonderful as the movie of your soul - thank you for sharing the compassion of consciousness.

[@bomby1619]

This was fantastic! Also correct me if I'm wrong but i sense a healthy amount of inspiration from the short film "Wire Cutters" (i mean purely off artistic choices) :) overall fantastic job!