Planet 888

Planet 888 (1985) is a ten-minute Soviet sci-fi short from Armenfilm, and you can watch it online on iFILM. Two cosmonauts, one dead world.

They touch down on a scorched planet and start a cleanup detail. Bit by bit they bring its lost civilisation back to life — and uncover what wiped it out: thermonuclear war. Made as the late Cold War was finally cooling, the film carries a guarded hope that people might just dodge their own extinction.

Director Vladimir Mailian proves a point the bigger studios often missed: even a small state outfit could turn out inventive, polished animation. Stream Planet 888 online on iFILM.