Get ready for the most thrilling sci-fi release of the year — check out your first glimpse!

Mutants, killer robots, primal warriors, and alien worlds that could rival anything from a blockbuster epic, all wrapped up in a 1,000-year time leap: René Laloux’s 1987 animated film *Gandahar* has all the makings of a cult sci-fi classic. It might have achieved that status sooner if a high-quality version of this psychedelic journey was more accessible.

Fortunately, that’s about to change this summer, as *Gandahar* returns to U.S. theaters in its original uncut form, complete with a stunning new 4K restoration. The first trailer for this re-release has just dropped, and it’s generating excitement for the August premiere. If you thought the shape-shifting assassins and psychic babies of *Dune Part 3* would be the wildest experience you’d have in theaters this year, you might want to grab your *Gandahar* tickets now. Here’s the official synopsis:

In a far-off world, a ruthless army of automata invades Gandahar, petrifying its peaceful inhabitants. To uncover the source of these Men of Metal, a council of matriarchs recruits the brave but inexperienced warrior Sylvain (Pierre-Marie Escourro). As he ventures into the outer regions of his planet, he allies with the Deformed, a group ostracized from Gandahar due to failed scientific experiments that turned them into mutants. Sylvain soon discovers that a colossal brain named Metamorphis (Georges Wilson) is the root of his society’s troubles. Alongside the beautiful Airelle (Catherine Chevallier), he embarks on a time-traveling quest to confront this menace, risking their lives and the very fate of Gandahar.

Laloux is perhaps best known for his 1973 animated feature *Fantastic Planet*, a beloved title that received a well-deserved Criterion release nearly a decade ago. His journey to becoming a celebrated French sci-fi auteur was unconventional; he began as a woodcarver and later created short films with the help of psychiatric patients while working as a counselor. *Fantastic Planet* marked his breakthrough, while *Gandahar*, adapted from a novel by Jean-Pierre Andrevon, was his final feature.

As noted back in 1988, *Gandahar* didn’t make much of an impact upon its initial release, and its U.S. debut (in a translated version overseen by Isaac Asimov and Harvey Weinstein) didn’t help its case. Lacking the acclaim of *Fantastic Planet*, *Gandahar* faded into the background of home video markets; you can technically find it in 4:3 format with an English dub on Prime Video, but it’s not the best experience.

Having seen that version, I’d recommend waiting for the 4K release: what Janus has accomplished with this visionary film will far surpass the poor quality of the current offerings. With Laloux at the helm, the stunning visuals are a major draw—90% of the reason to watch—while the remaining 10% comes from the bizarre alien beings discussing space politics. Fun fact: Laloux introduced a character with four breasts (plus two more on her knees) long before *Total Recall*. The man had a vivid imagination.

*Gandahar* opens on August 28 in New York City, with a nationwide rollout to follow.