Animated sci-fi epic Battle for Terra trailer online

The official theatrical release trailer for the animated Battle for Terra is now online. ‘Terra’ follows the story of a peaceful alien planet facing annihilation. The animation was done by a company called MeniThings, whose artistic director, Aristomenis Tsirbas, is also the director of the film.

According to MeniThings’ website, Tsirbas was a visual effects artist on James Cameron’s Academy Award-winning Titanic and national advertising spots for Nike, 7up, and Coca Cola. He then graduated to Visual and Digital Effects Supervisor for such projects as Miramax’s A Wrinkle in Time and Paramount’s Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also wrote and directed an animated short based on the Terra idea back in 2003.

Battle for Terra centers on an alternate planet Earth facing annihilation because of exhausted natural resources (not far from our actual planet’s situation), and the homeless remainder of the human race that sets its eyes on Terra. This Earthforce has discovered that the use of a Terraformer will make Terra habitable for humans but poisonous for its native inhabitants, and the humans embark on a hostile invasion of Terra. That’s when all hell breaks loose.

The film features a large voice cast including Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, Luke Wilson, Danny Glover, David Cross, Justin Long, Amanda Peet, Dennis Quaid, Chris Evans, James Garner, Rosanna Arquette and Chad Allen.

‘Terra’ is being co-distributed by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate, and hits theaters on May 1, 2009.

Check out the trailer and movie poster below.