The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
New release
Coming 
Oscar® Nominee, Best Short Subject (Cartoon), 1967

What on Earth!

1966 9 min
Leaving soon

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.

This content is not available for free viewing in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
What on Earth!

Details

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.

  • director
    Les Drew
    Kaj Pindal
  • animation
    Les Drew
    Kaj Pindal
  • producer
    Robert Verrall
    Wolf Koenig
  • script
    Kaj Pindal
  • commentary
    Donald Brittain
  • camera
    Kjeld Nielsen
  • re-recording
    Ron Alexander
    Roger Lamoureux
  • music
    Donald Douglas

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device

Education

Ages 15 to 17
Study Guide
School subjects
Explore the filmmaker's purpose for creating this film. Was the purpose achieved? If a similar film were to be made today, what changes would need to be made to the basic concept of the film?
What on Earth!
Purchase options
Also available
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licencing information

Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.