Life is not easy for Laika, a dog on the outskirts of a big Russian city. She is caught and forcibly retrained to become a pioneer in astronautics. Soon after her lift-off into space, a number of animals follow that are hurriedly launched from Houston and Baikonur. The animals travel astray, but finally manage, with the help of a black hole, to colonize a faraway planet. After a short period of harmonious, undisturbed co-existence with indigenous life forms, however, first human cosmonaut run ashore on their planet, and their harmonious life, indeed their very survival, are suddenly in jeopardy.

It is fascinating to witness humankind’s hubris with which it puts itself above all other living creation on Earth and decides over their being or non-being, and how particularly pontifical is the human treatment of animals in the name of science. I believe this to be one of the big issues of our time, and particularly suitable for an animated movie.