For the first time since the company’s inception, New Line Cinema is gearing up to release an animated film.  The $60 million Planet 51 was created by Ilion Animation Studios and written by Joe Stillman (of Shrek fame).

In case you couldn’t tell from the title, this film’s about a planet. The inhabitants therein are plagued with fear of alien invasion, a horror that is realized when Chuck Baker (an astronaut) enters their galaxy. As he tries to evade capture and return to his home planet, he makes friends with a young alien living on Planet 51.  I found every part of the plot believable until I found out the astronaut’s supposed to be from Earth. Not buying it.

The movie and complementing video game are scheduled for a 2009 release.