[Review] Roy from Space (1983): Newly Restored Mexican Sci-Fi Animation Is Fun Despite Shortcomings (Fantastic Fest 2026)

Official synopsis

Alome, emperor of a distant red planet, threatens to destroy Earth. Roy, Dr. Faz and psychologist Elena are sent by Earth leaders on a peace mission, but they get involved in a series of adventures that include romance, robot fights and space battles.  

Review

“I’m Roy from Space. I come from Earth.” So proclaims our titular hero in the animated space opera Roy from Space (Roy del espacio; Mexico, 1983), newly restored by the wonderful folks at Deaf Crocodile. Lost for more than 40 years after a very short theatrical run in Mexico, it’s the kind of feature that cynics could have a blast tearing apart, but the heart behind its creation — and certainly that of its restoration — are undeniable. 

Most of the animators who originally worked on the film were nonprofessionals, and yes, it often shows with jerky motions and other head-scratching oddness. Cowriters/codirectors Rafael Angel Gil and Hector Lopez Carmona, along with cowriter Ulises Pérez Aguirre, pack a whole lot of plot into the film’s 63-minute running time, including evil space invaders and their beeping robot slaves; a love triangle involving Our Hero, his fellow astronaut, and a space princess; double-dealing, and of course a monster from another planet. 

The proceedings will be well familiar to anyone who has spent time watching old-school classic science fiction such as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials or the original Lost in Space or Star Trek TV series. No one should expect any surprises in the originality department. But for me, this is the kind of science fiction I prefer: No hard science to think about, just Earth astronauts trying to save themselves and even the world from dastardly space villains, one of whom here is dressed for the disco with his outfit showing his bare chest. So Roy and his allies serve up a nice dash of nostalgia for me.  

Obviously, for 2026 viewers, Roy from Space should be thought of as a good time watching a rare piece of cinematic history rather than a cutting-edge, thinking person’s slice of speculative fiction. Thanks to the efforts of the Deaf Crocodile staff and independent animators Isabelle Aspin and Brian Smee, Roy from Space has been rescued from obscurity. Prepare to have a good time and to be entertained in ways that might not have been the intent of the original filmmakers.   

If you want to get in on the fun at home, visit https://deafcrocodile.com/products/roy-del-espacio-limited-slipcover-edition-pre-order, where you can also learn more about the history behind the feature.

Roy from Space screens as part of Fantastic Fest, which runs September 17-24, 2026 in Austin, Texas.