About Planets of the Apes
– mission statement –
This unofficial fan site is dedicated to exploring the worlds of Planet of the Apes, from the original incarnation in the novel by Pierre Boulle (1912-1994), through all of the reinventions and re-interpretations that have followed.
Since its inception, Planet of the Apes has grown to become more than just a novel, a film franchise, a TV series, a cartoon animation, a comic book franchise, a musical (courtesy of The Simpsons). It is, in fact, a modern day fable and a cultural icon that continues to captivate and intrigue generations.
As with all fables, Planet of the Apes conveys a message: a portent of the fate that awaits humanity if we don't stop treating each other like animals. It was conceived at a time of great awakening and against a backdrop of turbulent events that were shaking the world.
Like all good fables, the beauty and charm of Planet of the Apes lies in its simplicity. There are the stark warnings that it presents, the appeal that it makes to the intellect and to the senses – for compassion, understanding and respect; against greed, arrogance and intolerance.
In the words of actor Roddy McDowall from the 1998 documentary Behind the Planet of the Apes:
"Ape and man, ancestors and brothers, their fates hopelessly intertwined. One holds the secret of the past, the other the key to the future but, which is which? Planet of the Apes holds up a mirror and asks us simply to look at ourselves, at our fears and prejudices, at our hopes and dreams."
This website is run by volunteers, who recognise the immense cultural and historical importance that is attached to the Planet of the Apes phenomenon. The project is a work in progress and we welcome comment and contributions from our readers. We would like to hear your thoughts about the material that has been presented to date, as well as suggestions for future directions.
Our abiding aim is to create a comprehensive online resource of all matters and material relating to Planet of the Apes. With this in mind, we invite reader to send us links to other material and resources out there on the world wide web. We know that we are not alone! If you know of any resources, in any media, online or offline, worthy of inclusion in the great canon of works pertaining to Planet of the Apes, please let us know.
Feel free to contact us with your comments, suggestions, questions, etc. We also welcome expressions of interest in becoming a site contributor or editor.
See our Contact page for details of how to get in touch.
