The film is the first feature-length production (by the most generous definition of a minimum of 40 minutes) ever to be created on standard desktop computers. It was realized by seven digital artists across the USA, via the Internet, holding meetings in AOL chat rooms and exchanging storyboards and designs via email attachments. Using 10 Apple Power Macintosh computers, the animation, at a rate of 30 to 40 minutes per frame, was rendered with Bryce software provided by MetaCreations. Bryce did not have any animation facilities at the time though, so producer Jan Nickman was allowed access to a 'pre-alpha' release of what was later published as Bryce 3D (i.e. version 3.1). The hardware was supplied by MetaCreations, Streamlogic and Truevision. [as reported by Animation World and WIRED magazines]
According to the official press release, the film was in production for two years.
The seven digital artists who created the seven planets were Rodney L'Ongnion, Rob Sonner, Susan Kitchens, Bill Ellsworth, Cathy Faye Rudolph, Dieter Erik von Schramm, and Desmond J. Starr. In addition, Von Schramm designed the flying Phleig "Scoutsaucer". The smaller spherical 'steampunk' video probes accompanying the flying saucer were created by L'Ongnion, and the massive ring-shaped Phleig mothership was conceived by Rudolph.