Much of the DNA of The Fifth Element can be traced back to Harry Canyon, one of the segments from the 1981 animated film Heavy Metal. Both stories feature a cynical flying taxi driver navigating a chaotic futuristic metropolis, only to become involved with a mysterious woman carrying something far more important than she appears 🚕
Luc Besson later brought legendary comic artist Moebius onto The Fifth Element as a concept designer. The influence goes beyond the taxi driver: the towering cityscapes, dense air traffic, eccentric characters, and comic-book sci-fi atmosphere all echo the world of Harry Canyon and the work of Moebius 🌃