10 Things You Didn't Know About 2001: A Space Odyssey
4. One Of The 2001’s Biggest Inspirations Was A 1960 Animated Short Film
In preparation for writing the film, Kubrick watched and read many science fiction films and books, in hopes of producing the most realistic portrayal of extraterrestrial life.
And, one of the biggest inspirations for the script was the animated documentary, Universe, an educational short film made by the National Film Board of Canada. Universe documents what it would be like to sail through the Milky Way, and was a popular film shown at NASA, acclaimed for its realistic depiction of outer space.
Another influential piece of media was the educational exhibit, To the Moon and Beyond, which was shown at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The exhibit simulated what it would be like to voyage through space, and this (and Universe) were visual influences on 2001’s space exploration.
Another quick fact for you - Kubrick was such a big fan of Universe that he cast the short’s narrator, Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000 in 2001.