Dinosaur (2000)
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A young Iguanodon raised by lemurs must navigate a perilous journey to a new home following a catastrophic asteroid impact.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a Carnotaurus destroys an Iguanodon nest, a single egg is carried to a tropical island where it is hatched and raised by a family of lemurs. Years later, a massive asteroid strikes the island, forcing the lemurs and the Iguanodon, Aladar, to flee to the mainland. They join a herd of dinosaurs led by the stern Iguanodon Kron, who is heading toward the Nesting Grounds. During the journey, Aladar befriends several elderly dinosaurs and forms a bond with Kron's sister, Neera. When the herd faces a shortage of water and attacks from Carnotaurus, Aladar's bravery and compassion often put him at odds with Kron's survivalist leadership. After a series of dangerous encounters, including a siege in a cave, the group reaches the Nesting Grounds. A final confrontation occurs when a Carnotaurus attacks; Aladar and Neera manage to defeat the predator, while Kron is mortally wounded. The survivors eventually settle in the lush valley, where a new generation of dinosaurs is born.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 82
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ralph Zondag; Eric Leighton
- Writers
- John Harrison · screenplay; Robert Nelson Jacobs · screenplay; Walon Green · screenplay; Walon Green · story; John Harrison · story; Robert Nelson Jacobs · story; Thom Enriquez · story; Ralph Zondang · story
- Cast and characters
- D. B. Sweeney · Aladar; Alfre Woodard · Plio; Ossie Davis · Yar; Max Casella · Zini; Hayden Panettiere · Suri; Samuel E. Wright · Kron; Julianna Margulies · Neera; Peter Siragusa · Bruton; Joan Plowright · Baylene; Della Reese · Eema
- Genres
- animated adventure; film score; science fiction; action
- Themes
- survival; found family; leadership; nature
- Tone and mood
- epic; adventurous; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- prehistoric; animal adventure; disaster; animation
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the animation and score but criticized the story and lack of originality. It was a commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2000.
- Production trivia
- The film was the most expensive computer-animated film at the time of its release.; It was the first film from Walt Disney Feature Animation to be 3D animated.; The character Baylene was originally intended to be a male Brachiosaurus named Sorbus voiced by Chris Farley.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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