The Land Before Time (1988)
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The story
During the Mesozoic, a famine forces groups of dinosaurs to seek an oasis known as the Great Valley. A young 'longneck' named Littlefoot finds himself alone after his mother is lost to a predator. To survive, he must journey across a dangerous land, eventually meeting several other young dinosaurs—Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike—who are also searching for safety. Together, the group must navigate treacherous terrain, overcome their differences, and find the legendary sanctuary while being pursued by a menacing 'sharptooth' dinosaur.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the Mesozoic era, a devastating famine forces herds of dinosaurs to migrate toward the Great Valley. Littlefoot, a young 'longneck,' is separated from his herd after his mother is killed by a 'sharptooth' during an earthquake. Guided by his mother's final advice to let his heart lead him, Littlefoot encounters Cera, a 'three-horn' who initially refuses to associate with other species. They are soon joined by Ducky, a 'flyer' named Petrie, and a hatchling named Spike. The group faces various perils, including the 'Mountains that Burn' and a treacherous pond. Along the way, they must overcome internal conflicts and the constant threat of the sharptooth. After a series of trials, including Petrie learning to fly and the group successfully trapping the sharptooth in a pond, Littlefoot is guided by his mother's spirit to the Great Valley. Upon arrival, the five friends are reunited with their respective families, and the group celebrates their survival together.
- First release year
- 1988
- Runtime (minutes)
- 69
- Production countries
- Ireland; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Don Bluth
- Writers
- Stu Krieger · screenplay; Judy Freudberg · story; Tony Geiss · story
- Cast and characters
- Judith Barsi · Ducky; Burke Byrnes · Daddy Topps; Gabriel Damon · Littlefoot; Bill Erwin · Grandfather; Pat Hingle · Narrator; Candace Hutson · Cera; Will Ryan · Petrie; Helen Shaver · Littlefoot's mother
- Genres
- animated; adventure; drama
- Themes
- prejudice; friendship; survival
- Tone and mood
- adventure; emotional
- Setting
- The Mesozoic Era
- Premise and plot tags
- prehistoric; animal adventure; coming-of-age
- Franchise connections
- Land Before Time
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 15
- Awards and nominations
- Youth in Film Awards · Best Family Animation or Fantasy Motion Picture · 10th annual · nomination; Saturn Awards · Best Fantasy Film · 16th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The only film in the series that is not a musical.; The only film in the series to be released theatrically worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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