The Land Before Time Explained

The Land Before Time
Creator:
Owner:Universal Pictures
Origin:The Land Before Time (1988)
Films:See details
Atv:See details
Vgs:See details
Years:1988–2016
Toys:Merchandise
Soundtracks:See details
Website:[uphe.com/movies/the-land-before-time {{url|landbeforetime.com}}]

The Land Before Time franchise consists of American animated adventure family installments centered around dinosaurs, including a theatrical movie, various straight-to-home video sequels, and a spin-off TV series. Based on an original story by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss and distributed by Universal Pictures, the franchise began in 1988 with the eponymous film, directed and produced by Don Bluth and executive produced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Its success spawned an additional thirteen direct-to-video musical sequels before expanding into other media including video games, soundtracks, and related merchandising. Notably, the additional movies and TV show did not include the collaborative participation of Bluth, Lucas, nor Spielberg.

The 14 films were released as a Complete Collection DVD set later on June 14, 2016.

Plot

The films follow the friendship of a group of young ornithodirans (four dinosaurs and a pterosaur) named Littlefoot (a male Apatosaurus), Cera (a female Triceratops), Ducky (a female Saurolophus), Petrie (a male Pteranodon), and Spike (a male Stegosaurus). After finding the Great Valley, they raise a carnivorous baby (a male Tyrannosaurus whom they name Chomper), survive a drought, a cold snap, and witness a solar eclipse. Throughout the films they embark on adventures, learning lessons about life, teamwork, and friendship along the way.

Films

FilmU.S.
release date
Director(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
The Land Before TimeDon BluthStu KriegerJudy Freudberg & Tony GeissDon Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy
Roy Allen SmithJohn Loy, John Ludin
& Dev Ross
Roy Allen Smith
Dev RossRoy Allen Smith and Zahra Dowlatabadi
Roy Allen Smith
Charles GrosvenorJohn LoyCharles Grosvenor
Libby Hinson & John Loy
Len Uhley
John Loy
Dev Ross
John Loy
Jamie Mitchell
Davis DoiCliff Ruby & Elana LesserLisa Melbye and Deidre Brenner

Television

See main article: The Land Before Time (TV series).

A spin-off television series based on the films began airing on YTV in Canada on January 5, 2007. It consisted of one season of 26 episodes, and officially premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5, 2007, after the DVD release of . The TV series takes place after the events of . It has since been collected and released on 6 DVDs, each containing 4 episodes, in the United States and the UK. The complete series was released on DVD in 2022.

Cast and characters

See main article: List of The Land Before Time characters.

CharactersFilmsTelevision
The Land Before TimeThe Great Valley AdventureThe Time of the Great GivingJourney Through the MistsThe Mysterious IslandThe Secret of Saurus RockThe Stone of Cold FireThe Big FreezeJourney to Big WaterThe Great Longneck MigrationInvasion of the TinysaurusesThe Great Day of the FlyersThe Wisdom of FriendsJourney of the BraveThe Land Before Time
198819941995199619971998200020012002200320052006200720162007–2008
LittlefootGabriel DamonScott McAfeeBrandon LaCroix
Thomas Dekker
Thomas DekkerAlec MedlockAaron SpannNick PriceCody Arens
Logan Arens
Anthony Skillman
Felix AvitiaCody Arens
Anthony Skillman
CeraCandace HutsonAnndi McAfee
DuckyJudith BarsiHeather HoganAria Noelle Curzon
PetrieWill RyanJeff Bennett
SpikeRob PaulsenJeff BennettRob Paulsen
ChomperRob PaulsenCannon YoungIssac BrownMax Burkholder
RubyMeghan Strange
Grandpa LongneckBill Erwin (deleted role)Kenneth MarsBarry BostwickKenneth Mars
Grandma LongneckLinda GaryMiriam FlynnMiriam Flynn
Daddy ToppsBurke ByrnesJohn IngleGeorge BallJohn Ingle
Ducky's MotherTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleAnndi McAfeeTress MacNeille
Littlefoot's MotherHelen Shaver
Petrie's MotherTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleTress MacNeilleMeghan StrangeTress MacNeille
Chomper's parents
HypWhit HertfordMikey Kelley
NodScott MenvilleScott Menville
MuttJeff BennettJeff Bennett
AliJuliana HansenNika Futterman
Old OneCarol BruceJessica Walter
DocKris KristoffersonJeff Bennett
Mr. ThicknoseRobert GuillaumeDorian Harewood
TippyJeremy SuarezCree Summer
Stegosaurus MotherSusan KrebsSusan Krebs
Stegosaurus LeaderRob PaulsenRob Paulsen
MoRob PaulsenRob PaulsenRob Paulsen
ShortyBrandon Michael DePaulElizabeth Daily
BronKiefer SutherlandScott WhyteCam Clarke
TriaCamryn ManheimJessica GeeJessica Gee
GuidoRob PaulsenRob Paulsen
TriciaNika FuttermanMeghan Strange
KoshRob PaulsenJeff BennettRob PaulsenPete Sepenuk
Jeff Bennett

Additional crew and production details

FilmCrew
Composer(s)Editor(s)Production companiesDistributing companyRunning time
The Land Before TimeJames HornerJohn K. Carr & Dan MolinaUniversal Pictures,
Amblin Entertainment,
Sullivan Bluth Studios
Universal Pictures1 hr 9 mins
The Land Before Time II:
Michael TaveraJay BixsenUniversal Cartoon StudiosMCA/Universal Home Video1 hr 15 mins
The Land Before Time III:
1 hr 10 mins
The Land Before Time IV:
Warren Taylor1 hr 14 mins
The Land Before Time V:
Jay BixsenUniversal Studios Home Video
The Land Before Time VI:
1 hr 16 mins
The Land Before Time VII:
Jay Bixsen & Danik Thomas1 hr 15 mins
The Land Before Time VIII:
1 hr 16 mins
The Land Before Time IX:
Jay Bixsen1 hr 15 mins
The Land Before Time X:
1 hr 25 mins
The Land Before Time XI:
1 hr 21 mins
The Land Before Time XII:
Universal Animation Studios
The Land Before Time XIII:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment1 hr 16 mins
The Land Before Time
Cory LeriosUniversal Animation Studios,
Amblin Entertainment,
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Productions
Cartoon Network8 hrs 40 mins
The Land Before Time XIV:
Michael TaveraLuke GuidiciUniversal Animation Studios,
Universal 1440 Entertainment
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment1 hr 22 mins

In other media

Albums

Video games

See main article: List of The Land Before Time video games. The series has spawned 14 spin-off games, eight for PC, one for the Game Boy Color, two for the Game Boy Advance and three for the original PlayStation. The PC games are usually educational games aimed for preschool and kindergarten. Games for the Game Boy Color and Advance include The Land Before Time and The Land Before Time: Into the Mysterious Beyond, in which the original six characters must search for Chomper. Games for the PlayStation include The Land Before Time: Big Water Adventure, a spin-off of Journey to Big Water, The Land Before Time: Great Valley Racing Adventure and The Land Before Time: Return to the Great Valley. All characters in these games are voiced by Lani Minella.