The Land Before Time (1988)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Don Bluth

Writers:

Judy Freudberg (story) &
Tony Geiss (story) ...

Release Date:

18 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Drama | Animation

Tagline:

The adventure that started it all!

Plot:

Four orphan dinosaurs travel the ruins of their world, while grieving the loss of their families and banding together to face the odds of survival.

Plot Keywords:

Dinosaur | Brontosaurus | Anthropomorphism | Prehistoric World | Tyrannosaurus

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 16

6:30 AM

HBO

Cast

Judith Barsi	...	Ducky (voice)
Burke Byrnes	...	Daddy Topps (voice)
Gabriel Damon	...	Littlefoot (voice)
Bill Erwin	...	Grandfather (voice)
Pat Hingle	...	Narrator / Rooter (voice)
Candace Hutson	...	Cera (voice) (as Candy Hutson)
Will Ryan	...	Petrie (voice)
Helen Shaver	...	Littlefoot's Mother (voice)

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Brazil:Livre | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Australia:G | Finland:K-6 | France:U | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:6 | Singapore:G

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

Originally planned for release in fall, 1987. Production was delayed by a year due to the relocation of Sullivan Bluth Studios to Dublin, Ireland.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Littlefoot and the gang settle to sleep on the sharptooth footprint, Cera joins them. She is next to Littlefoot, who is next to Spike. In the next shot, she is in-between Spike and Littlefoot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Once upon this same earth, beneath this same sun, before you, before the ape and the elephant, before the wolf, the bison and the whale, before the mammoth and the mastodon, in the time of the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs were of two kinds. Some had flat teeth...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Baghead (2008)

Soundtrack:

If We Hold On Together

Simply adorable. One of the best animations ever.

Five adorable baby dinosaurs set out on a heartwarming adventure to find their lost families. I fell in love with this at the cinema & I feel it deserves its success in the video market. I own every one but this is by far the best. Each character, determined Littlefoot, obstinate Cera, cheerful Ducky, timid Petrie & ever hungry Spike, is a delight. The story contains laughter, tears, hope & excitement. It is beautifully scored. The end title song, If We Hold On Together, is delightful too. The artwork is cute & full of detail. Don Bluth is a master. The voice casting is perfect. An absolute treasure. 10/10 *****