The Land Before Time is a franchise consisting of American animated adventure films 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 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 in June 2016.
Plot The films follow the friendship of a group of young reptiles (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 Theatrical Film Year Director Screenwriter Story by Producer(s) The Land Before Time 1988 Don Bluth Stu Krieger Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy
Direct-to-video Film Year Director Screenwriter(s) Producer(s) The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure 1994 Roy Allen Smith John Loy, John Ludin and Dev Ross Roy Allen Smith The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving 1995 Dev Ross Roy Allen Smith and Zahra Dowlatabadi The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists 1996 Roy Allen Smith The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island 1997 Charles Grosvenor John Loy Charles Grosvenor The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock 1998 Libby Hinson and John Loy The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire 2000 Len Uhley The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze 2001 John Loy The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water 2002 Dev Ross The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration 2003 John Loy The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses 2005 The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers 2006 The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends 2007 Jamie Mitchell The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave 2016 Davis Doi Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser Lisa Melbye and Deidre Brenner
Television series
Series Season(s) Episodes Originally released Showrunner Executive producers Status First released Last released Network The Land Before Time 1 26 March 5, 2007 January 21, 2008 Cartoon Network Charles Grosvenor Charles Grosvenor and Diane A. Crea Ended
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 Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers. The TV series takes place after the events of The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends. 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
Characters Films Television The Land Before Time The Great Valley Adventure The Time of the Great Giving Journey Through the Mists The Mysterious Island The Secret of Saurus Rock The Stone of Cold Fire The Big Freeze Journey to Big Water The Great Longneck Migration Invasion of the Tinysauruses The Great Day of the Flyers The Wisdom of Friends Journey of the Brave The Land Before Time 1988 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2016 2007–2008 Narrator Pat Hingle John Ingle John Ingle Tony Amendola Littlefoot Gabriel Damon Scott McAfee Brandon LaCroixThomas Dekker Thomas Dekker Alec Medlock Aaron Spann Nick Price Cody ArensLogan ArensAnthony Skillman Felix Avitia Cody ArensAnthony Skillman Cera Candace Hutson Anndi McAfee Ducky Judith Barsi Heather Hogan Aria Noelle Curzon Petrie Will Ryan Jeff Bennett Spike Rob Paulsen Jeff Bennett Rob Paulsen Chomper Rob Paulsen Cannon Young Issac Brown Max Burkholder Ruby Meghan Strange Grandpa Longneck Bill Erwin (deleted role) Kenneth Mars Barry Bostwick Kenneth Mars Grandma Longneck Linda Gary Miriam Flynn Miriam Flynn Daddy Topps Burke Byrnes John Ingle John Ingle George Ball John Ingle Ducky's Mother Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Meghan Strange Tress MacNeille Petrie's Mother Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Tress MacNeille Anndi McAfee Tress MacNeille Kosh Rob Paulsen Jeff Bennett Rob Paulsen Pete SepenukJeff Bennett Littlefoot's Mother Helen Shaver Chomper's parents Hyp Whit Hertford Mikey Kelley Nod Scott Menville Scott Menville Mutt Jeff Bennett Jeff Bennett Ali Juliana Hansen Nika Futterman Old One Carol Bruce Jessica Walter Doc Kris Kristofferson Jeff Bennett Mr. Thicknose Robert Guillaume Dorian Harewood Tippy Jeremy Suarez Cree Summer Tippy's Mother Susan Krebs Susan Krebs Stegosaurus Leader Rob Paulsen Rob Paulsen Mo Rob Paulsen Rob Paulsen Rob Paulsen Shorty Brandon Michael DePaul Elizabeth Daily Bron Kiefer Sutherland Scott Whyte Cam Clarke Tria Camryn Manheim Jessica Gee Jessica Gee Guido Rob Paulsen Rob Paulsen Tricia Nika Futterman Meghan Strange
In other media Albums The Land Before Time (1988) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack The Land Before Time: Sing-Along Songs (1997): Songs from the first four movies (movies I, II, III, and IV). The album was later released in a VHS format which included facts about the dinosaurs featured in the franchise. The Songs from The Land Before Time (1997): Songs from the first four movies (movies I-IV) The Land Before Time: More Sing-Along Songs (1999) Songs from movies V and VI (the last two of the first 6 movies) and An American Tail film series (movies III and IV). The Best Songs from The Land Before Time (2016) Songs from movies I, VI, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XIV.
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.
Merchandise By 2000, the franchise generated $1 billion in retail sales.
References
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