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Land Before Time TV series

The Land Before Time title, seen at the end of the intro to each episode.

The Land Before Time is an North American animated television series, based on characters from The Land Before Time American film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. The series first premiered on YTV in Canada on January 5, 2007 for a test, and officially premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5, 2007 (although the first episode debuted on the 4th) after the DVD release of The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers.

With Charles Grosvenor as the supervising director, the plot involves the young Apatosaurus named Littlefoot having brand new adventures with his old friends like Cera and Petrie, and new ones such as Ruby. The gang finds a new cave for Ruby and Chomper (who had both came to the Great Valley to learn how dinosaurs get along and to escape from Red Claw), see old friends again, help each other with problems, go exploring and finding new wonders in their world, escape from natural disasters and Sharptooth, and learn new lessons about life through all of their adventures.

The show was animated in 2D by using digital ink and paint, but like the sequels from The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration onwards, it incorporates 3D computer animation as well. The main antagonist in the series is Red Claw, a Tyrannosaurus, and Screech and Thud, two Deinonychus, are the secondary antagonists of the show. The TV series presumably takes place after the events of The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends, due to Chomper and Ruby being absent in that film.

Voice Actors[]

English Voice Cast[]

Japanese Voice Cast[]

Latin Spanish voice cast[]

  • Elsa Covián as Littlefoot
  • Maggie Vera as Cera and Chomper (singing)
  • Liliana Barba as Ducky and Ruby (singing) (The Mysterious Tooth Crisis only)
  • Arturo Mercado as Petrie, Mr. Thicknose (singing), Saro and Skip
  • Unknown as Spike
  • Diana Pérez as Chomper (speaking)
  • Mireya Mendoza as Ruby
  • Teresa Ibarrola as Grandma Longneck and Ruby's Mother
  • César Árias as Grandpa Longneck
  • Igor Cruz as Bron and Iguanadon
  • Juan Alfonso Carralero as Daddy Topps, Ruby's Father, Kosh, Presentation and Inserts
  • Queta Calderón as Tria, Mama Swimmer and Mama Flyer
  • Unknown as Tricia
  • Unknown as Petrie's Sibling #1
  • Unknown as Petrie's Sibling #2
  • Unknown as Petrie's Sibling #3
  • Emilio Treviño as Ruby's Brother
  • Alondra Hidalgo as Ruby's Sister and Tickly Fuzzy Girl
  • Carlos Águila as Mr. Thicknose (speaking)
  • Mitzy Corona as Ali
  • Rosanelda Aguirre as the Old One
  • Rafael Pacheco as Mo and Hyp
  • José Arenas as Guido
  • Salvador Delgado as Doc
  • María Fernanda Morales as Tippy
  • Isabel Romo as Tippy's Mother
  • Héctor Moreno as Spiketail Leader
  • Carlo Vázquez as Shorty
  • Roberto Mendiola as Mutt
  • Eduardo Garza as Nod
  • Nallely Solís as Rhett
  • Unknown as Dara
  • Unknown as Milo
  • Unknown as Lydia
  • Unknown as Plower
  • Unknown as Older Tickly Fuzzy
  • Leonardo García as Swooper
  • Humberto Vélez as Scuttle
  • Unknown as Female Bonehead
  • Unknown as Angry Longneck #1
  • Unknown as Angry Longneck #2
  • Unknown as Mother Iguanadon
  • Unknown as Gossipy Corythosaurus
  • Unknown as Grumpy Lambeosaurus
  • Unknown as Male Clubtail
  • Unknown as Female Corythosaurus
  • Unknown as Female Maiasaura
  • Unknown as Male Lambeosaurus

Airings[]

The show first aired in Canada on January 5, 2007 for a test, and officially premiered on March 4 and 5, 2007 on Cartoon Network. It later aired on Boomerang in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2007. The first season had begun airing on Cartoon Network India, with its premiere on April 7, 2008, and in Russia on TV Russia in March of 2009.

The show has neither aired on Cartoon Network in the United States nor on YTV in Canada since March of 2008, though in January 2017, the series began airing on Sprout (later Universal Kids) in the United States.

Production[]

In 2005, Universal Studios announced its plan to launch a Land Before Time series, beginning with 26 episodes, featuring most of the characters from the movies, as well as introducing a few new ones.[1] The animation would combine two dimensional and three dimensional backgrounds.[1] This television series marked the first project from Universal Studios Home Entertainment's new family entertainment label.[1] Craig Cornblau, president of USHE, mentioned that the new series was to fulfill a "huge consumer demand for high-quality, family-friendly content both on television and the home entertainment arena."

Universal Studios stated that the series, set to air in the first half of the year 2007, would debut on Cartoon Network.[1] Glen Ross, who was hired in March 2005 to launch Universal Studios Home Entertainment Family Prods., said that the choice to have the series air first on Cartoon Network had been made on two basis: One, the network was well-noted for its good quality programming, and two, most of the movies in the film series had played on the network many times, so it was believed a good place to start.[1]

The episodes were planned to be released on DVD after the series had aired.[1]

Reception[]

Michael D. Schaffer of the Philadelphia Inquirer said that the animation in the series, although below the animation of the original 1988 The Land Before Time movie, was above-average for modern television. Although he praised the theme song, saying it had a "bouncy, almost calypso beat", he was less pleased with the songs "Adventuring" and "Talking Big". He finally described the series as "bland, inoffensive stuff", and appropriate viewing for very young audiences.

Music[]

Songs[]

The songs are written by Michele Brourman (music) and Ford Riley (lyrics). Every song sung in the TV series with the exception of the ones from the films are unnamed, and the names given are approximations. Every episode has exactly two songs in it, and they are generally very short, and only span roughly 1 minute. Every episode has exactly two songs in it.

Many of the song's melodies are reused in other episodes with different singers/lyrics (a la Nerima Daikon Brothers). The songs Talking Big (with a different absolute pitch), Fix Your Tooth, Do Anything, My Reality, Sniff Him Out, and Sky Color Stones are all melodically the same with different lyrics, as are Remembering, Everything Will Be Okay, What To Do, Be Quiet Now, and Follow Me (with a different absolute pitch).

Also, I Feel Mad, We Need a Plan, Must Believe, Made A Mistake, Hide My Stones, Me Need New Home (with a different absolute pitch), We Must Be Brave, and Is It True She Lied are all melodically the same with different lyrics. My Way is melodically the same as Oops-Eeps, and Good to Be Home is melodically the same as I Feel So Happy. Please Be Careful also shares its melody with Good Times, Good Friends.

The songs Hidden Runner, Big Longneck Test, and Don't Be Scared are melodically the same as Big Water from the film The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island. Similarly, Above the Mysterious Above and The Amazing Threehorn Girl (with a different absolute pitch) are melodically the same as Beyond the Mysterious Beyond from the film The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire. The Legend of the Lone Dinosaur from the film The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock shares its original melody with Up in the Sky.

Friends For Dinner and Big Water are taken from the film The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island, while The Legend of the Lone Dinosaur is taken from the The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock and  Adventuring is from The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration , respectively. The only film songs played in the TV series that never share their melodies are Adventuring from the tenth film and Friends For Dinner from the fifth film. Adventuring is also the only repeating song played in the TV series that never shares its melody.

In the episode "The Days of Rising Waters", the song Feel So Happy is played with a different absolute pitch than other versions of the song, and, in the episode "The Missing Fast-Water Adventure", the song Remembering is played with a different absolute pitch than other versions of the song.

Theme song[]

The theme song is performed by the South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The Theme is written by Roc Gagliese, Steve D'Angelo, and Terry Tompkins of The Eggplant. The credits theme is an extended instrumental version of the theme song.

The music score is by Cory Lerios, and has not been released.

Episodes[]

Main article: List of The Land Before Time episodes

The series has run for only one season, which consists of twenty-six episodes. The series was cancelled after the final episode had aired.

All 26 episodes are available on the official YouTube channel for the show, in 1080p.[2]

Home media releases[]

From 2007 to 2008, most of the episodes have been released on themed DVD in the United States and Canada, while The Hidden Canyon was released on the DVD of The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends as a bonus feature and The Big Longneck Test had never been released on DVD in those two countries at all. The complete TV series (including two episodes missing from previous volumes) finally received a DVD release on June 7, 2022.[3] Unlike all 6 volumes, this DVD restores all 26 episodes in their original 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio (which is a first for any Region 1 DVD release of the TV series),[4], despite most online sources still mentioning the format error.

DVD[]

Themed DVDs[]

Title Episodes Bonus Features Released Aspect Ratio Character & Color on Cover
Amazing Adventures!
  1. The Cave of Many Voices 1
  2. The Canyon of Shiny Stones
  3. The Meadow of Jumping Waters 1
  4. The Spooky Nighttime Adventure 1, 2
  • Shiny Stone Stumper
  • Tickly Red Tree Star Challenge
  • Sing-a-Long "Adventuring"
  • Printable Coloring Pages
August 28, 2007 (USA)
October 22, 2007 (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Littlefoot/Yellow
Good Times & Good Friends
  1. The Star Day Celebration
  2. The Brave Longneck Scheme
  3. The Great Log-Running Game 1
  4. The Bright Circle Celebration 1
  • Star Day Shadow Play Game
  • The Great Log Running Challenge
  • Sing-a-Long "I Feel So Happy"
  • Printable Coloring Pages
November 27, 2007 (USA)
TBA (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Littlefoot/Yellow (original print)
Ducky/Blue (current print)
Adventuring in the Mysterious Beyond
  1. The Great Egg Adventure 4
  2. Escape from the Mysterious Beyond
  3. The Lonely Journey
  4. The Hermit of Black Rock
  • Egg-Citing Pattern Game
  • 1 Sing-Along
  • DVD-ROM Feature: Printable Coloring Pages
February 19, 2008 (USA)
TBA (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Chomper (1st Time)/Red
Through the Eyes of a Spiketail
  1. Through the Eyes of a Spiketail 4
  2. Stranger from the Mysterious Above
  3. March of the Sand Creepers
  4. The Forbidden Friendship
  • Hide & Seek Game
  • Adventuring Sing-Along
  • DVD-ROM Feature: Printable Coloring Pages, 6 Dot to Dots
May 13, 2008 (USA)
TBA (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Spike/Purple
Magical Discoveries
  1. Search for the Sky Color Stones
  2. The Amazing Threehorn Girl
  3. Days of Rising Waters 4
  4. Return to Hanging Rock
  • Sky Color Stones Sing Along
  • DVD-ROM Feature: Printable Coloring Pages
August 26, 2008 (USA)
TBA (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Cera/Indigo
Friends Forever
  1. The Mysterious Tooth Crisis 5
  2. The Missing Fast-Water Adventure 1
  3. The Lone Dinosaur Returns 1
  4. The Legend of the Story Speaker
  • The Lone Dinosaur Sing Along
  • DVD-ROM Feature: Printable Coloring Pages
December 2, 2008 (USA)
TBA (UK)
1.33:1 (USA)
1.78:1 3 (UK)
Chomper (2nd Time)/Green
Notes:
  1. This episode contains the NBC Universal Television Distribution logo.
  1. This episode was released on DVD before it aired in the United States.
  1. The TV series was filmed in this aspect ratio.
  1. This episode is never-before-seen in Canada.
  1. This episode was low-pitched on the "Friends Forever" Region 1 DVD. However, its original pitch has been restored on the complete series DVD, in addition to all 26 episodes being restored in widescreen.

Themed German DVDs[]

Title Episodes Bonus Features Released Aspect Ratio Character & Color on Cover
Freundschaft, Spass Und Abenteuer1
(Friendship, Fun And Adventure)
  1. The Cave of Many Voices
  2. The Mysterious Tooth Crisis

Unknown

December 11, 2008 (DVD)
September 26th, 2008 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Littlefoot (1st Time)/Light Yellow
Grosser Spass Mit Kleinen Dinos
(Great Fun With Little Dinos)
  1. The Star Day Celebration
  2. The Canyon of Shiny Stones

Unknown

December 11, 2008 (DVD)
September 26th, 2008 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Cera (1st Time)/Green
Neue Reisen, Neue Freunde
(New Journies, New Friends)
  1. The Great Log Running Game
  2. The Brave Longneck Scheme

Unknown

December 11, 2008 (DVD)
September 26th, 2008 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Chomper (1st Time)/Red
Aufregung Im Grossen Tal
(Excitement in the Great Valley)
  1. The Meadow of Jumping Waters
  2. The Days of Rising Waters

Unknown

December 11, 2008 (DVD)
May 21st, 2010 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Spike (1st Time)/Purple
Vorsicht, Sharfzähne!
(Cation, Sharpteeth!)
  1. Escape From the Mysterious Beyond
  2. The Hidden Canyon

Unknown

February 19, 2009 (DVD)
February 11th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Cera (2nd Time)/Indigo (DVD)
Ducky/Indigo (Radio Play)
Eine Welt Voller Abenteuer
(A World Full of Adventure)
  1. The Legend of the Story Speakers
  2. The Bright Circle Celebration

Unknown

February 19, 2009 (DVD)
February 11th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Chomper (2nd Time)/Dark Green (DVD)
Petrie/Blue (Radio Play)
Rätsel Und Geheimnisse
(Puzzles and Mysteries)
  1. The Lonely Journey
  2. The Missing Fast-Water Adventure

Unknown

February 19, 2009 (DVD)
August 12th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Littlefoot (2nd Time)/Yellow (DVD)
Ruby/Light Green (Radio Play)
Wirbel Bei Littlefoot Und Seinen Freunden
(Swirl With Littlefoot and His Friends)
  1. The Spooky Nighttime Adventure
  2. The Lone Dinosaur Returns

Unknown

February 19, 2009 (DVD)
August 12th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Spike (2nd Time)/Orange (DVD)
Chomper (2nd Time)/Pink (Radio Play)
Besuch Im Grossen Tal
(Visit in the Great Valley)
  1. Stranger From the Mysterious Above
  2. The Hermit of Black Rock

Unknown

March 26, 2009 (DVD)
November 25th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Cera (3rd Time)/Blue (DVD)
Spike (2nd Time)/Light Blue (Radio Play)
Kleine Dinos Mit Viel Mut
(Small Dinos With Much Courage)
  1. The Amazing Threehorn Girl
  2. The Big Longneck Test 3

Unknown

March 26, 2009 (DVD)
November 25th, 2011 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Ruby/Brown (DVD)
Cera (2nd Time)/Brown (Radio Play)
Fünf Freunde Durch Dick Und Dünn
(Five Friends Through Thick and Thin)
  1. The Great Egg Adventure
  2. March of the Sand Creepers

Unknown

March 26, 2009 (DVD)
June 1st, 2012 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Littlefoot (3rd Time)/Pink
Petrie (2nd Time)/Dark Red (Radio Play)
Dinostarke Abenteuer
(Dino-strong Adventure)
  1. The Forbidden Frendship
  2. Return to Hanging Rock

Unknown

March 26, 2009 (DVD)
June 1st, 2012 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Spike (3rd Time)/Light Blue
Littlefoot (2nd Time)/Orange (Radio Play)
Entdeckungsreise Im Land Der Kleinen Dinos
(Voyage of Discovery in the Land of the Little Dinos)
  1. Search for the Sky Color Stones
  2. Through the Eyes of a Spiketail

Unknown

March 26, 2009 (DVD)
October 19th, 2012 (Radio Play)
1.78:1 2 (Germany) Chomper (3rd Time)/Light Green
Chomper (3rd Time)/Dark Blue
Notes:
  1. All of the radio dramas are named this.
  1. The TV series was filmed in this aspect ratio.
  1. This episode was released on DVD in Germany but not in the United States.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Chomper has been slightly modified in the TV series. He is now more purple and his teeth are positioned differently.
  • Max Burkholder, who voiced Chomper in this TV series, also voiced Roo on My Friends Tigger & Pooh.
  • In the Japanese version of the TV series, Chomper's voice is provided by Ikue Otani, the voice of Pikachu on Pokémon.
  • To set up low budgets, the characters and quality of animation are much lower than in the films; most of the characters were given minor alterations or less detail designs in order to keep a standard budget for each episode. In order to keep this budget new, more inexperienced animators were included into making The Land Before Time TV series.[Citation Needed]
  • This is the third TV series based on a Don Bluth film after Fievel's American Tails and All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Thomas K. Arnold: "Uni decides it's 'Time' for TV". The Hollywood Reporter.com; August 9th, 2005. [1] Retrieved on October 9th, 2005.
  2. The Land Before Time YouTube channel, which seems to be official. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGTPGtMd8ydRNsTcKaDwF1w/videos
  3. Buy The Land Before Time: Complete TV SeriesBox Set DVD | GRUV https://www.gruv.com/product/the_land_before_time_complete_tv_series_box_set_dvd
  4. "Amazon.com: The Land Before Time: The Complete TV Series [DVD : Ford Riley, Jeff Bennett, Aria Curzon, Anndi McAfee, Rob Paulsen: Movies & TV"]. https://www.amazon.com/The-Land-Before-Time-The-Complete-TV-Series/dp/B09XXY9WBY. 


External Links[]

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