The Land Before Time (1988)

 

Dinosaurs and Don Bluth? Talk about a combination that not only fascinated but also traumatized kids for entire generations. Because, you know: Bluth never shied away from heavier themes. Heck, according to various sources, producers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas forced Bluth to make this more kid-friendly, which is why a lot was cut and this film only lasts about 67 minutes. Nevertheless, this one is a timeless classic. 

But please: ignore the 50 direct-to-video sequels. 

The land is dying and the plant-eating dinosaurs are setting out to find a place called the Great Valley where food still is plentiful. Littlefoot is the only baby from a small group of Longnecks and he with his mom and grandparents sets out to find this valley. But during an attack by a Tyrannosaur coupled with an earthquake, Littlefoot loses his mom and gets separated from his grandparents.

Yep, the mom dies, in what is once again one of those tearjerking moments in cinema history. 

Littlefoot isn't alone, though, as he soon teams up with a happy-go-lucky duckbill, a pterodactyl that doesn't know how to fly, an always hungry Stegosaurus and a rather arrogant and irritating young Triceratops. 

God, I hated Cera as a kid. I still find her annoying to this day. 

This group bands together and sets out to complete the journey, but many perils lay ahead, not in the least the Tyrannosaur, who isn't as dead as Littlefoot would want to believe... 

If you have a thing for dinosaurs, this is pretty much obligatory viewing. The animation is very well done, as with pretty much most of Don Bluth's early output. The story is straightforward, has some comedy left and right, but never veers away from heavier stuff either. The voicework fits and except for Cera who is written as an obnoxious little brat, the kids and adults do a fine job. 

You will have to completely ignore that they chose some random dinosaurs to throw together, as timeframes and such don't really come into play here. But that is some nitpicking right there. And also don't mind the way the T-Rex' eyes change colour a couple of times, going from red to yellow and from round pupils to slits. Something tells me the round one were done to further appease Spielberg/Lucas, as the yellow ones are a lot scarier. 

Have a watch, have a laugh and have a cry. It still holds up.