The Land Before Time (1988)
The Land Before Time franchise began in 1988, the first instalment introducing us to a prehistoric cast including Littlefoot, a ‘long neck’; Cera, a ‘three horn’; a baby ‘bigmouth’ called Ducky, a ‘spike tail’ named Spike and a ‘flyer’ named Petrie. They exist at a time when famine is rife, most families making their way towards the ‘Great Valley’ where leafy food is in abundance. Littlefoot makes his way there with his mother and Grandparents, only for them to be separated by an earthquake that alters their lives forever.
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I’d actually never seen this movie before despite it being a classic, but I can see why it captured the hearts of so many children and adults alike. I think the nicknaming of difference species makes it more accessible for younger viewers who might not be able to grasp the scientific names, and there are great morals in the story of unity and togetherness, like the friendship between Littlefoot and Cera which is fordidden by invisible rules that say their peoples can’t mix.
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The animation style is absolutely beautiful, capturing a vast array of landscapes from barren, rocky areas to pools of molten lava and the lush greenery of the oasis they find at the end. One of my favourite uses in the film is the ‘Tree Stars’ that float down from the sky, filled with droplets of water. The characters are rendered in a way that makes them seem very friendly and personable too, whilst the ‘sharptooth’ maintains his menacing voracity.
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Another thing that makes The Land Before Time so special is the soundtrack composed by James Horner. It’s really moving and fits perfectly with the journey the characters go on and the challenges they face. The credits also roll with a song written for the film, ‘If We Hold On Together’ which is sung beautifully by Diana Ross.
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One sad fact about the movie is that Judith Barsi, voice of ‘Ducky’, was murdered by her father just months before it was released, after years of abuse and neglect. Her life was cut so short but she’ll always live on in such a wonderful character and catchphrase ‘Yep yep yep!’.
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The special features is brimming with fun goodies, including scenes from all of the Land Before Time films, a sing-a-long section, a trailer for The Great Migration, a lesson in Latin and an instructional video about how to navigate the DVD. I can’t wait to thrift the other movies in the future.
