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The Land Before Time (TV series) facts for kids

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The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time Title Card.jpg
Title card
Genre Adventure
Fantasy
Created by Charles Grosvenor
Judy Freudberg
Tony Geiss
Developed by Ford Riley
Directed by Scott Heming
Dick Sebast
Voices of Cody Arens
Anndi McAfee
Aria Curzon
Jeff Bennett
Rob Paulsen
Max Burkholder
Meghan Strange
Kenneth Mars
Miriam Flynn
John Ingle
Tress MacNeille
Pete Sepenuk
Dorian Harewood
Jessica Gee
Theme music composer Roc Gagliese
Steve D'Angelo
Terry Tompkins
Opening theme "The Land Before Time Theme Song", performed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ending theme "The Land Before Time Theme Song" (instrumental)
Composer(s) Cory Lerios (score)
Michele Brourman (songs)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 26 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Diane A. Crea
Charles Grosvenor
Running time 23 minutes
Production company(s) Universal Animation Studios
Amblin Entertainment
Distributor NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Release
Original network Cartoon Network
First shown in Canada
Original release March 5, 2007 (2007-03-05) – January 21, 2008 (2008-01-21)
Chronology
Preceded by The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends (2007)
Followed by The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave (2016)

The Land Before Time is an American animated television series, based on The Land Before Time film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. It was developed for television by Ford Riley for Cartoon Network and was produced by Universal Animation Studios and Amblin Television (Amblin Entertainment produced the first film with Sullivan Bluth Studios), and animated by Toon City in the Philippines. It premiered on YTV in Canada for a test on January 5, 2007 and premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5, 2007.

It was made as traditionally animated with CGI backgrounds, which the past sequels from The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration onwards have used, with occasional cel-shaded computer animated characters in wide shots. The main antagonists in the series are Red Claw, an evil villainous Tyrannosaurus, and Screech and Thud, two henchmen Deinonychus. The TV series 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 cast

Main

  • Cody Arens as Littlefoot (Anthony Skillman performs Littlefoot's singing voice)
  • Anndi McAfee as Cera
  • Aria Curzon as Ducky
  • Jeff Bennett as Petrie
  • Rob Paulsen as Spike
  • Max Burkholder as Chomper
  • Meghan Strange as Ruby
  • Pete Sepenuk as Red Claw, Screech
  • Rob Paulsen as Thud

Recurring

Guest appearances

Episodes

Season 1 (2007)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1 "The Cave of Many Voices" Scott Heming Ford Riley March 5, 2007 (2007-03-05)
Chomper realizes his secret cave in the Great Valley becomes leaky and the gang goes exploring in the deep caves to search for another suitable cave for Chomper to live in. Meanwhile, the gang's new member, a Fast Runner named Ruby, teaches Ducky how to act and talk big.
2 "The Mysterious Tooth Crisis" Richard Sebast Jack Monaco March 6, 2007 (2007-03-06)
When Chomper loses his tooth, he, Littlefoot, Petrie and Ducky travel around the Great Valley to figure out what is wrong. Meanwhile, Cera, Spike and Ruby relax in Tria's secret mud spa.
3 "The Star Day Celebration" Scott Heming Krista Tucker March 7, 2007 (2007-03-07)
Ruby misses her family on her "Star Day" (birthday) and the gang tries to help cheer her up by being true friends and bringing Ruby her favorite food.
4 "The Canyon of Shiny Stones" Richard Sebast John Loy March 8, 2007 (2007-03-08)
When Cera accidentally loses Tria's special shiny stone, the group decides to find a new stone to return to Tria by traveling to the Canyon of Shiny Stones.
5 "The Great Log-Running Game" Scott Heming Phil Harnage March 9, 2007 (2007-03-09)
While trying to get a tree sweet, Ducky makes up a game called the "Log Running Game", and competes against the group in a competition on how long they can run on a log in the water. But when Cera tries to prove Threehorns are the best, she gets swept away on a log to Roaring Falls, forcing the gang and Topps to try and save her.
6 "The Brave Longneck Scheme" Richard Sebast Phil Walsh March 12, 2007 (2007-03-12)
Ali's herd returns to the Great Valley, and Littlefoot and Cera find out that Ali has a new friend, Rhett, who boasts about himself and claims Sharpteeth fear him. The gang decides to bring a real Sharptooth (Chomper) to convince Ali that Rhett is making up the stories. However, when Rhett sees Chomper, he runs away to tell his herd, who in turn come to kill Chomper. They let Chomper live after the kids confess the truth, the gang for their prank and Rhett for making up the stories.
7 "The Meadow of Jumping Waters" Scott Heming Jack Monaco March 13, 2007 (2007-03-13)
The gang decides to travel beyond the Sheltering Grass to see the Meadow of Jumping Waters that Ruby and Chomper passed by when traveling to the Great Valley.
8 "The Days of Rising Waters" Richard Sebast Catherine Lieuwen March 14, 2007 (2007-03-14)
When a heavy rainstorm wipes out Petrie's nest, he flips out at the prospect of having to move. Meanwhile, Cera insists that Ducky take on the seemingly impossible task of teaching Tricia how to swim.
9 "Escape from the Mysterious Beyond" Scott Heming Jack Monaco March 15, 2007 (2007-03-15)
When exploring inside the caves, the group accidentally goes into the Mysterious Beyond and get chased by Red Claw, Screech and Thud. An earthshake occurs, and Chomper and Ducky get trapped on a ridge with Thud.
10 "The Hidden Canyon" Richard Sebast Don Gillies March 16, 2007 (2007-03-16)
When the kids discover a hidden canyon filled with fruit trees, they decide to keep the place a secret. But the secret becomes dangerous when Red Claw and his henchmen use the canyon to enter the Great Valley!
11 "The Legend of the Story Speaker" Scott Heming Kent Redeker March 19, 2007 (2007-03-19)
Grandpa Longneck tells Littlefoot and his friends stories about why Longnecks have long necks and about Starwatcher. And then Grandpa Longneck and Saro, his old friend, meet. Saro tells him that all the Longnecks are forgetting the great Longneck stories and he needs to come with him to tell them again. But Grandpa Longneck refuses as he has a home in the Great Valley. Angry, Saro runs out, and Littlefoot and Chomper follow him into the Mysterious Beyond. Saro tells Littlefoot and Chomper a story about Tall Stepper, a Longneck who saved his sister from the wind.
12 "The Bright Circle Celebration" Richard Sebast Corey Powell March 20, 2007 (2007-03-20)
Petrie is very excited about the Bright Circle Celebration. But Cera thinks it is silly to thank the Bright Circle for shining. Cera and her dad steer clear of everyone preparing for the festivities, but they rush in to help when a fire threatens everything.
13 "The Lonely Journey" Scott Heming Noelle Wright March 21, 2007 (2007-03-21)
It is lonely being the only Sharptooth in the Great Valley. Chomper decides to go to the Mysterious Beyond to teach the Sharpteeth how to be friends.
14 "The Missing Fast-Water Adventure" Richard Sebast Don Gillies March 22, 2007 (2007-03-22)
When an earthshake causes the fast-water to dry up, the dinosaurs decide to try and fix the problem by removing the rocks. On the way, they meet an old friend, Mo.
15 "The Spooky Nighttime Adventure" Scott Heming Jack Monaco March 23, 2007 (2007-03-23)
One night, Ruby tells the group a scary story about an invisible dinosaur named "Hidden Runner" and gives everyone scary sleep stories. They see Mr. Thicknose to tell him that she made up the story and there is nothing to worry about, but the story of Hidden Runner was true, and they decide to venture into the Mysterious Beyond to search for him.

Season 2 (2008)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
16 "The Lone Dinosaur Returns" Richard Sebast Phil Walsh January 7, 2008 (2008-01-07)
One day, Doc, The Lone Dinosaur, comes back to the Great Valley in search of his lady friend, Dara. After Chomper hears the stories of him and how he despises Sharpteeth, the dinosaurs try to hide him.
17 "Stranger from the Mysterious Above" Scott Heming Holly Huckins January 8, 2008 (2008-01-08)
When Spike falls down a hole, he encounters a colony of mammals who think of him as the "Big Wise One" from the Mysterious Above. Meanwhile, his friends try to save him but only find trouble when Mr. Thicknose and Topps cannot agree on what to do.
18 "The Forbidden Friendship" Richard Sebast John Low January 9, 2008 (2008-01-09)
When Tippy's herd comes back, the adults get into a fight and the kids cannot play with each other, but they sneak out and find green food.
19 "The Amazing Threehorn Girl" Scott Heming Jack Monaco January 10, 2008 (2008-01-10)
When the gang gets chased by a pair of Belly Draggers, Cera gets separated from the others and ends up trapped, but she accidentally sets off a rock slide that frightens the Belly Draggers away. When she finds the gang and tells them about it, Petrie flies around telling everyone in the valley, and suddenly everyone thinks Cera is a hero, even when she insists she is not, but she soon lets the fame go to her head and begins to fabricate her story, which Littlefoot and Ruby become skeptical of. However, the Belly Draggers return, and they have brought friends.
20 "The Big Longneck Test" Richard Sebast Ford Riley January 11, 2008 (2008-01-11)
Littlefoot gets a visit from his father and adoptive older brother, getting the news that he will be the one taking "The Big Longneck Test," a test of three stages to see if a Longneck is capable of leading a herd. So while Littlefoot takes the test, Shorty tries to lead his younger brother's friends on an adventure.
21 "The Hermit of Black Rock" Richard Sebast Don Gillies January 14, 2008 (2008-01-14)
On a windy day, when Guido and Petrie practice gliding, they are blown into Black Rock and are trapped because Petrie hurts his wing, Guido hurts his foot, and there seems to be no way out, but a blind old hermit and flyer named Swooper decides to help.
22 "Return to Hanging Rock" Richard Sebast Jack Monaco January 15, 2008 (2008-01-15)
On the day of the Flying Rocks of Many Nights (meteor shower), Ruby remembers a memory of her family meeting at Hanging Rock when she lived in the Mysterious Beyond. Ruby adventures alone to find her family, but Chomper, Ducky and Spike come along to help. Along the way, they meet Skip, a mammal who knows the Mysterious Beyond very well, and the gang learns an important lesson of being family.
23 "March of the Sand Creepers" Richard Sebast Don Gillies January 16, 2008 (2008-01-16)
One morning, a herd of "Sand Creepers" (crabs) mysteriously come to the Great Valley. Curious, Littlefoot, Cera, Petrie, Chomper, and Ruby set off to an adventure to find out why the Sand Creepers have come to the Great Valley. They meet Scuttle, a Sand Creeper who can speak the language of leaf-eaters, and try to enlist his help, but Scuttle tries to take advantage of them to the chagrin of Cera.
24 "Search for the Sky Color Stones" Scott Heming Jack Monaco January 17, 2008 (2008-01-17)
When the gang sees the sky colors in the sky disappear (a rainbow), the gang splits up to find sky color stones (geodes).
25 "Through the Eyes of a Spiketail" Richard Sebast Ford Riley January 18, 2008 (2008-01-18)
On the first day of the cold time, Mr. Thicknose tells the gang about Hard Water Sweets (frozen grapes), and the gang set off on an adventure to find them.
26 "The Great Egg Adventure" Scott Heming Noelle Wright January 21, 2008 (2008-01-21)
Littlefoot, Ducky, Petrie and Chomper (followed by Hyp, Nod and Mutt) find a nest of Fast Biter eggs. They decide to carry the eggs away from the valley so the baby Sharpteeth can grow up without eating anyone, and set off on a journey into the Mysterious Beyond. When a mother Fast Biter sees that her eggs have been stolen, she becomes very angry and starts tracking them.

Broadcast

The show premiered on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 5, 2007. It also on Boomerang in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2007. It premiered in Japan on Kids Station in May 2007. The show has neither aired on Cartoon Network in the United States nor on YTV in Canada since March 2008. On January 14, 2017, the show began airing in reruns on Sprout. It aired on Spacetoon on January 1, 2011 after Spacetoon English closed and the Spacetoon Group was rebranded. It aired on TV Russia on May 2, 2009 after TV Russia Service Television (TV RSTV) closed. Reruns of the series began airing on Universal Kids upon the channel's launch on September 9, 2017.

Merchandise

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group and Playmates Toys announced a domestic licensing agreement, whereby Playmates will serve as the master toy license for the upcoming animated television series, The Land Before Time. The 22-minute animated series will air on Cartoon Network beginning spring 2007. The toy line will launch in fall 2007 with the introduction of a full line of figures, vehicles, playsets and plush.

Home media

Twenty-four episodes of the series were released on DVD by Universal Studios between 2007-2008 in North America (region 1) and 2010 in Australia (region 4) in the form of six four-episode volumes. A six-disc box set was later released in the UK (region 2) in 2012 containing the 24 episodes from the previous volumes. The two episodes that are not included in those releases are "The Hidden Canyon" and "The Big Longneck Test". "The Hidden Canyon" was later released as a special feature on the stand-alone DVD release of The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends, while "The Big Longneck Test" has never been released on home media. All of the episodes were made available for free streaming on the official The Land Before Time YouTube channel in the United States.

Vol. DVD name Release dates Episodes
Region 1 Region 4 Region 2
1 Amazing Adventures! August 28, 2007 March 31, 2010 "The Cave of Many Voices" (1), "Canyon of the Shiny Stones" (4), "The Meadow of Jumping Water" (7), "The Spooky Nighttime Adventure" (15)
2 Good Times & Good Friends November 27, 2007 March 31, 2010 "The Star Day Celebration" (3), "The Brave Longneck Scheme" (6), "The Great Log Running Game" (5), "The Bright Circle Celebration" (12)
3 Adventuring in the Mysterious Beyond February 19, 2008 June 30, 2010 "The Great Egg Adventure" (26), "Escape from the Mysterious Beyond" (9), "The Lonely Journey" (13), "The Hermit of Black Rock" (21)
4 Through the Eyes of a Spiketail May 13, 2008 June 30, 2010 "Through the Eyes of a Spiketail" (25), "Stranger from the Mysterious Above" (17), "March of the Sand Creepers" (23), "The Forbidden Friendship" (18)
5 Magical Discoveries August 26, 2008 September 1, 2010 "Search for the Sky Color Stones" (24), "The Amazing Threehorn Girl" (19), "Days of Rising Waters" (8), "Return to Hanging Rock" (22)
6 Friends Forever December 2, 2008 September 1, 2010 "The Mysterious Tooth Crisis" (2), "The Missing Fast-Water Adventure" (14), "The Lone Dinosaur Returns" (16), "Legend of the Story Speaker" (11)
1-6 Complete TV Series March 12, 2012 Contains all 24 episodes from previous volumes.

Music

The songs are written by Michele Brourman (music) and Ford Riley (lyrics).

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 music score is by Cory Lerios.

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