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* PlayingWithHeartStrings: Both 'Always There' and 'We Will Always Be Your Friends' are moving songs that use string instruments to some degree.
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* ArtifactTitle: The film's Brazilian title was "Em Busca do Vale Encantado" (In Search of the Enchanted Valley). As it was already found in the first film, the title made no sense at the sequels.
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''The Land Before Time'' is a DonBluth film from 1988.
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''The Land Before Time'' is a DonBluth Creator/DonBluth film from 1988.
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The first film, made during TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation, is well remembered for its excellent character animation (a hallmark of DonBluth films), surprisingly complex plotting, and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome amazing soundtrack]] by JamesHorner. It was the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time it came out, though [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid it didn't hold this distinction for too long]].
to:
The first film, made during TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation, is well remembered for its excellent character animation (a hallmark of DonBluth Creator/DonBluth films), surprisingly complex plotting, and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome amazing soundtrack]] by JamesHorner. It was the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time it came out, though [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid it didn't hold this distinction for too long]].
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''The Land Before Time'' was a wonderful DonBluth film from 1988.
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''The Land Before Time'' was is a wonderful DonBluth film from 1988.
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* AwardBaitSong: "If We Hold On Together".
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* AwardBaitSong: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGVQJKgqgY8 "If We Hold On Together".Together"]].
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Crosswicking new trope.
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* LyingFingerCross: In ''VI'', after Littlefoot leaves with Ali to the Land of Mists, Littlefoot's grandparents warn Cera and the others not to follow. Cera and the others do this gesture while saying that they won't go; Cera and Spike do it with their hind feet, while Ducky and Petrie play it straight.
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Why do people keep on insisting making up tropes that don\'t exist?
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* EarthquakeCausesFissures: Prominently, in the beginning of the movie.
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* EarthquakeCausesFissures: Prominently, in the beginning of the movie.
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A Worldwide Punomenon cleanup
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The film contracted {{Sequelitis}}[[hottip:*: To the point that it's the page image for sequelitis]] in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many,]] ''[[FranchiseZombie many]]'' [[FranchiseZombie sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
to:
The film contracted {{Sequelitis}}[[hottip:*: To the point that it's the page image for sequelitis]] in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many,]] ''[[FranchiseZombie many]]'' [[FranchiseZombie sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon [[IncrediblyLamePun extinct]]. But time will tell.
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[[quoteright:238:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Landtime.jpg]]
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That\'s not what Reality Subtext means.
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* RealitySubtext: Many viewers are devastated and horrified when they find out that Judith Barsi, the voice of Ducky, [[HarsherInHindsight was murdered by her own father in 1988]].
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* VerbalTic: Ducky. Yup, yup, yup. The words were actually placed on Judith Barsi's gravestone (see RealitySubtext).
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* VerbalTic: Ducky. Yup, yup, yup. The words were actually placed on Judith Barsi's gravestone (see RealitySubtext).(she was murdered before the movie's premiere by her father).
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* UngratefulBastard: Cera insults Littlefoot's mother at one point, the same dinosaur who saved her life earlier.
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* HappilyAdopted-Spike, by Ducky's family
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* HappilyAdopted-Spike, HappilyAdopted: Spike, by Ducky's family
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* OrphansPlotTrinket: Littlefoot's tree star
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* OrphansPlotTrinket: Littlefoot's tree starstar.
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* SpeciesSurname: A variation, in that the dinosaurs' words for each other are usually derived from their scientific names. For example, Triceratops = Three Horn
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* SpeciesSurname: A variation, in that the dinosaurs' words for each other are usually derived from their scientific names. For example, Triceratops = Three HornHorn.
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* TheVoiceless: Spike
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* TheVoiceless: SpikeSpike.
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* BreaktheCutie: Littlefoot, when his mother dies.
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* BreaktheCutie: BreakTheCutie: Littlefoot, when his mother dies.
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The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many,]] ''[[FranchiseZombie many]]'' [[FranchiseZombie sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
to:
The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} {{Sequelitis}}[[hottip:*: To the point that it's the page image for sequelitis]] in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many,]] ''[[FranchiseZombie many]]'' [[FranchiseZombie sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals! [[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from an insanely popular [[FinalFantasy series.]]
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals! [[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from an insanely popular [[FinalFantasy series.]]
numerals!
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from an insanely popular [[FinalFantasy series.]]
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or numerals! [[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from an insanely popular [[FinalFantasy series.]]
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* TheWoobie: All of the main cast, except Spike, get to be this at some point in the original. But espicially Littlefoot.
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* AwesomeMusic: Belive it or not, some songs in this series aren't just stomachable, but enjoyable! The touching "No One Has To Be Alone" is a good example. There are several big tearjerkers, most notably "Always There", and even at one point Cera's dad gets a ''rock song''.
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* StockDinosaurs: An Apatosaurus for the obligatory sauropod (more anatomically accurate than most other movie "brontos" (note the non-aquaticness and raised tails!), but still called Brontosaurus in releases), Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus all play major roles in the film. And then we have the mammal-relative Dimetrodon ''with a snake-tongue''. There are some aversions though: the hadrosaurs belong to the relatively obscure Saurolophus ('''Para'''saurolophus [[TheyJustDidntCare according to the producers]]); the armoured dinosaur Rooter is an old-fashioned Euoplocephalus and not the usual Ankylosaurus; and this is perhaps the first time that the bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus appeared in a notable popular work, [[FantasticRacism portrayed as a vicious pack of racist bullies]]. The only stock dinosaur from the today [[Trivia/StockDinosaurs Five Man Band]] which is missing is Velociraptor, but only because the film is older than JurassicPark ([[SarcasmMode surprisingly]], raptors ''do'' appear in the first sequel made ''after'' Spielberg's film).
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after ''Jurassic Park III'' and ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'', respectively.
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after ''Jurassic Park III'' and ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'', respectively.
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* StockDinosaurs: An Apatosaurus for the obligatory sauropod (more anatomically accurate than most other movie "brontos" (note the non-aquaticness and raised tails!), but still called Brontosaurus in releases), Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus all play major roles in the film. And then we have the mammal-relative Dimetrodon ''with a snake-tongue''. There are some aversions though: the hadrosaurs belong to the relatively obscure Saurolophus ('''Para'''saurolophus [[TheyJustDidntCare according to the producers]]); the armoured dinosaur Rooter is an old-fashioned Euoplocephalus and not the usual Ankylosaurus; and this is perhaps the first time that the bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus appeared in a notable popular work, [[FantasticRacism portrayed as a vicious pack of racist bullies]]. The only stock dinosaur from the today [[Trivia/StockDinosaurs Five Man Band]] which is missing is Velociraptor, but only because the film is older than JurassicPark ''Film/JurassicPark'' ([[SarcasmMode surprisingly]], raptors ''do'' appear in the first sequel made ''after'' Spielberg's film).
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after''Jurassic Park III'' ''JurassicParkIII'' and ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'', ''Series/WalkingWithDinosaurs'', respectively.
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after
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* BreaktheCutie: Littlefoot, when his mother dies.
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* TheWoobie: All of the main cast, except Spike, get to be this at some point in the original. But espicially Littlefoot.
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* [[spoiler: EarnYourHappyEnding: Taken to levels all but unheard of in an animated film. First, the massive earthquake early in the film which kills many dinosaurs (including Littlefoot's Mother) and separates Cera from her parents, Littlefoot going through a massive state of depression when coping with his mother's death, the entire group facing massive bouts of starvation, the ever looming threat of the sharptooth, and Littlefoot trying to keep everyone together while trying to find the Great Valley. Fortunately, they do find it, and get their families (or, in Littlefoot's case, his grandparents) back as icing on the cake.]]
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* [[spoiler: EarnYourHappyEnding: Taken Though a favorite trope of Bluth's, this movie takes it to levels all but unheard of in an animated film. film! First, the there's a massive earthquake early in the film which kills many dinosaurs (including Littlefoot's Mother) and separates Cera from her parents, parents. Then Littlefoot going goes through a massive state of depression when coping with his mother's death, death. Later the entire group facing faces massive bouts of starvation, the ever looming threat of the sharptooth, and as Littlefoot trying tries to keep everyone together while trying to find the Great Valley. Fortunately, they do find it, and get their families (or, in Littlefoot's Spike's case, his grandparents) getting adopted by Ducky's family) back as icing on the cake.]]cake!]]
** But this is never actually an issue, just a continuity error. And it could have happed offscreen.
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* VocalDissonance: Spike finally talks in ''IV''...but he sounds like the Aflac Duck. Mercifully, he goes back to not talking at all aside from the occasional grunt.
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* VocalDissonance: Spike finally talks in ''IV''...but he sounds like the Aflac Duck.Duck, which, considering his appearence...isn't what you'd expect. Mercifully, he goes back to not talking at all aside from the occasional grunt.
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* GoryDiscretionShot: The fight between Littlefoot's Mother and Sharptooth has an instance where, after putting him down briefly, she tries to get Littlefoot and Cera to safety. Sharptooth then viciously flings himself through the air at her, and the film cuts to the horrified reactions of the youngsters. In spite of this, the shadows of the struggle can still be seen, showing Sharptooth ''biting and tearing a huge lump of flesh out of her back'' (the wound that leads to her death).
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* PlotRelevantAgeUp: Spike is shown being born in a patch of grass in ''the middle of the movie'', by which chance the rest of the main cast has gotten a chance to ''become kids''. Cue an exterior shot of the patch of grass, which, of course, Spike comes out of the same age as his friends.
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* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Each of the main cast. If you don't think they are cute you may not have a pulse.
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* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Each of the five main cast. If you don't think they are cute you may not have a pulse.
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* ViewersAreMorons: The narrator says some pretty obvious stuff. Though this may be because the original idea was that it would have just a narrator and no dialogue.
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* ViewersAreMorons: The narrator says some pretty obvious stuff.stuff (E.G. ""Littlefoot had never seen the Great Valley before"). Though this may be because the original idea was that it would have just a narrator and no dialogue.
** Likely so, seeing as the sequels tone down the narration to being used usually just at the beginning and end of the movies.
** Likely so, seeing as the sequels tone down the narration to being used usually just at the beginning and end of the movies.
* AwesomeMusic: Belive it or not, some songs in this series aren't just stomachable, but enjoyable! The touching "No One Has To Be Alone" is a good example. There are several big tearjerkers, most notably "Always There", and even at one point Cera's dad gets a ''rock song''.
** This troper used to think Rinkus was a creepy old lady flyer. Viewers seem fully convinced he is male, but his gender is never explictly stated and his name is pretty gender neutral...
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* EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: The shark in Part V.
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* EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: The shark in Part V. Which results in one of the best action scenes of the sequels (better then that film's climax, actually)
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** [[LampshadeHanging It's noted]] near the end of ''IV'' that Spike can talk... [[SilentBob when he ''wants'' to, allowing him to remain silent most of the time but still comment on rare occasions]]. (Consistent with this, all five of the main characters are seen shouting for the adults early on in ''V'', although Spike doesn't have a voice.)
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** [[LampshadeHanging It's noted]] near the end of ''IV'' that Spike can talk... [[SilentBob when he ''wants'' to, allowing him to remain silent most of the time but still comment on rare occasions]]. (Consistent with this, all five of the main characters are seen shouting for the adults early on at one point in ''V'', although Spike doesn't have a voice.)
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** Except for that bit in "Journey To Big Water" when Ducky comments that they should sing to pass the time. Cue rendition of a song from a previous film.
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** Except for that bit in "Journey To Big Water" when Ducky comments that they should sing to pass the time. Cue an inferior rendition of "Big Water" a song from a previous the fifth film.
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* CrapsackWorld: The world outside the great valley is extremely forbidding, stark, lonely and dangerous.
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* CrapsackWorld: The world outside the great valley is extremely forbidding, stark, lonely and dangerous. At least in the earlier films...
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* AllAnimalsAreDogs: In the second movie, Chomper licks Littlefoot's face on more than one occasion. It also becomes a staple personality trait of Spike.
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* AllAnimalsAreDogs: In the second movie, Chomper licks Littlefoot's face on more than one occasion. It also becomes a staple personality trait of Spike. Even Ali does it to Petrie!
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* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: Depending on your definition of good. Bron did explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as his excuse is.
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* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: Depending on your definition of good. Bron did does explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as seriously---he ''gave up'' trying to find his excuse is.own son!
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** Littlefoot mourns for his mom a good deal of the first film, but only mentions her a grand total of ''three times'' during the following twelve sequels, one of which is just a passing reference. Presumably the writers were uncomfortable about bringing up such a dark topic in a kid's series.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before Time V''. Littlefoot even quotes from her.
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great Longneck Migration''.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before Time V''. Littlefoot even quotes from her.
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great Longneck Migration''.
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** Littlefoot mourns for his mom a good deal of the first film, but only mentions her a grand total of ''three times'' during the following twelve sequels, one of which is just a passing reference.reference about not leaving him any siblings. Presumably the writers were uncomfortable about bringing up such a dark topic in a kid's series.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before TimeV''. V'', in which Littlefoot even quotes from her.
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great LongneckMigration''.Migration'' when Littlefoot met his father, and even appears in a flashback.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before Time
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great Longneck
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* GenreShift: ExecutiveMeddling aside the first film was still pretty dark and serious. The sequels have since become lighter musicals-comedies
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* GenreShift: ExecutiveMeddling aside the first film was still pretty dark and serious. The sequels have since become are lighter musicals-comedies musicals-comedies, particularly so starting with 6.
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* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" and "Tough" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
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* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" and "Tough" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" the last one is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
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The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many, ''many'' sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
to:
The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many, ''many'' many,]] ''[[FranchiseZombie many]]'' [[FranchiseZombie sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
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* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
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* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" and "Tough" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
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* BigBad: Sharptooth.
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* BigBad: Sharptooth.Sharptooth
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* HateSink: Sharptooth, and in some ways, Cera for most of the movie as well.
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YMMV sinkhole
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* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: [[YourMilageMayVary Depending on your definition of good]]. Bron did explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as his excuse is.
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* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: [[YourMilageMayVary Depending on your definition of good]].good. Bron did explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as his excuse is.
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from a [[RunningGag insanely popular]] [[FinalFantasy series]].]]
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Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from a [[RunningGag an insanely popular]] popular [[FinalFantasy series]].series.]]
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Sinkhole of a subjective trope. Opinions don\'t go in main pages
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* EyeAwaken: The HighOctaneNightmareFuel-inducing scene where Cera charges at Sharptooth's face, only to have Sharptooth's menacing eye open and stare at her.
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* EyeAwaken: The HighOctaneNightmareFuel-inducing scene where Cera charges at Sharptooth's face, only to have Sharptooth's menacing eye open and stare at her.
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[[quoteright:238:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Landtime.jpg]]
''The Land Before Time'' was a wonderful DonBluth film from 1988.
In the original film, a group of dinosaurs leave their homes for the Great Valley, a place of promise and opportunity. Along the way, a sauropod ("Long Neck") named Littlefoot becomes separated from his group and watches his mother die to protect him from a {{Tyrannosaurus| Rex}} ("[[CallARabbitASmeerp Sharptooth]]"). Littlefoot meets up with other young dinosaurs of different species as they try to get back to their families. Epic Questing ensues, and good times are had by all.
The first film, made during TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation, is well remembered for its excellent character animation (a hallmark of DonBluth films), surprisingly complex plotting, and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome amazing soundtrack]] by JamesHorner. It was the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time it came out, though [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid it didn't hold this distinction for too long]].
The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many, ''many'' sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
The sequels are:
* ''The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure'' (1994)
* ''The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving'' (1995)
* ''The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists'' (1996)
* ''The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island'' (1997)
* ''The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock'' (1998)
* ''The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire'' (2000)
* ''The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze'' (2001)
* ''The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water'' (2002)
* ''The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration'' (2003)
* ''The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses'' (2004)
* ''The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers'' (2006)
* ''The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends'' (2007)
Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from a [[RunningGag insanely popular]] [[FinalFantasy series]].]]
The character sheet is [[Characters/TheLandBeforeTime here]] (work in progress).
----
!!These movies provide examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Original Movie]]
* AcrophobicBird: Petrie the Acrophobic ''Pterosaur'.
* AwardBaitSong: "If We Hold On Together".
* BerserkButton: [[spoiler: Aside from the bout of depression he experiences in the first part of the film, the only time the normally level-headed Littlefoot loses it is when Cera insults his mother.]]
* BigBad: Sharptooth.
* BigShadowLittleCreature: PlayedForDrama in the first film, when Littlefoot mistakes his own shadow for his mother's.
* BlatantLies: Cera tells her own version of her encounter with Sharptooth in the underground to the group. A version where she attacked Sharptooth when he was awake and hunting for her. Of course, what actually happened, is that she did the triceratops equivalent of poking a dead body. As soon as it turned out he was alive (and awake), she ran off terrified out of her mind like anyone would expect. Of course, her lie was so damn blatant to Littlefoot, that he disbelieved ''all'' of her story, including the part where Sharptooth survived.
* CarnivoreConfusion: Using the "Carnivores Are Mean" subtrope
* CherubicChoir
* CrapsackWorld: The world outside the great valley is extremely forbidding, stark, lonely and dangerous.
* DisneyDeath: Petrie when it looks like he was crushed under the same boulder used to kill sharptooth. Just when they're about to walk off in tears, Petrie comes back.
* DisneyVillainDeath: Sharptooth, who gets crushed under a boulder and drowns.
* [[spoiler: EarnYourHappyEnding: Taken to levels all but unheard of in an animated film. First, the massive earthquake early in the film which kills many dinosaurs (including Littlefoot's Mother) and separates Cera from her parents, Littlefoot going through a massive state of depression when coping with his mother's death, the entire group facing massive bouts of starvation, the ever looming threat of the sharptooth, and Littlefoot trying to keep everyone together while trying to find the Great Valley. Fortunately, they do find it, and get their families (or, in Littlefoot's case, his grandparents) back as icing on the cake.]]
* EldritchAbomination: The Tar Monster that seems like it's going to eat Cera [[spoiler:only to be revealed that it's just Littlefoot and the others stuck together with tar.]]
* EyeAwaken: The HighOctaneNightmareFuel-inducing scene where Cera charges at Sharptooth's face, only to have Sharptooth's menacing eye open and stare at her.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: The death of Sharptooth.
** [[spoiler:Littlefoot's mother's death. You can see the sharptooth tearing at her back in the shadow, and even her wound as she continues to fight.]]
*** Originally, this was shown full-on, but it was so scary that it was re-done so it was seen only in the shadow.
* FantasticRacism: Between the dinosaur species. At one point Cera refers to Littlefoot as a "flat head" after hearing her father do the same. It's ''really'' obvious that Cera's father is a Fantastic Racist in general.
* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Littlefoot
** TheLancer: Cera
** TheSmartGuy: Petrie
** TheBigGuy: Spike
** TheChick: Ducky
** SixthRanger: Chomper (sequel films) and Ruby (TV series).
* GrowlingGut: Happens to Ducky just before Petrie makes his first appearance.
* HappilyAdopted-Spike, by Ducky's family
* HerbivoresAreFriendly: The main characters are heroic herbivores (except for Petrie -- pterosaurs ate fish).
* TheHomewardJourney
* HumanLadder: The FiveManBand does this a couple times in the movie (except for Cera).
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Cera.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Want to know if they made it to the great valley or not? Don't watch the sequels, then.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: It's the Sharptooth's breath shooting up from its nose that gives Petrie the added push he needed, so that he can learn to fly. He then becomes instrumental in distracting the Sharptooth so the others can push the boulder down on it.
* OrphansPlotTrinket: Littlefoot's tree star
* ParentalAbandonment: Par for the course, as it's a Don Bluth film.
* {{Prehistoria}}: Creatures portrayed come from Permian Dimetrodon to Cretaceous T-rexes, and then there is the [[CrapsackWorld volcano/tar pit thing]].
* ThePromisedLand: The Great Valley. Played on the idealistic side.
* RealIsBrown: The best known animated feature to apply this trope. It is to the point where no two promotional items agreed exactly what Petrie's real color scheme was.
* RealitySubtext: Many viewers are devastated and horrified when they find out that Judith Barsi, the voice of Ducky, [[HarsherInHindsight was murdered by her own father in 1988]].
* RecycledINSPACE: The original film has gotten a reputation of being called "a prehistoric Disney/{{Bambi}}". (Clearly by people who never watched ''Bambi'' or this movie in its entirety.)
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Each of the main cast. If you don't think they are cute you may not have a pulse.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The novel version of the film shows that the reason why Sharptooth is so hellbent on killing the kids is because, when Littlefoot and Cera tried to escape from him, the thorns cut Sharptooth's eye.
* SlasherSmile: Cera grins pretty mischievously when she discovers the Sharptooth's [[spoiler:(not quite dead)]] corpse, when deciding to use him as ramming practice. The way she licks her lips when she catches up to that beetle she was chasing at the beginning also deserves mention.
* {{Shorttank}}: Cera.
* ShownTheirWork: For the time, and remember it was twenty-odd years ago and the complete remains of some of the featured species (especially Tyrannosaurus) hadn't been found yet, this was ''the'' most accurate dinosaur movie ever made (ignoring the TalkingAnimal issue of course). Even today, the care put into the film is impressive.
* SomewhereAPaleontologistIsCrying: While the opening narration gets "Before the [[StockDinosaursNonDinosaurs mammoth and the mastodon]]" right, that's basically the extent of accuracy in this regard. While most of the species in the film are from the Late Cretaceous of North America, Littlefoot (an ''[[StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs Apatosaurus]]'') and Spike (a ''[[StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs Stegosaurus]]'') are both Jurassic. While Littlefoot and family could be ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeSauropods Alamosaurus]]'', a sauropod from the proper time and place, there's no excuse for Spike's appearance. Plus, an even older ''[[StockDinosaursNonDinosaurs Dimetrodon]]'' is encountered halfway through the film.
* SpeciesSurname: A variation, in that the dinosaurs' words for each other are usually derived from their scientific names. For example, Triceratops = Three Horn
* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: Ducky and Petrie.
* StockDinosaurs: An Apatosaurus for the obligatory sauropod (more anatomically accurate than most other movie "brontos" (note the non-aquaticness and raised tails!), but still called Brontosaurus in releases), Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus all play major roles in the film. And then we have the mammal-relative Dimetrodon ''with a snake-tongue''. There are some aversions though: the hadrosaurs belong to the relatively obscure Saurolophus ('''Para'''saurolophus [[TheyJustDidntCare according to the producers]]); the armoured dinosaur Rooter is an old-fashioned Euoplocephalus and not the usual Ankylosaurus; and this is perhaps the first time that the bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus appeared in a notable popular work, [[FantasticRacism portrayed as a vicious pack of racist bullies]]. The only stock dinosaur from the today [[Trivia/StockDinosaurs Five Man Band]] which is missing is Velociraptor, but only because the film is older than JurassicPark ([[SarcasmMode surprisingly]], raptors ''do'' appear in the first sequel made ''after'' Spielberg's film).
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after ''Jurassic Park III'' and ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'', respectively.
* SuperPersistentPredator: Sharptooth is actually behaving ''exactly'' how a predator behaves in this dire situation. In the lack of significant food sources, a lone predator will often pursue individual targets for several days until he either finds easier food elsewhere, or is injured or killed. And a group of infants without a herd to protect them, in real life, would be an extremely easy meal. Luckily, our protagonists are smarter than their real life counterparts.
* TrueCompanions: "There had never been such a herd before." and the original final line "We'll always be together."
* {{Tsundere}}: Cera.
* VerbalTic: Ducky. Yup, yup, yup. The words were actually placed on Judith Barsi's gravestone (see RealitySubtext).
* TheVoiceless: Spike
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Pretty much averted; the plan doesn't go ''quite'' as seamlessly as expected but still works even though Little Foot explained it all in detail.
* UnusualAnimalAlliance: The narrator points out that the world 'has never seen a herd like this before'.
* ViewersAreMorons: The narrator says some pretty obvious stuff. Though this may be because the original idea was that it would have just a narrator and no dialogue.
* WhyAreYouLookingAtMeLikeThat: Littlefoot uses Ducky as Sharptooth bait.
* TheWindowOrTheStairs: Cera and the other dinosaurs refuse to follow Littlefoot's instructions on where to go to find the Great Valley, instead taking an easier path. Their "easier path" winds up trapping them all in a deadly lava flow.
* YankTheDogsChain: When Petrie tries to join Littlefoot after the others go with Cera, but is unable to follow solely because of how unstable the surface he's climbing on is. And he can't fly.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sequels]]
* ActorAllusion: Rinkus, Pterano's BumblingSidekick with the cockney accent, is pink. Guess, just guess who voices him.
* AdultsAreUseless:
** In Journey Through the Mists, all the adult dinosaurs are concerned about the health of Littlefoot's grandpa, but none are brave enough to risk personal safety to find the flowers that have the cure. To clarify, the old one does say "There is safety in numbers", yet doesn't act on it in terms of retrieving the flower.
** Possibly lampshaded in The Stone of Cold Fire, when Grandma Longneck states that the children have gone off on their own, and Ducky's mother comments "Of course they did! They saw us all just standing around arguing here..!"
* AlienAmongUs: [[spoiler:The Rainbow Faces pair in the seventh movie. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lnDkKwg_J4 No, this is real.]] This is what ''The Land Before Time'' is now.]]
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: In the second movie, Chomper licks Littlefoot's face on more than one occasion. It also becomes a staple personality trait of Spike.
* BigShadowLittleCreature: [[spoiler:Chomper]] in the fifth movie.
** Also in the second movie, in fact, this actually saved his friends from Ozzy and Strut. They eventually wised up, although by that point they were too late as Chomper's parents were still in the Great Valley.
* ConspicuousCG: From Movie ''VI'' on, particularly in ''X'': The Great Longneck Migration, as {{MarzGurl}} points out. Most likely due to the fact that WangFilmProductions had a sister company that specialized in CG (Sony Imageworks did the CG for film ''VI'' however).
* ContinuityDrift: In the original film, Ducky was designated as a Bigmouth. In the sequels, she was instead called a Swimmer.
* ConvectionSchmonvection: The animated series episode "The Canyon of Shiny Stones" is made of this trope (although they do, at least, remember that volcanoes produce choking smoke).
** In ''VII'' Littlefoot and his friends escape the storm by ''entering the base of a volcano''. What's worse is that they actually SLEEP in said volcano, and then get on a makeshift elevator that gets them to the top when the volcano erupts!
* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: [[YourMilageMayVary Depending on your definition of good]]. Bron did explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as his excuse is.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: From ''XII'': "Many changes had occurred on this day of changes."
* DirtyCoward: Subverted. It seems that Rinkus is this but it's revealed he just played on long Pterano's plans for his own ambitions.
* DoubleEntendre: Chomper: Friends for dinner, I'm gonna have Friends for dinner...
* DudeLooksLikeALady: People's first reaction to finding out Tippy from ''VIII'' is male was "So many {{Fan Fic}}s suddenly got [[{{Shipping}} much, much gayer]]."
* EvilUncle: Petrie's Uncle Pterano in ''The Stone of Cold Fire'' complete with eyebags, long fingers, and an English Accent. Except for the killing bit, but he does kidnap Ducky... and then saves her in the end, so he's not totally evil. He's got his regrets.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Pterano, see above.
* EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: The shark in Part V.
* ForgottenFallenFriend:
** Littlefoot mourns for his mom a good deal of the first film, but only mentions her a grand total of ''three times'' during the following twelve sequels, one of which is just a passing reference. Presumably the writers were uncomfortable about bringing up such a dark topic in a kid's series.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before Time V''. Littlefoot even quotes from her.
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great Longneck Migration''.
* FranchiseKiller: ''Wisdom of Friends'' pretty much ensured that no more Land Before Time sequels were made. Not to mention, the TV series is stillborned.
* GenreShift: ExecutiveMeddling aside the first film was still pretty dark and serious. The sequels have since become lighter musicals-comedies
* IncrediblyLamePun: When they arrive at the Great Valley after a long trek, one of the egg-stealing dinos in the second film says that he's just "egg-xausted". His partner kicks him in the face in response.
* INeverToldYouMyName: How did anybody ever find out Pat's name in The Great Longneck Migration? He never told it to anybody himself.
* InformedAbility: Red Claw is stated to be the biggest and most dangerous Sharptooth around. Considering his accomplishments so far, including retreating from having fruit thrown at him, as well as [[LighterAndSofter the tone of the TV series]], that is a status he will never live up to.
** Some fans believe Red Claw is the original Sharptooth, somehow survived and given a scar from the boulder and dunking. If that was true, oh how the mighty have fallen. There's also the "biggest, meanest, most ferocious Sharptooth ever" from ''Secret of Saurus Rock'', who showed his big mean ferocity by getting whipped (literally) by Doc.
* LargeHam: Pterano, all the way! You can really tell Michael York had a great time voicing him.
* LighterAndSofter: There are times when this trope works, and then there's this.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Chomper (see CarnivoreConfusion above).
* NeverTrustATrailer: The promo for ''The Land Before Time II'' makes you think the Sharptooth in the sequel is the Sharptooth from the original film.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Extremely apparent after about the fifth sequel or so. But by that time, the primary demographic for the first ''and second'' one had already grown up.
** However, the changes in some character's voice actors could be seen (by someone who did not know of the change in cast) as their voices aging. Best examples being Ducky and Cera.
*** In Ducky's case, that has to do with her original voice actress tragically not being allowed to grow up [[KilledOffForReal in the most literal fashion.]]
*** The opposite is true of Littlefoot. His voice actor had to change ''seven times'' because the voice actors kept reaching puberty.
* OffModel: an unfortunate side effect from outsourcing to [[{{AKOM}} South Korea]] and [[WangFilmProductions Taiwan]].
* PapaWolf / MamaBear: The parents of the five main characters, but also Chomper's parents. Notably, they were willing to enter the Great Valley to search for their child (whom Littlefoot and his friends accidentially brought in when trying to rescue another egg that Ozzy and Strut stole), and when they saw Chomper in danger, they made absolute certain that whoever harmed them paid in full, even doing so to members of their own kind.
* PuttingAHandOverHisMouth: The egg-stealers do this to Littlefoot in the first sequel, briefly.
* RecycledTheSeries: It was bound to happen eventually.
* SettingOffSong: "Adventuring."
* ShownTheirWork: Sure they may not be living in the right place or the right time, but the variety (and obscurity) of some of the dinosaurs featured is quite astounding. It may be the most redeeming feature of the sequels.
* SuddenlyVoiced: Spike in an episode of the TV series. Well, it's not so much actual talking as it is us hearing what he's thinking. And it only lasts for the one episode. In an earlier sequel, he yells Ducky's name... then ''never speaks again''.
** He shouted "Mama!" (his adopted mother) in the Big Freeze after falling into the ice water.
** [[LampshadeHanging It's noted]] near the end of ''IV'' that Spike can talk... [[SilentBob when he ''wants'' to, allowing him to remain silent most of the time but still comment on rare occasions]]. (Consistent with this, all five of the main characters are seen shouting for the adults early on in ''V'', although Spike doesn't have a voice.)
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics
* ThatRemindsMeOfASong: Part of the sequels' LighterAndSofter nature. Though most of the segues into songs are rather well done for children's movies, and at least they make the songs fit in with the story.
** Except for that bit in "Journey To Big Water" when Ducky comments that they should sing to pass the time. Cue rendition of a song from a previous film.
* TheStarscream: Pterano's two lackies, Sierra and Rinkus, decide that Pterano has much too high of an opinion of himself and they don't like his more moral goals, so they intend to take the Stone of Cold Fire for themselves.
* TrueCompanions: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvpdKODutmk "We're a family and you're one of us now!"]] If that isn't a TrueCompanions song, then nothing is.
* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
* VocalDissonance: Spike finally talks in ''IV''...but he sounds like the Aflac Duck. Mercifully, he goes back to not talking at all aside from the occasional grunt.
[[/folder]]
----
''The Land Before Time'' was a wonderful DonBluth film from 1988.
In the original film, a group of dinosaurs leave their homes for the Great Valley, a place of promise and opportunity. Along the way, a sauropod ("Long Neck") named Littlefoot becomes separated from his group and watches his mother die to protect him from a {{Tyrannosaurus| Rex}} ("[[CallARabbitASmeerp Sharptooth]]"). Littlefoot meets up with other young dinosaurs of different species as they try to get back to their families. Epic Questing ensues, and good times are had by all.
The first film, made during TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation, is well remembered for its excellent character animation (a hallmark of DonBluth films), surprisingly complex plotting, and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome amazing soundtrack]] by JamesHorner. It was the highest-grossing animated film ever at the time it came out, though [[Disney/TheLittleMermaid it didn't hold this distinction for too long]].
The film contracted {{Sequelitis}} in 1994. The [[FranchiseZombie many, many, ''many'' sequels were created without any input from Don Bluth.]] They have a drastically LighterAndSofter tone (complete with musical numbers and cheap animation, though it improved with the shift from traditional to computer animation), and...well, to put it bluntly, [[FanonDiscontinuity they weren't received well]] by fans of the original film. Some viewers count the sequels as GuiltyPleasures; oddly, most fans of the LighterAndSofter sequels might get quite frightened by the original movie. The biggest point of contention about the sequels, in all fairness, is the fact that there are ''twelve'' of them, as well as a TV series (which ran from 2007 to 2008). Now that Universal Studios has finally pulled the plug on its animation studio however, the franchise may finally be [[AWorldwidePunomenon extinct]]. But time will tell.
The sequels are:
* ''The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure'' (1994)
* ''The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving'' (1995)
* ''The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists'' (1996)
* ''The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island'' (1997)
* ''The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock'' (1998)
* ''The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire'' (2000)
* ''The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze'' (2001)
* ''The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water'' (2002)
* ''The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration'' (2003)
* ''The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses'' (2004)
* ''The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers'' (2006)
* ''The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends'' (2007)
Time to teach the kids Roman numerals![[hottip:*:Or they could have learned them from a [[RunningGag insanely popular]] [[FinalFantasy series]].]]
The character sheet is [[Characters/TheLandBeforeTime here]] (work in progress).
----
!!These movies provide examples of:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Original Movie]]
* AcrophobicBird: Petrie the Acrophobic ''Pterosaur'.
* AwardBaitSong: "If We Hold On Together".
* BerserkButton: [[spoiler: Aside from the bout of depression he experiences in the first part of the film, the only time the normally level-headed Littlefoot loses it is when Cera insults his mother.]]
* BigBad: Sharptooth.
* BigShadowLittleCreature: PlayedForDrama in the first film, when Littlefoot mistakes his own shadow for his mother's.
* BlatantLies: Cera tells her own version of her encounter with Sharptooth in the underground to the group. A version where she attacked Sharptooth when he was awake and hunting for her. Of course, what actually happened, is that she did the triceratops equivalent of poking a dead body. As soon as it turned out he was alive (and awake), she ran off terrified out of her mind like anyone would expect. Of course, her lie was so damn blatant to Littlefoot, that he disbelieved ''all'' of her story, including the part where Sharptooth survived.
* CarnivoreConfusion: Using the "Carnivores Are Mean" subtrope
* CherubicChoir
* CrapsackWorld: The world outside the great valley is extremely forbidding, stark, lonely and dangerous.
* DisneyDeath: Petrie when it looks like he was crushed under the same boulder used to kill sharptooth. Just when they're about to walk off in tears, Petrie comes back.
* DisneyVillainDeath: Sharptooth, who gets crushed under a boulder and drowns.
* [[spoiler: EarnYourHappyEnding: Taken to levels all but unheard of in an animated film. First, the massive earthquake early in the film which kills many dinosaurs (including Littlefoot's Mother) and separates Cera from her parents, Littlefoot going through a massive state of depression when coping with his mother's death, the entire group facing massive bouts of starvation, the ever looming threat of the sharptooth, and Littlefoot trying to keep everyone together while trying to find the Great Valley. Fortunately, they do find it, and get their families (or, in Littlefoot's case, his grandparents) back as icing on the cake.]]
* EldritchAbomination: The Tar Monster that seems like it's going to eat Cera [[spoiler:only to be revealed that it's just Littlefoot and the others stuck together with tar.]]
* EyeAwaken: The HighOctaneNightmareFuel-inducing scene where Cera charges at Sharptooth's face, only to have Sharptooth's menacing eye open and stare at her.
* FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: The death of Sharptooth.
** [[spoiler:Littlefoot's mother's death. You can see the sharptooth tearing at her back in the shadow, and even her wound as she continues to fight.]]
*** Originally, this was shown full-on, but it was so scary that it was re-done so it was seen only in the shadow.
* FantasticRacism: Between the dinosaur species. At one point Cera refers to Littlefoot as a "flat head" after hearing her father do the same. It's ''really'' obvious that Cera's father is a Fantastic Racist in general.
* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Littlefoot
** TheLancer: Cera
** TheSmartGuy: Petrie
** TheBigGuy: Spike
** TheChick: Ducky
** SixthRanger: Chomper (sequel films) and Ruby (TV series).
* GrowlingGut: Happens to Ducky just before Petrie makes his first appearance.
* HappilyAdopted-Spike, by Ducky's family
* HerbivoresAreFriendly: The main characters are heroic herbivores (except for Petrie -- pterosaurs ate fish).
* TheHomewardJourney
* HumanLadder: The FiveManBand does this a couple times in the movie (except for Cera).
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Cera.
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Want to know if they made it to the great valley or not? Don't watch the sequels, then.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: It's the Sharptooth's breath shooting up from its nose that gives Petrie the added push he needed, so that he can learn to fly. He then becomes instrumental in distracting the Sharptooth so the others can push the boulder down on it.
* OrphansPlotTrinket: Littlefoot's tree star
* ParentalAbandonment: Par for the course, as it's a Don Bluth film.
* {{Prehistoria}}: Creatures portrayed come from Permian Dimetrodon to Cretaceous T-rexes, and then there is the [[CrapsackWorld volcano/tar pit thing]].
* ThePromisedLand: The Great Valley. Played on the idealistic side.
* RealIsBrown: The best known animated feature to apply this trope. It is to the point where no two promotional items agreed exactly what Petrie's real color scheme was.
* RealitySubtext: Many viewers are devastated and horrified when they find out that Judith Barsi, the voice of Ducky, [[HarsherInHindsight was murdered by her own father in 1988]].
* RecycledINSPACE: The original film has gotten a reputation of being called "a prehistoric Disney/{{Bambi}}". (Clearly by people who never watched ''Bambi'' or this movie in its entirety.)
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Each of the main cast. If you don't think they are cute you may not have a pulse.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The novel version of the film shows that the reason why Sharptooth is so hellbent on killing the kids is because, when Littlefoot and Cera tried to escape from him, the thorns cut Sharptooth's eye.
* SlasherSmile: Cera grins pretty mischievously when she discovers the Sharptooth's [[spoiler:(not quite dead)]] corpse, when deciding to use him as ramming practice. The way she licks her lips when she catches up to that beetle she was chasing at the beginning also deserves mention.
* {{Shorttank}}: Cera.
* ShownTheirWork: For the time, and remember it was twenty-odd years ago and the complete remains of some of the featured species (especially Tyrannosaurus) hadn't been found yet, this was ''the'' most accurate dinosaur movie ever made (ignoring the TalkingAnimal issue of course). Even today, the care put into the film is impressive.
* SomewhereAPaleontologistIsCrying: While the opening narration gets "Before the [[StockDinosaursNonDinosaurs mammoth and the mastodon]]" right, that's basically the extent of accuracy in this regard. While most of the species in the film are from the Late Cretaceous of North America, Littlefoot (an ''[[StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs Apatosaurus]]'') and Spike (a ''[[StockDinosaursTrueDinosaurs Stegosaurus]]'') are both Jurassic. While Littlefoot and family could be ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeSauropods Alamosaurus]]'', a sauropod from the proper time and place, there's no excuse for Spike's appearance. Plus, an even older ''[[StockDinosaursNonDinosaurs Dimetrodon]]'' is encountered halfway through the film.
* SpeciesSurname: A variation, in that the dinosaurs' words for each other are usually derived from their scientific names. For example, Triceratops = Three Horn
* StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: Ducky and Petrie.
* StockDinosaurs: An Apatosaurus for the obligatory sauropod (more anatomically accurate than most other movie "brontos" (note the non-aquaticness and raised tails!), but still called Brontosaurus in releases), Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus all play major roles in the film. And then we have the mammal-relative Dimetrodon ''with a snake-tongue''. There are some aversions though: the hadrosaurs belong to the relatively obscure Saurolophus ('''Para'''saurolophus [[TheyJustDidntCare according to the producers]]); the armoured dinosaur Rooter is an old-fashioned Euoplocephalus and not the usual Ankylosaurus; and this is perhaps the first time that the bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus appeared in a notable popular work, [[FantasticRacism portrayed as a vicious pack of racist bullies]]. The only stock dinosaur from the today [[Trivia/StockDinosaurs Five Man Band]] which is missing is Velociraptor, but only because the film is older than JurassicPark ([[SarcasmMode surprisingly]], raptors ''do'' appear in the first sequel made ''after'' Spielberg's film).
** ''Spinosaurus'' and ''Liopleurodon'' also appeared in films made after ''Jurassic Park III'' and ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'', respectively.
* SuperPersistentPredator: Sharptooth is actually behaving ''exactly'' how a predator behaves in this dire situation. In the lack of significant food sources, a lone predator will often pursue individual targets for several days until he either finds easier food elsewhere, or is injured or killed. And a group of infants without a herd to protect them, in real life, would be an extremely easy meal. Luckily, our protagonists are smarter than their real life counterparts.
* TrueCompanions: "There had never been such a herd before." and the original final line "We'll always be together."
* {{Tsundere}}: Cera.
* VerbalTic: Ducky. Yup, yup, yup. The words were actually placed on Judith Barsi's gravestone (see RealitySubtext).
* TheVoiceless: Spike
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Pretty much averted; the plan doesn't go ''quite'' as seamlessly as expected but still works even though Little Foot explained it all in detail.
* UnusualAnimalAlliance: The narrator points out that the world 'has never seen a herd like this before'.
* ViewersAreMorons: The narrator says some pretty obvious stuff. Though this may be because the original idea was that it would have just a narrator and no dialogue.
* WhyAreYouLookingAtMeLikeThat: Littlefoot uses Ducky as Sharptooth bait.
* TheWindowOrTheStairs: Cera and the other dinosaurs refuse to follow Littlefoot's instructions on where to go to find the Great Valley, instead taking an easier path. Their "easier path" winds up trapping them all in a deadly lava flow.
* YankTheDogsChain: When Petrie tries to join Littlefoot after the others go with Cera, but is unable to follow solely because of how unstable the surface he's climbing on is. And he can't fly.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Sequels]]
* ActorAllusion: Rinkus, Pterano's BumblingSidekick with the cockney accent, is pink. Guess, just guess who voices him.
* AdultsAreUseless:
** In Journey Through the Mists, all the adult dinosaurs are concerned about the health of Littlefoot's grandpa, but none are brave enough to risk personal safety to find the flowers that have the cure. To clarify, the old one does say "There is safety in numbers", yet doesn't act on it in terms of retrieving the flower.
** Possibly lampshaded in The Stone of Cold Fire, when Grandma Longneck states that the children have gone off on their own, and Ducky's mother comments "Of course they did! They saw us all just standing around arguing here..!"
* AlienAmongUs: [[spoiler:The Rainbow Faces pair in the seventh movie. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lnDkKwg_J4 No, this is real.]] This is what ''The Land Before Time'' is now.]]
* AllAnimalsAreDogs: In the second movie, Chomper licks Littlefoot's face on more than one occasion. It also becomes a staple personality trait of Spike.
* BigShadowLittleCreature: [[spoiler:Chomper]] in the fifth movie.
** Also in the second movie, in fact, this actually saved his friends from Ozzy and Strut. They eventually wised up, although by that point they were too late as Chomper's parents were still in the Great Valley.
* ConspicuousCG: From Movie ''VI'' on, particularly in ''X'': The Great Longneck Migration, as {{MarzGurl}} points out. Most likely due to the fact that WangFilmProductions had a sister company that specialized in CG (Sony Imageworks did the CG for film ''VI'' however).
* ContinuityDrift: In the original film, Ducky was designated as a Bigmouth. In the sequels, she was instead called a Swimmer.
* ConvectionSchmonvection: The animated series episode "The Canyon of Shiny Stones" is made of this trope (although they do, at least, remember that volcanoes produce choking smoke).
** In ''VII'' Littlefoot and his friends escape the storm by ''entering the base of a volcano''. What's worse is that they actually SLEEP in said volcano, and then get on a makeshift elevator that gets them to the top when the volcano erupts!
* DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou: [[YourMilageMayVary Depending on your definition of good]]. Bron did explain himself, and initially he was powerless, but that's as good as his excuse is.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: From ''XII'': "Many changes had occurred on this day of changes."
* DirtyCoward: Subverted. It seems that Rinkus is this but it's revealed he just played on long Pterano's plans for his own ambitions.
* DoubleEntendre: Chomper: Friends for dinner, I'm gonna have Friends for dinner...
* DudeLooksLikeALady: People's first reaction to finding out Tippy from ''VIII'' is male was "So many {{Fan Fic}}s suddenly got [[{{Shipping}} much, much gayer]]."
* EvilUncle: Petrie's Uncle Pterano in ''The Stone of Cold Fire'' complete with eyebags, long fingers, and an English Accent. Except for the killing bit, but he does kidnap Ducky... and then saves her in the end, so he's not totally evil. He's got his regrets.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Pterano, see above.
* EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks: The shark in Part V.
* ForgottenFallenFriend:
** Littlefoot mourns for his mom a good deal of the first film, but only mentions her a grand total of ''three times'' during the following twelve sequels, one of which is just a passing reference. Presumably the writers were uncomfortable about bringing up such a dark topic in a kid's series.
** Notable is the song "Always There" from ''The Land Before Time V''. Littlefoot even quotes from her.
** She also got a big mention in ''The Great Longneck Migration''.
* FranchiseKiller: ''Wisdom of Friends'' pretty much ensured that no more Land Before Time sequels were made. Not to mention, the TV series is stillborned.
* GenreShift: ExecutiveMeddling aside the first film was still pretty dark and serious. The sequels have since become lighter musicals-comedies
* IncrediblyLamePun: When they arrive at the Great Valley after a long trek, one of the egg-stealing dinos in the second film says that he's just "egg-xausted". His partner kicks him in the face in response.
* INeverToldYouMyName: How did anybody ever find out Pat's name in The Great Longneck Migration? He never told it to anybody himself.
* InformedAbility: Red Claw is stated to be the biggest and most dangerous Sharptooth around. Considering his accomplishments so far, including retreating from having fruit thrown at him, as well as [[LighterAndSofter the tone of the TV series]], that is a status he will never live up to.
** Some fans believe Red Claw is the original Sharptooth, somehow survived and given a scar from the boulder and dunking. If that was true, oh how the mighty have fallen. There's also the "biggest, meanest, most ferocious Sharptooth ever" from ''Secret of Saurus Rock'', who showed his big mean ferocity by getting whipped (literally) by Doc.
* LargeHam: Pterano, all the way! You can really tell Michael York had a great time voicing him.
* LighterAndSofter: There are times when this trope works, and then there's this.
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Chomper (see CarnivoreConfusion above).
* NeverTrustATrailer: The promo for ''The Land Before Time II'' makes you think the Sharptooth in the sequel is the Sharptooth from the original film.
* NotAllowedToGrowUp: Extremely apparent after about the fifth sequel or so. But by that time, the primary demographic for the first ''and second'' one had already grown up.
** However, the changes in some character's voice actors could be seen (by someone who did not know of the change in cast) as their voices aging. Best examples being Ducky and Cera.
*** In Ducky's case, that has to do with her original voice actress tragically not being allowed to grow up [[KilledOffForReal in the most literal fashion.]]
*** The opposite is true of Littlefoot. His voice actor had to change ''seven times'' because the voice actors kept reaching puberty.
* OffModel: an unfortunate side effect from outsourcing to [[{{AKOM}} South Korea]] and [[WangFilmProductions Taiwan]].
* PapaWolf / MamaBear: The parents of the five main characters, but also Chomper's parents. Notably, they were willing to enter the Great Valley to search for their child (whom Littlefoot and his friends accidentially brought in when trying to rescue another egg that Ozzy and Strut stole), and when they saw Chomper in danger, they made absolute certain that whoever harmed them paid in full, even doing so to members of their own kind.
* PuttingAHandOverHisMouth: The egg-stealers do this to Littlefoot in the first sequel, briefly.
* RecycledTheSeries: It was bound to happen eventually.
* SettingOffSong: "Adventuring."
* ShownTheirWork: Sure they may not be living in the right place or the right time, but the variety (and obscurity) of some of the dinosaurs featured is quite astounding. It may be the most redeeming feature of the sequels.
* SuddenlyVoiced: Spike in an episode of the TV series. Well, it's not so much actual talking as it is us hearing what he's thinking. And it only lasts for the one episode. In an earlier sequel, he yells Ducky's name... then ''never speaks again''.
** He shouted "Mama!" (his adopted mother) in the Big Freeze after falling into the ice water.
** [[LampshadeHanging It's noted]] near the end of ''IV'' that Spike can talk... [[SilentBob when he ''wants'' to, allowing him to remain silent most of the time but still comment on rare occasions]]. (Consistent with this, all five of the main characters are seen shouting for the adults early on in ''V'', although Spike doesn't have a voice.)
* TertiarySexualCharacteristics
* ThatRemindsMeOfASong: Part of the sequels' LighterAndSofter nature. Though most of the segues into songs are rather well done for children's movies, and at least they make the songs fit in with the story.
** Except for that bit in "Journey To Big Water" when Ducky comments that they should sing to pass the time. Cue rendition of a song from a previous film.
* TheStarscream: Pterano's two lackies, Sierra and Rinkus, decide that Pterano has much too high of an opinion of himself and they don't like his more moral goals, so they intend to take the Stone of Cold Fire for themselves.
* TrueCompanions: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvpdKODutmk "We're a family and you're one of us now!"]] If that isn't a TrueCompanions song, then nothing is.
* VillainSong: "Eggs" in the second, "When You're Big" in the third, "Who Needs You?" in the fourth and "Very Important Creature" in the seventh (Though "Very Important Creature" is more about how the villain sees himself as right and not a villain at all).
* VocalDissonance: Spike finally talks in ''IV''...but he sounds like the Aflac Duck. Mercifully, he goes back to not talking at all aside from the occasional grunt.
[[/folder]]
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