Fans of The Land Before Time, the 1988 classic directed by Don Bluth, now have a first glimpse of the upcoming independent remake with a new teaser showcasing the 3D animated title character in action.
The test video sees Littlefoot moving across a realistic environment, showcasing the film's expressive, cartoon-inspired animation style the team has promised. Watch the clip below:
Filmmaker Joey Lever, who previously made the 2014 fan film Spider-Man: Lost Cause, is leading the project. “We’re trying to ground the tactile realism of live action with the expressive shape language of Pixar,” he previously said of the film.
“The lighting is moody, the environments are filled with atmosphere, smoke, dust, debris. We just wanted to create a different kind of visual style that even the king Don Bluth would approve of.”
Lever also previously shared the film’s full voice cast, with young British actress Summer-Joules Saunders voicing Littlefoot. Over the past year, he has teased character designs and snippets of animation, gradually building excitement for this independent retelling.
Related: ‘The Land Before Time' Could Eventually Get the 2019 ‘Lion King' Treatment : Disney Fanatic
“The big question is, ‘Why are we doing this?’ Because most people don’t understand why remakes should be a thing,” Lever said in a behind-the-scenes teaser shared last year.
“And honestly, most of the time they’re right, but The Land Before Time to me is different,” he continued. “A lot of people today haven’t seen it. In a world where remakes are everywhere, it’s rare to find one that actually deserves to be brought back. This story does. It’s emotional, it’s raw, it’s quietly powerful. I genuinely believe that we’re doing something super special. We’re introducing The Land Before Time into a world that’s completely forgotten about it. It’s a stunning, beautiful piece of art.”
The original 1988 film tells the story of a young dinosaur named Littlefoot embarking on a dangerous journey to the Great Valley following a catastrophic earthquake. The movie has remained a beloved classic for over three decades, inspiring 13 direct-to-video sequels and an animated series. Now, though unofficial, the film is set to get its first-ever remake.
While Lever’s remake, simply titled Littlefoot, is only 15 minutes long due to budget constraints, he emphasizes it’s being approached “with the care and emotion of a full-length project.”
There's no release date yet, but the teaser gives fans a promising first look at the beloved character reborn in 3D animation.
Would you like to see an official remake of The Land Before Time? Let us know in the comments!
Lever should talk to Aaron Blaise who was able to make Snow Bear on his own which is leading to bigger projects.