A fan-made Land Before Time remake titled Littlefoot has chosen a different path from Disney’s 2019 The Lion King.
In a new video update, British filmmaker Joey Lever revealed that the upcoming short film, now deep in production, has adopted a 3D animation style influenced by Pixar rather than the hyper-realistic visuals used in Disney’s CG remake of the 1994 classic, The Lion King.
Lever, known for his work on the fan film Spider-Man: Lost Cause, has spent months teasing clips from the independent remake of The Land Before Time. The original, which was directed by Don Bluth, has never received an official remake, despite getting 13 sequels and a TV series.
Now, though unofficial, Lever’s project is stepping into that space, but with its own visual identity. But unlike many remakes attempting to modernize classics, Littlefoot deliberately avoids photorealism—instead choosing a visual style that prioritizes character emotion and storytelling over digital spectacle.
“We knew straight away that we weren’t going to do hyper-realistic animals,” Lever says in the video. “There’s a reason why The Lion King 2019 didn’t connect emotionally. One of the big problems were their faces. They just didn’t allow for deeper connection because they were too realistic.”
Lever is also clear about the film's intentions: Littlefoot isn’t about redoing the 1988 film—it’s about bringing it to a new audience using modern tools and independent storytelling. “This isn't about copying the original,” he says. “The original is perfect. I wouldn't want to touch that. It's just reimaging it with today's technology.”
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The short film follows Littlefoot as he copes with grief and isolation after his world falls apart. “Slowly, painfully, he begins to allow others in. Not just because he wants to, but because he needs to,” Lever says. “It’s about learning to carry grief—and realizing you don’t have to carry it alone.”
The 15-minute fan film stars Summer-Joules as the voice of Littlefoot and Larissa as his mother. Lever confirms that the project is being made with a small team and no budget, powered by time and passion.
Whether The Land Before Time can ever be as big as The Lion King remains to be seen. But one thing's for sure—the upcoming remake, while unofficial, will be more emotionally resonant than the 2019 Lion King remake.
For updates on the progress of Littlefoot, and to subscribe and show your support, you can follow Joey Lever on YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram.
Would you like to see an official remake of The Land Before Time? Let us know in the comments!
