Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020) / Z-View

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Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020)

Written and storyboarded by: Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 1-2, 9); David Krentz (episodes 3, 7, 10); Don Shank & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 4); Bryan Andrews & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 5); Bryan Andrews (episode 6); Nagisa Koyama & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 8);

Story: Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 1);  Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episode 2, 9); Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman, David Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 3, 7, 10); Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky (episodes 4-6, 8);

Stars: Aaron LaPlante, Laëtitia Eïdo, Fred Tatasciore, Imari Williams

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A caveman who saw his family devoured by a pack of Tyrannosaurs, develops a friendship with a dinosaur who survived an attack by the same T-Rex pack.  Together Spear and Fang (as we come to know them) travel through a primordial world working together to survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was late to the Primal party.  Yeah, I’d heard how awesome Primal was.  But, come on.  A cartoon about a caveman and a dinosaur who are friends?  “Maybe if I was seven,” I thought.  Finally, I gave it a chance.  I should have checked out Primal sooner.

Yes, it is about a caveman and a dinosaur who become best friends.  But this ain’t no kiddie cartoon.  There is no spoken dialogue.  There is plenty of cartoon violence.  The violence has “real” repercussions.  People and animals die.  And you will find yourself caring more about the cartoon characters in this world than in most movies or television shows.

Hats off to Genndy Tartakovsky.  Primal contains stories with heart that are beautifully animated.  Each episode is a standalone tale, but builds to tell a bigger story.  Season 1 ends with a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to get to Season 2.

Primal won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation: Stephen DeStefano (character designer) (for “A Cold Death”); Genndy Tartakovsky (storyboard artist) (for “Spear and Fang”); and Scott Wills (art director) (for “Spear and Fang”).

Primal: Season 1 (2019 – 2020) earns 5 of 5 stars.