Cartoon Network Visits Land Before Time

After a number of successful big-screen and direct-to-video releases, the popular animated franchise The Land Before Time will make its television series debut on Cartoon Network next month. Young fans look forward to all-new adventures for Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike starting Monday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. (ET/PT).

Like the movies, the Land Before Time series will follow the adventures of a diverse group of young dinosaurs who prove that by working together and overcoming their differences they can triumph over the physical and social obstacles of their prehistoric world. Littlefoot the Apatosaurus, Cera the Triceratops, Ducky the Parasaurolophus, Petrie the Pterodactyl and Spike the Stegosaurus will be joined by returning character Chomper the sweet-natured T. Rex and their new friend, Ruby, a thoughtful but quirky feathered Oviraptor. Both dinosaurs have come to live in the Secret Caverns that border the Great Valley, seeking refuge from the villainous T. Rex Red Claw and his raptor minions, Screech and Thud.

The original Land Before Time feature, directed by Don Bluth and exec produced by George Lucas, was released theatrically in November of 1988 and went on to earn more than $84 million worldwide before spawning one of the most successful direct-to-video franchises of all time. Over the past 17 years, the property has generated more than a billion dollars worldwide.

The new TV series is being produced by Universal Animation Studios, part of the Universal Studios Family Productions banner of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The unit also produces the Curious George series for PBS and recently added the direct-to-video feature Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses and Polly World to its credits.