Primal is Tartakovsky in all of his glory. It's a throwback to both Ralph Bakshi and the days of silent film. It's simultaneously unifying and divisive. We fall in love with both man and beast. It is a tumultuous journey that hits you hard with both action and emotion.
10 Reviews
Aargh!
Pjtaylor-96-13804425 May 2020
'Primal: Tales Of Savagery (2019)' is a compilation of the first four episodes of Genndy Tartakovsky's 'Primal (2019-)', which essentially makes it an anthology of loosely connected short stories. It's set in the often-seen but entirely fictional period of pre-history in which man and dinosaur roam side by side, focusing on the unlikely bond formed between one member of each species. Because of its nature, it doesn't feel like a traditional film. Its arcs are limited to each segment and the overall narrative doesn't feel entirely complete (primarily because it isn't). Having said that, the 'episodes' themselves are typically rather entertaining. There isn't any spoken dialogue and the thing is actually really good at visual storytelling; it impressively manages to convey some relatively complex emotions and inner thoughts simply though action. There's a good mix between quiet character moments and brutal, chest-beating action, which keeps things feeling relatively fresh throughout. The set-pieces are exciting and the animation is minimalist but effective. It's a good in-the-moment experience, even if it doesn't amount to an entirely cohesive experience overall. It's probably not the best way to watch 'Primal (2019-)', which is clearly meant to be viewed in 22-minute chunks, but it's a decent time nevertheless. 7/10
Just the name suggests, it's Primal
aniugochukwu22 August 2021
A "mammoth" achievement in animation and storytelling!
Amthermandes20 January 2021
Primal is a re-imagining of the dawn of man, as it struggles to get a start in an unrelenting and merciless world of dinosaurs, and various other hostile threats. We follow "Spear", a gruff Paleolithic man, as he eventually joins forces with "Fang", an adult female T-rex. Both are bonded (albeit, not right away) by shared hardships, and upon realization that survival is better attainable through teamwork, this unlikely duo is formed, and traverses the brutal world together.
The animation is absolutely mesmerizing. It is as fluid and ambitious as the storyline itself, and audiences can find themselves immersed rather quickly. Despite no verbal communication between the main characters (aside from grunts and roars), a relationship forms between them, creating fascinating new moments that can be surprisingly emotional, wildly intense, or even downright hilarious. Each episode exhibits new challenges for our protagonist pair, keeping the story constantly fresh and unpredictable.
Tartakovsky and the rest of the production company deserves much praise for creating this gem. Using the most ancestral image of our humanity, it is a fine representation of adversity endured, and overcome, for our species. And to share it with a completely different (and fun) species in a fantastical setting, it simply becomes pure joy to behold. I hope this series gets enough attention to go on for a while!
While viewers are encouraged to unleash their inner dino-loving child, one must also be advised that this show is NOT for children. The atmosphere and setting of the series is violent and bloody, and can easily be upsetting for kids, despite being animated.
Long live 2-D animation!
The animation is absolutely mesmerizing. It is as fluid and ambitious as the storyline itself, and audiences can find themselves immersed rather quickly. Despite no verbal communication between the main characters (aside from grunts and roars), a relationship forms between them, creating fascinating new moments that can be surprisingly emotional, wildly intense, or even downright hilarious. Each episode exhibits new challenges for our protagonist pair, keeping the story constantly fresh and unpredictable.
Tartakovsky and the rest of the production company deserves much praise for creating this gem. Using the most ancestral image of our humanity, it is a fine representation of adversity endured, and overcome, for our species. And to share it with a completely different (and fun) species in a fantastical setting, it simply becomes pure joy to behold. I hope this series gets enough attention to go on for a while!
While viewers are encouraged to unleash their inner dino-loving child, one must also be advised that this show is NOT for children. The atmosphere and setting of the series is violent and bloody, and can easily be upsetting for kids, despite being animated.
Long live 2-D animation!
Typical Tartakovsky
doruk-ozgur17 January 2021
What did I just watch??..little gem of a film. Hooked the whole way.
rochfordsimon18 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Awesome story
milosmicovic19 May 2020
Creative interpretation!
otherjobstodo20 June 2020
Phenomenal
Nosferatu-ALUCARD25 March 2020
One of the Best !
rugbywing-019439 December 2022
Theres so much to say about this series ...the writing/stories are excellent . Stories are thought provoking and rise above the "simple" "cartooning" the series employs creating characters who we actually care about . The aforementioned "cartooning" appears simple based on what current technologies can create ... but it is so evocative that a "turn of a characters eye" or "quiver of the lips" is enough to convey clearly what that character is thinking ...and this is all done in total silence ...the series characters dont speak ! ( in early episodes) except for the occasional grunt..This series is an example of how effective the use of silence and thoughtful visuals can impart feeling ...emotion ...and intelligent story telling ..
Its Great !
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