I had the chance to catch a preview screening of the first four episodes of Primal on the big screen in Los Angeles. This is the most stunning piece of animation I've seen in years. It completely immerses you in a rich, fantastic world. The character designs are brilliant. The action is awesome. And it does it all without a single word of spoken dialogue. A triumph of visual storytelling.
210 Reviews
Beautiful, Emotional, Raw and Violent
hassambitw11 October 2019
Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal, set in the Mesozoic era, depicts a story of a caveman named Spear, who, under tragic circumstances, is forced to ally with a T-Rex, Fang, in order to survive whatever obstacles it is they come across on their journey.
I'm three episodes in so far, and I'm hooked. Not only is it beautifully animated which makes every battle scene stand out and be visceral, but it does so much more to appeal to our internal emotions solely by the expressions on the characters' faces and their movements, without really humanizing anything. It reminds you that in this harsh world, to live is to eat, and to eat is to kill. The art style is gorgeous as well, with its world rich with subtle details to make it feel alive. The score for this hits a balance between something eerie and organic, with a bit of drums added in which adds to the tension during chases and whatnot.
This show is a gem. Please go see it and voice your support so we (hopefully) get to see more like this.
I'm three episodes in so far, and I'm hooked. Not only is it beautifully animated which makes every battle scene stand out and be visceral, but it does so much more to appeal to our internal emotions solely by the expressions on the characters' faces and their movements, without really humanizing anything. It reminds you that in this harsh world, to live is to eat, and to eat is to kill. The art style is gorgeous as well, with its world rich with subtle details to make it feel alive. The score for this hits a balance between something eerie and organic, with a bit of drums added in which adds to the tension during chases and whatnot.
This show is a gem. Please go see it and voice your support so we (hopefully) get to see more like this.
Another great series by Genndy Tartakovsky
Rectangular_businessman24 July 2021
This perhaps one of the best series Adult Swim has made in a long time, being another great excellent series by Genndy Tartakovsky, with impressive animation and a great atmosphere.
Amazing how the lack of dialogue actually works incredibly well for this series: The rule "Show, don't tell" is at full display here, and it has an excellent dramatic effect.
It feels more cinematic than many modern dialogue-driven action movies.
Amazing how the lack of dialogue actually works incredibly well for this series: The rule "Show, don't tell" is at full display here, and it has an excellent dramatic effect.
It feels more cinematic than many modern dialogue-driven action movies.
The emotion of animation
mematron7 October 2019
From the timing to the story and the style; at its core this is a very masterfull story told with beautiful delicate animation. It's not easy telling a story without words but when you can, not do but CAN; well, you get a powerful display of raw, one might even say, PRIMAL essence of character.
This is why we make animation. This is why we tell stories. have fun with this show and be prepared for the feels.
This is why we make animation. This is why we tell stories. have fun with this show and be prepared for the feels.
Just Awesome1
sdaneshan7 October 2019
The Darker Version of Samurai Jack
nasdagoodshepherd8 October 2019
Tonight, I watched the new animated show for Adult Swim, Primal, from show creator, Genndy Tartakovsky who is well known for creating Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2003, Sym-Bionic Titan and the Hotel Transylvania franchise. It was beyond amazing, the perfect teamwork between Spear (The cavman) and Fang (The Dinosaur) going on adventures to hunt, kill and survive through many deadly prehistoric creatures that can kill anything or anyone. This is one of the best things Genndy Tartakovsky has ever done. Now it can wait for another episode tomorrow night at midnight! And then, I'll also wait for Hotel Transylvania 4. I give Primal a 9.5/10
I'm speechless
chrisgallo-2833512 October 2019
Excellent non verbal Primal
sscialli11 October 2019
In the 1970's Marvel Comics ran a series of comics in its own series called Devil Dinosaur, it was about a intelligent verbal primate who saved a dinosaur similar to the one here , only red hence the name, and the minute they bonded was sparked to the memory of the characters in the comic and this screamed in my head the joys from the pages into an awesome animation spectacle which is so richly done! Two species fighting for their lives and each other bound by circumstance created in such a way that entertaining , powerful and richly drawn with rich hues of saturated prime colors. I'm going to be saddened knowing it will end. Since the days of Dexters Lab to Samurai Jack i have enjoyed the creators style, this I hope brings more for us to enjoy on the fringe. Thank You Mr. Tartakovsky for your stellar work.
Every Frame a Cave Painting
owen-watts28 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Pure distilled Genndy genius - bringing his unparalleled mastery of 2D animation to this gloriously stripped-back expressionistic prehistoric fantasy epic. There's a drifting central narrative, but much like Samurai Jack it's split into different episodic meditations on genre. You know the fare, epic battles, heart-breaking asides, disturbing encounters, stunning set-pieces. It's a fantastic watch but what makes it really special is the art direction - the use of colour is iconic and stunning, the character design is incredible and the landscapes can be legitimately breath-taking. Sometimes I just paused the show to drink it all in. It's just pure art basically and if you're even remotely interested in animation then get this into your eyes and mind. Cannot wait for more.
The low ratings are dumb
carlgarethnorton30 December 2020
This is art. The dialogue is the gestures and facial expressions. Its brilliant, you feel like you know what they're thinking and it has comical moments in a savage story
There is comments that cry about animal abuse which is ludicrous There is comments saying this is for kids Which is ludicrous There is comments saying this is stupid Which is ludicrous
Where have your imaginations gone? I genuinely feel like the negative comments are written by people who just like to be negative and have a superior complex because none of the 1/10s had anything of substance
There is comments that cry about animal abuse which is ludicrous There is comments saying this is for kids Which is ludicrous There is comments saying this is stupid Which is ludicrous
Where have your imaginations gone? I genuinely feel like the negative comments are written by people who just like to be negative and have a superior complex because none of the 1/10s had anything of substance
It's so worth a watch!!!
hoboss28069 October 2019
I was pleasantly surprised.
Actions are louder than words. This can be seen here as well. It's a true piece of art and distributes some good values: loss and its coping mechanisms, bravery, friendship, survival, loyalty.
It's a good one. I highly recommend.
It's definitely nothing for younger children but aged 7 and up could watch that. Europeans aren't that strict and since it's animated it's kind of okay and has really good values.
Actions are louder than words. This can be seen here as well. It's a true piece of art and distributes some good values: loss and its coping mechanisms, bravery, friendship, survival, loyalty.
It's a good one. I highly recommend.
It's definitely nothing for younger children but aged 7 and up could watch that. Europeans aren't that strict and since it's animated it's kind of okay and has really good values.
A Caveman And A Dinosaur
dk77710 February 2021
An interesting and fun show with a good story that has great potential.
From the very beginning, it is clear that this is a series for adults.
There is an abundance of violence, it is quite brutal and bloody, and the very beginning of the story is really sad.
The animation is good, as is the directing and the series itself is easy to watch. The episodes are interesting, the story unfolds quickly and sometimes goes in unforeseen directions which is one of the things that makes this show good. The first season is almost brilliant, while the second season is not so good.
The first season of the show is excellent, interesting and brutal. Each episode is interesting in its own way and some episodes are brilliant.
Rage of the Ape-Men is probably the best episode in the series.
The story is really interesting, bizarre and fast-paced. The second season is not as good as the first, the quality of the episodes varies, and the ending is a bit disappointing. The last few minutes of the season are indeed both sad and hilarious at times.
Despite the flaws, the series is overall good and interesting precisely because of those few episodes that are excellent.
An interesting, unusual and brutal series that is really worth watching.
From the very beginning, it is clear that this is a series for adults.
There is an abundance of violence, it is quite brutal and bloody, and the very beginning of the story is really sad.
The animation is good, as is the directing and the series itself is easy to watch. The episodes are interesting, the story unfolds quickly and sometimes goes in unforeseen directions which is one of the things that makes this show good. The first season is almost brilliant, while the second season is not so good.
The first season of the show is excellent, interesting and brutal. Each episode is interesting in its own way and some episodes are brilliant.
Rage of the Ape-Men is probably the best episode in the series.
The story is really interesting, bizarre and fast-paced. The second season is not as good as the first, the quality of the episodes varies, and the ending is a bit disappointing. The last few minutes of the season are indeed both sad and hilarious at times.
Despite the flaws, the series is overall good and interesting precisely because of those few episodes that are excellent.
An interesting, unusual and brutal series that is really worth watching.
Season 1 great, season 2.........not so much
rstySp00n25 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I loved season 1, the story made sense, those 2 trying to escape a brutal world with all kind of strange creatures .
Animations were nice, it was bloody and sometimes a bit over the top, but also dark and creepy.
Overall good and watchable.
Season 2 with the "slavegirl" and senseless massacres of all kind of human tribes was completely useless.
It also gets a bit repetitive, ship finds new tribes and they kill em all, like how many people are left on the planet??
Also the returning of the "Viking" as some demon, only to get beat up and pulled back it all seemed a bit rushed.
Same with the ending, like the makers were out of ideas or something.
Stick to season 1.
Animations were nice, it was bloody and sometimes a bit over the top, but also dark and creepy.
Overall good and watchable.
Season 2 with the "slavegirl" and senseless massacres of all kind of human tribes was completely useless.
It also gets a bit repetitive, ship finds new tribes and they kill em all, like how many people are left on the planet??
Also the returning of the "Viking" as some demon, only to get beat up and pulled back it all seemed a bit rushed.
Same with the ending, like the makers were out of ideas or something.
Stick to season 1.
Big props for season 1!
alexoltean-8369327 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Season 1 of this show was truly a masterpiece 10 out of 10. Season 2... extremely disappointing. I just don't quite get why they couldn't keep the search for Mira on the dinosaur island even if they would want to include human enemies. I loved how the show presented the world of the caveman in season 1 and I was really disappointed that the action didn't continue there. Also, the ending is rushed and makes no sense. For example, why couldn't Mira and the caveman didn't reproduce before he is all burned? Speaking about burn, the final boss fight which you would expect to be epic, was lame. 10 stars for S1,1 star for S2 so 5 stars overall.
Man and Beast forging a strange yet powerful bond in this beautiful, graphic series
computermediajames9 October 2019
A thrilling, passionate show with cool prehistoric dinosaurs and creatures - you build a bond with it's two relatable leads and understand their anger, sadness, fear, amusement, happiness and curiosity; and neither even speaks a word. The animation and art style is fantastic and the jurassic landscape that Spear and Fang inhabit is immersive and atmospheric. I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for well-made animated storytelling (if you can handle the brutality in both it's themes and imagery).
Did you not get that this is not Earth?
dsmith1868-13 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Yeah. Dinos and humans didn't exist together... here. This is obviously a fantasy setting and not earth. Come on. All these low-raters cause dinos and humans didn't exist at the same time. Duh! Everyone knows that. And who's showing this to "kids"? It's an adult fantasy show that takes place on some other world. Watch beyond the first episode, haters! Nothing says or signifies that this is earth. Brutal. Honest. Heartwarming. Great show! Full of raw... everything.
Forget "UP". This is your true emotion series
ssvfolder-128 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Pure rage. That's what you feel watching the first episode of the series. Revenge for the kill of children whether dinosaur or human. To tell a story without saying a word is art. This is it.
Every battle feels as it's the last one and characters need to survive.
TV series or a move, it needs to be a show and this one delivers big time. Genndy Tartakovsky is an animation genius. From everything that was at the cartoon network to this one. Watch it. Fall in love with it. Please keep on creating.
Visually impressive, excellent storytelling
fciocca13 October 2019
Primal is a very stunning show, setted in the prehistoric times, it tells about the strong friendship between a caveman and a dinosaur. Both lived a very traumatic experience and the only way to survive is stay and fight together.
The story is told through sounds and music, there are no dialogues, no words. The sound design, shots and animations are simply amazing, I was completely stunned: the tension in some scenes, the develop of the friendship between the animal and the human being and the design of other creatures. Everything is well balanced and you can really bound with main characters.
Genndy Tartakovsky made another amazing product, and I understand immediately why I fell in love with this serie: when I was a child, I used to be a big fan of Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack. Of course I just found out that he was the creator of all these series. It is a small gem. If you want to watch quality stuff, I highly recommend this show.
The story is told through sounds and music, there are no dialogues, no words. The sound design, shots and animations are simply amazing, I was completely stunned: the tension in some scenes, the develop of the friendship between the animal and the human being and the design of other creatures. Everything is well balanced and you can really bound with main characters.
Genndy Tartakovsky made another amazing product, and I understand immediately why I fell in love with this serie: when I was a child, I used to be a big fan of Dexter's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls and Samurai Jack. Of course I just found out that he was the creator of all these series. It is a small gem. If you want to watch quality stuff, I highly recommend this show.
It's hard to put into words how incredibly well made and entertaining Primal is
MoistMovies9 May 2021
It's something you have to see for yourself. Even if you think animation is above your tastes since you grew up...Personally, Im not young. And this series is not made for young people.
I won't gush over it, which I easily could.
But to say this is going under the radar is a gross understatement.
This series matches up with some of the best animated series, ever. Including Anime... Very very rarely does the west give the Japanese a run for their money (not including CGI animated films) And there was no need for words. The animation, writing and score did the talking.
The orchestral score... Its.. Just go watch it.
I won't gush over it, which I easily could.
But to say this is going under the radar is a gross understatement.
This series matches up with some of the best animated series, ever. Including Anime... Very very rarely does the west give the Japanese a run for their money (not including CGI animated films) And there was no need for words. The animation, writing and score did the talking.
The orchestral score... Its.. Just go watch it.
A masterpiece of animation
BoxwoodExpress6 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Man, Genndy Tartakovsky is a true animation master. Pretty much everything he touches is a masterpiece, and this show, Primal (2019) is no exception. It borrows a lot from Tartakovsky's most popular show, Samurai Jack. They both don't have that much dialogue, and both have a lot of action, drama, and heart.
This show involves a caveman named Spear, whose family gets killed by dinosaur. He meets another dinosaur named Fang. They can't stand each other at first, but as the episodes go on, they start to care deeply for each other and they become true friends. It is one of the most well-crafted friendship stories in animation, and the ending of episode 5. Good Lord, the ending. Poor, poor Spear......
One major element of the show is that there is no dialogue, only visuals and music. When something does come out of the characters' mouths, it's only grunts and yells. This helps to establish the show's setting. This show is about dinosaurs, and obviously dinosaurs can't talk, and cavemen weren't advanced enough to talk normally, so the lack of dialogue is justified. It's also a great example of "show, don't tell", as the visuals and music convey the tone in ways dialogue never could.
There is a lot of blood in the show, so be warned if you're squeamish of blood. Other than that, I think Big Kids™ with a lot of patience should be able to handle it. I definitely recommend it. If you think all modern cartoons are trash, watch this show and your mind will be changed.
This show involves a caveman named Spear, whose family gets killed by dinosaur. He meets another dinosaur named Fang. They can't stand each other at first, but as the episodes go on, they start to care deeply for each other and they become true friends. It is one of the most well-crafted friendship stories in animation, and the ending of episode 5. Good Lord, the ending. Poor, poor Spear......
One major element of the show is that there is no dialogue, only visuals and music. When something does come out of the characters' mouths, it's only grunts and yells. This helps to establish the show's setting. This show is about dinosaurs, and obviously dinosaurs can't talk, and cavemen weren't advanced enough to talk normally, so the lack of dialogue is justified. It's also a great example of "show, don't tell", as the visuals and music convey the tone in ways dialogue never could.
There is a lot of blood in the show, so be warned if you're squeamish of blood. Other than that, I think Big Kids™ with a lot of patience should be able to handle it. I definitely recommend it. If you think all modern cartoons are trash, watch this show and your mind will be changed.
An epic must-see
toonyjakes24 August 2022
You know a show is great when you can drop into any episode and find yourself enthralled. From the very first scene of Primal I was hooked.
The show has no dialogue which honestly is completely genius. The way the animation shows expression through actions and gestures is just great, and it made me feel calm, like a visual meditation. Finally a show that pushes you to watch rather than to listen to a bunch of babbling. I'm urging everyone to watch it, I'm going to show it to my friends that "dont like cartoons" so they can see that when done right, animation can almost be more powerful at conveying emotion than film. It hasn't been out long but I think that this show will go down in history and stick in our minds for years to come. Quite nothing like it. Not one bad thing to say at all.
The show has no dialogue which honestly is completely genius. The way the animation shows expression through actions and gestures is just great, and it made me feel calm, like a visual meditation. Finally a show that pushes you to watch rather than to listen to a bunch of babbling. I'm urging everyone to watch it, I'm going to show it to my friends that "dont like cartoons" so they can see that when done right, animation can almost be more powerful at conveying emotion than film. It hasn't been out long but I think that this show will go down in history and stick in our minds for years to come. Quite nothing like it. Not one bad thing to say at all.
Entertaining and visually arresting (eps. 1-5)
jamesrupert201420 November 2019
An Ally-oop-ish 'cave man' (Spear) and his tyrannosauroid companion (Fang) struggle to feed and to survive in an imaginary primal world of monsters and (now) extinct species. The show definitely views nature as 'red in tooth' as various creatures, including the heroes' off-spring, get decapitated, bit in two, or messily devoured by a variety of prehistoric carnivores. There is no script beyond grunting, roaring, or screaming but series creator Genndy Tartakovsky manages to bring a lot of personality to his voiceless yet engaging characters (both man and beast). The physics are as unrealistic as the paleo-biology, but viewers willing to suspend their disbelief will be rewarded with entertaining stories and a rich, somewhat surreal, depiction of an alternative primeval Earth.
Beautiful landscabe mixed with and harsh environment
polle_dreng27 January 2022
This is an animation about the brutal side of Nature. Everything is greatly animated from the harsh environment to the facial expression of the characters. The plot of each episode is basically the same except for episode 1 and 10.
IT starts out with the Main characters spear and fang bonding over their dead families and Work together to defeat a bigger for. Runde and repeat and you have episode 2-9. And IT is still enjoyable but sometimes IT feels like they only survive due to plot armor, which ruins IT a bit.
In episode 10 we see new human and the ending leads to a theory about what going to happen in season 2.
IT starts out with the Main characters spear and fang bonding over their dead families and Work together to defeat a bigger for. Runde and repeat and you have episode 2-9. And IT is still enjoyable but sometimes IT feels like they only survive due to plot armor, which ruins IT a bit.
In episode 10 we see new human and the ending leads to a theory about what going to happen in season 2.
Season 2 is a Total Disappointment
ianhelix5 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Loved season 1, but season 2? Awful. Worse, this show started with Spear fighting for survival in the stone age, against all odds. Now he's fighting Vikings, Egyptians, Indians, and...Crusaders?! Did the writers just start eating paint chips when they puked out season 2?
Primal went from a very grown-up and raw feeling type of avant-garde graphic-art to over marketed PR trash. Now, it's lost and pathetically aimless. It was better off sticking with the dinos and psychotic bamboons.
They could have thrown Neanderthals in or even a few giant sloths for fun, but no, we need Spear to go off the rails for no apparent reason on an entire village of Vikings and then have him mercilessly get his butt kicked by a 90lb capoeira-kicking Egyption Queen.
Worse, he acts like some kind of love-sick and mentally challenged chimp whenever he sees Mira, whose name is the only word he says in two seasons. Just gut-wrenchingly bad.
Primal went from a very grown-up and raw feeling type of avant-garde graphic-art to over marketed PR trash. Now, it's lost and pathetically aimless. It was better off sticking with the dinos and psychotic bamboons.
They could have thrown Neanderthals in or even a few giant sloths for fun, but no, we need Spear to go off the rails for no apparent reason on an entire village of Vikings and then have him mercilessly get his butt kicked by a 90lb capoeira-kicking Egyption Queen.
Worse, he acts like some kind of love-sick and mentally challenged chimp whenever he sees Mira, whose name is the only word he says in two seasons. Just gut-wrenchingly bad.
Mindblowing Masterpiece
rafiourbane18 October 2019
At first, I didn't expect it to give me something enjoyable! But man oh man! It is amazing!!! No voice! Just pure raw emotions and wildness! Believe me guys! It's so worth your time! It has one of the best story telling of cartoon history! It will touch you emotionally make you thiking of the survival dificulties human and every living animal had to go through.
See also
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