The Land Before Time is a 1988 animated film directed by Don Bluth and produced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Taking place during the prehistoric age, the film follows a group of young dinosaurs as they journey together to re-unite with their families in the fabled Great Valley while enduring the perils of the world. The film's success spawned a long-running series of direct-to-video sequels, as well as a TV series that aired on Cartoon Network.
The Land Before Time was notably the first film to air on Cartoon Network's Cartoon Theatre when it debuted on July 11, 1998.