I watched this movie after a friend recommended it to me saying it was somehow cuter yet darker than The Land Before Time all at once, for the most part I say that is true. I'll try not to give too much of the story away but be fair warned I do explain some of the plot in this review.
The movie is the heartfelt tale of a lost egg found in a river by a herbivore dinosaur who hatches into a baby T-Rex, despite protests from the other tribe members the mother decides to raise him along with her biological son Light, the T-Rex who ends up named "Heart" (voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi) eventually Heart discovers the truth that he is a meat eater and adventures out on his own to eat meat. Heart then discovers an egg and in an attempt to eat him says "Omae wa umasou da na" (You look Delicious/Tasty) The child mistakes him for his father and Umasou for his name. Fortunately the writing doesn't go too far with pointing on this pun, the joke only really working once when one other dinosaur tries to eat him.
Also the dialogue in this movie is for the most part, fairly minimal, this movie does something great and shows rather than tells, which seems to be the failing of a lot of anime series or movies with a great concept but over does it with monologuing or unnecessary dialogue. It was nice to just soak up the art of this movie and let the actions speak for the movie, rather than words. Which when they are used, are used to great effect, thanks to a good cast.
While the characters are fairly standard, they all do a wonderful job at their roles in the story, not doing anything ground breaking but not doing anything that could cause them to be annoying or boring. They all tug at your heart strings at one time or another, or just fill the purpose in the story as antagonists who you love to hate, or feel sorry for. Light is the perfect older brother, the mother is sweet and caring but conflicted about raising a meat eater and how to deal with the truth of the situation. Heart is rebellious and rough, as expected of a T-Rex raised as on berries who just wants to eat meat. Umasou is adorable and offers Heart a chance to return to his roots and softens the character by the end of the film as well as revealing his true nature.
The music apart from those with vocals - one in particular about meat eaters which is my favourite - is understated and doesn't draw attention to itself. It swells in all the right places, fitting the moment but without being overall memorable. The only song that sort of bothered me was the training montage in the middle with it's gratuitous Engrish. The song about "Big Jaws" or T-Rex is a haunting lullaby used throughout which is rather cute yet haunting at the same time.
I should mention the performance by Kappei Yamaguchi who sounds almost exactly like Inuyasha in this role. Kappei excels at adding that animalistic sound to characters, the growls, the sniffing, the way of breathing. He just does it so naturally one would have to think he was part animal. He also adds that kindness and youthful rebellious charm. So Heart comes off as strong, tough, harsh but kind, he was basically made for the role. Unfortunately he's the only name I recognise and the cast list seems incomplete. However everyone's voices fits their roles and the whole cast gives great to decent performances. Kappei is definitely the star, and rightfully so, he voices the main character despite what the title might have you believe.
The only issue I really take is Light's voice changes so much from youth to adulthood I could hardly recognise him and it felt like they suddenly turned him into the noble knight character, with the kind of voice he ends up with. It's not bad just interesting. I think since he lacks much in character arch one has to wonder what made him grow up to sound and act in such a way, he was a very playful child it seems the loss of heart may of changed him but it was never fully explained in the movie. Though the story really isn't about him so I can't fault the movie for that, just something that I found intriguing.
The animation is beautiful though nothing moves too much, the beauty of this movie is in the colour and aesthetic of the film. The action scenes are interesting, as Heart fights differently to the other dinosaurs, showing that he had to train and learn to fight alone. As a rather rogue T-Rex being raised as a herbivore so he is not really accepted by either group but he makes the best of a bad situation. The art is colourful and the designs of the characters are simple. The backgrounds and scenery like paintings. The bright colours make this a feast for the eyes and give the aesthetic a child-like nature despite the often dark subject matters the the film deals with.
Some of these issues include death, the sacrifices parents make for their children, fighting for survival and the moral dilemma of eating other living creatures to survive despite what kind of person - or dinosaur in this case - that you want to be. It asks questions about nature versus nurture, and about learning to let go of children, as well as the many strange forms or shapes families can take or come in. It teaches a message of tolerance and that family is who raises and loves you, not whose blood or DNA you share. Well worth a watch for children and adults alike, a fair warning though you may be in tears by the credits.
