Primal_(TV_series)
Primal (TV series)
American animated television series
Primal (also known as Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal or Primal: Tales of Savagery) is an American adult animated action horror television series created and directed by Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network's night-time programming block, Adult Swim. It is the first combined action/sci-fi/horror animated series from Cartoon Network Studios and Williams Street.
Quick Facts Primal, Also known as ...
| Primal | |
|---|---|
Title card for Season 1 | |
| Also known as | Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal Primal: Tales of Savagery |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Genndy Tartakovsky |
| Directed by | Genndy Tartakovsky |
| Voices of |
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| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original languages |
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| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Shareena Carlson (S1) |
| Animator | Studio La Cachette |
| Running time | 20–22 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Adult Swim |
| Release | October 8, 2019 (2019-10-08) – present |
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Primal is set in an anachronistic vision of prehistory, portraying extinct dinosaurs, Ice Age mammals, early hominids, and post-metallurgy Homo sapiens all coexisting in a single time period, incorporating many elements of science fiction, fantasy, horror, action, and adventure. The first two seasons revolve around the journey of Spear (Aaron LaPlante), a Neanderthal, and Fang (Joel Valentine), a uniquely intelligent female Tyrannosaurus, both of whom lose their families tragically in the opening episode.[2] They join forces to survive their unforgiving environment together, eventually discovering developed civilizations that they end up in conflict with. The series has no dialogue throughout its first season, before incorporating minimal dialogue in the second season with the introduction of a third character, Mira (Laëtitia Eïdo), in line with Tartakovsky's previous work.
The first 10-episode season of Primal was split into two 5-episode parts. The series premiered on Adult Swim on October 8, 2019, with the remaining episodes releasing daily that same week. The second half of the season premiered one episode April 1, 2020, with the remaining episodes premiering weekly for the five weeks following October 4, 2020. In August 2020, the series was renewed for a 10-episode second season,[3][4] which premiered July 22 and concluded September 16, 2022. Adult Swim renewed the series for a third season.[5] In June 2023, the series was renewed for a 10-episode third season. Following the second-season finale which concludes Spear and Fang's storyline, Tartakovsky confirmed that Primal would become an anthology series from its forthcoming third season onward.[1]
Primal has received widespread critical acclaim, with much praise for its animation, storytelling, music, emotional depth, horror elements, and editing. The show has won three Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Juried Awards from the Emmy Awards for Storyboard Artist (Genndy Tartakovsky), Art Director (Scott Wills), and Character Designer (Stephen DeStefano).
Set in an anachronistic and fantastical prehistoric world, the series is about the survival and bond between a Neanderthal man Spear and a female Tyrannosaurus rex named Fang[2] as they struggle day-to-day and battle against various carnivorous dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals and other dangerous animals, along with more advanced groups of Homo sapiens that also live in their world, including Ancient Egyptian army and Viking-like Iron Age humans.
In comparison to Tartakovsky's other shows where there are multiple characters, Primal initially only features Spear and Fang in the show as they encounter different prehistoric or fantastical species and various tribes of hominins. Tartakovsky stated that although the show is a work of fantasy, the prehistoric animals, modern creatures and futuristic beasts in the show are based on real prehistoric animals, as well as some new ones created by the artists involved in the project.[6]
Main
- Spear (voiced by Aaron LaPlante as an adult, Noah Bentley as a child) – A Neanderthal whose mate and children are attacked and devoured by a pack of horned Tyrannosaurus. Although he overcomes his initial urge to commit suicide, Spear is still learning to cope with the loss. Eventually, he develops a deep bond with Fang and is willing to make any personal sacrifice to protect her. (Seasons 1–2)
- Fang (voiced by Joel Valentine) – A teal female Tyrannosaurus whose hatchlings are killed by the alpha of the same horned Tyrannosaurus pack that killed Spear's family. Unlike Spear, who is still traumatized and dealing with the loss of his loved ones, Fang is able to cope with hers much quicker. Initially, she attempts to assert her dominance over Spear but eventually learns that it is far healthier to work in a partnership and is willing to do anything to ensure his survival. (Seasons 1–2)
- Mira (voiced by Laëtitia Eïdo) – A virtuous Arabic-speaking human. Enslaved, head-shaved, and branded with a scorpion symbol by a Viking clan, Mira escapes and encounters Spear and Fang, who become her new friends and companions. She proves to be very capable with archery, spears, axes, carpentry, helmsmanship, and cooking. (season 2; guest: season 1)
- Charles (voiced by Jacob Dudman) – A scientist and member of the Historical Society who theorizes about the correlation between the primitive and modern man. ("The Primal Theory")
- Darlington (voiced by Jeremy Crutchley) – An English scientist and former boxing champion whose manor hosts a Historical Society of well-educated scientists. ("The Primal Theory")
Recurring
Season 1
- Spear's family – Spear's mate, son, and daughter that were eaten by a pack of Giganotosaurus in the first episode, but reappear through visions and flashbacks across the series.
- Fang's first brood – Fang's first two hatchlings. Like Spear's family, they were eaten in the first episode, but reappear through visions and flashbacks across the series.
Season 2
- The Chieftain (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) – The chieftain of the Viking tribe responsible for abducting Mira's people. He soon seeks revenge on Spear and Fang for decimating his tribe. Following his son Eldar's death, the Chieftain is transformed into a monstrous fiery juggernaut by the demonic entity in order to kill Spear and Fang in exchange for Eldar's soul.
- Eldar (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) – The Chieftain's eldest son. He joins his father on their quest for revenge against Spear and Fang for their tribe's destruction.
- Demonic Entity – The unidentified lord of the fiery Underworld who makes a deal with the Chieftain to have him kill Spear and Fang and bring him their souls in exchange for Eldar's soul. According to Genndy Tartakovsky, the entity is not necessarily a direct reference to any mythological being.
- Ima (voiced by Amina Koroma) – A tyrannical and ruthless Egyptian queen who resides in a large city-ship, the Colossaeus, filled with her warriors and slaves that she uses to raid and loot other kingdoms.
- Kamau (voiced by Imari Williams) – A 10 ft (3 m) Bantu man who, while naturally peaceful, is also immensely strong. He and many of his tribesmen (all of whom are similarly large) were enslaved by Ima. It is revealed that Ima is holding his daughter Amal hostage, which serves as leverage to force him to obey her.
- Amal (voiced by Hillary Hawkins) – Kamau's daughter.
- Fang's second brood – Fang's second set of hatchlings that were born after she mated with a male Tyrannosaurus named Red. While one was killed before hatching during a fight with the Egyptians, the other two live to adulthood.
Conception and development
According to Tartakovsky, Primal was an early piece of work he scrapped because it did not click with him at the time. As he learned more and more about what drew people in to his shows, he wanted to experiment with those artistic traits, particularly the use of no dialogue and slow moments.[6][7] He also stated that the method in which he approached animated projects began to slow down in terms of energy, and by the time he finished working on Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018), it had come full circle. He said he was inspired by Conan the Barbarian and vintage pulp novels, as well as films such as The Revenant.[6][8] Tartakovsky felt that people would not take the show seriously because they were "breaking the rules" by having "a man and a dinosaur together," so he emphasized that it is a character study, a "buddies" journey about two characters who are very different but bonded by tragedy.
The first season consists of 10 episodes.[7] On August 31, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which consists of 10 episodes.[9] On June 16, 2023, the series was renewed for a third season which will consist of 10 episodes.[10]
Series overview
Season 1 (2019–20)
More information No. overall, No. in season ...
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Written and storyboarded by | Story by | Original air date [11] | U.S. viewers (millions) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | "Spear and Fang" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Tartakovsky | October 8, 2019 (2019-10-08)[lower-alpha 5] | 0.538[12] | ||||||
| A Neanderthal named Spear returns from a fishing trip, and a scrape with a crocodile and a pterosaur, to find his mate and two children devoured by a trio of giant Tyrannosaurus. Distraught, he contemplates suicide before resolving to take revenge. Sometime later, he sees the silhouette of a theropod. Believing it to be one of the Tyrannosaurus that killed his family, Spear silently pursues it into a thicket, instead seeing it is a smaller female Tyrannosaurus named Fang, with two offspring. Spear realizes his mistake and befriends the offspring just as they are attacked by the Tyrannosaurus pack. Though Spear helps Fang kill the trio, the gargantuan alpha eats Fang's offspring before they manage to slay it, leaving Fang distraught over the loss of her hatchlings. Spear leaves Fang to mourn, but she follows and rejoins him later, and the two decide to travel together. | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "River of Snakes" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | October 9, 2019 (2019-10-09) | 0.661[13] | ||||||
| While hunting, Fang consistently steals any food she and Spear come across, including a warthog, some fruit and an antelope, causing him to grow increasingly agitated at her. Eventually, Spear snaps and attacks Fang, losing his spear in the process, but their fight is interrupted when they wander into a den of giant snakes. A flash flood rushes them and the snakes into a swampy river, where a much bigger one attacks them, though Fang kills it. Despite working together to stay afloat, she and Spear fall down a waterfall, causing him to hit his head on the way down. Fang pulls Spear from the water at the bottom. As he comes to, Fang fetches Spear's lost weapon. They reconcile and continue their journey together, now hunting food as a team. | ||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | "A Cold Death" | David Krentz | Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman, Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky | October 10, 2019 (2019-10-10) | 0.573[14] | ||||||
| In the harshness of primordial winter, a one-tusked elderly woolly mammoth is separated from its herd and subsequently killed by Spear and Fang. Spear harvests as much meat from it as he can, using its tusk to pull a makeshift sled and its pelt to keep warm. When the dead mammoth's herd comes across their desecrated elder, they follow the sled's tracks and attack Spear and Fang. The pair attempt to fight them off, but are quickly overwhelmed by their power and numbers. In a final act of desperation, Spear defends himself with the elder mammoth's tusk and notices that the other mammoths stop their attack upon seeing it. He returns the tusk to the mammoths, who leave the pair in peace and bring it to their graveyard to mourn. | ||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Terror Under the Blood Moon" | Don Shank & Genndy Tartakovsky | Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | October 11, 2019 (2019-10-11) | 0.557[15] | ||||||
| After Spear and Fang escape a pack of raptors, they experience a lunar eclipse and encounter a tribe of albino cave people being attacked by a flock of giant bats. They attempt to fight the bats off, but Spear is carried away by one with his spear left behind with the albino Homo erectus. Fang pursues the bats to a tall stone pillar, which she finds impossible to climb. Seeing two of the bats emerging from the top, she plays dead and allows them to carry her to a cave at the peak. While searching for Spear, Fang discovers the nest of a titanic sized spider that the bats share their food with. Fang frees Spear, who helps her kill the spider. As the bats flock return, Spear and Fang use the spider's webbing to safely descend the pillar. Spear retrieves his spear from the Homo erectus tribe as he and Fang flee from the bats flock and lead them into a fight with the raptors before safely escaping towards the rising sun. | ||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Rage of the Ape-Men" | Bryan Andrews & Genndy Tartakovsky | Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | October 12, 2019 (2019-10-12) | 0.654[16] | ||||||
| Spear and Fang reach a seemingly peaceful oasis and relax before they are captured by a vicious tribe of ape-men that hold a brutal tournament to the death, with one of them eventually winning. After the gorilla-like gladiator Krog drinks an enhancement serum from the chimpanzee-like shaman, which mutates and enrages him, Fang is lowered into the arena for him to fight. Helplessly watching as Fang is beaten to near death, Spear breaks free from his bindings and drinks the rest of the serum, causing him to transform into a raging troglodyte. After killing Krog, Spear proceeds to massacre the other ape-men overnight. When Spear eventually returns to normal, he runs to Fang's side as she lies motionless. | ||||||||||||
| Part 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Scent of Prey" | Bryan Andrews | Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Genndy Tartakovsky | October 4, 2020 (2020-10-04) | 0.442[17] | ||||||
| Spear agonizes over the apparent loss of Fang after the events of his fight against the ape-men. Fang proves to still be alive but is too weak to move. Seeing that the ape-men corpses are attracting a flock of vultures, Spear builds a litter to carry Fang and fashions a new spear for himself. He struggles to nurse her back to health while simultaneously trying to fend off a pack of scavenging hyenas while she is in her helpless state. As the pack grows and continues stalking the pair, Spear and Fang are forced to take shelter in a cave, where Spear has to fight flesh-eating beetles. When the pack attacks the cave in large numbers, Spear defends Fang long enough for her to heal and help Spear annihilate their assailants. | ||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Plague of Madness" | David Krentz | Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman, Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky | April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01) (unannounced) | 0.539[18] | ||||||
| October 11, 2020 (2020-10-11) | 0.404[19] | |||||||||||
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An Argentinosaurus is infected with a flesh-eating virus by a diseased Parasaurolophus, transforming it into a zombie-like state and compelling it to brutally slaughter its herd. Spear and Fang stumble across the devastated nesting grounds and become the crazed sauropod's next target. Running for their lives, the duo tricks the behemoth over a cliff and into a narrow ravine before finally escaping with their lives by making a mad dash across a lava field. The sauropod's massive weight makes it fall into the magma, which incinerates it to ash as Spear and Fang observe its final agonizing moments in grief. Note: This episode made an unannounced premiere on April 1, 2020, as part of Adult Swim's annual April Fools' Day stunt, as a joking reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed] | ||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Coven of the Damned" | Nagisa Koyama & Genndy Tartakovsky | Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | October 18, 2020 (2020-10-18) | 0.464[20] | ||||||
| Spear and Fang come across a mind-controlled Pteranodon and a tribe of primitive witches during a ritual. The lead witch uses dark magic to steal the essence of a male red-haired caveman and birth a female baby which she gives to a follower as her daughter. The witches spot Spear and Fang and give chase to the duo, capturing Spear and magically controlling Fang. A witch named Lula uses her magic to travel into both of their pasts and watches the tragedies that befell them. Having lost a daughter of her own, Lula saves the pair from the other witches, sacrificing herself by stalling the lead witch to help them escape. Fang and Spear mourn the loss of their savior before continuing into the jungle. In the afterlife, Lula reunites with her daughter. | ||||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | "The Night Feeder" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | October 25, 2020 (2020-10-25) | 0.355[21] | ||||||
| Spear and Fang find the mangled remains of a saber-toothed tiger killed by an invisible dinosaur. While Spear wants to investigate it, Fang runs away in fear. The next night, the mysterious creature slaughters a herd of ceratopsians. Hearing the carnage, Spear tries to intervene, but Fang refuses to let him go anywhere near the area. The next day, Spear and Fang hear bizarre screeching while braving a powerful storm. Later that night, the unknown creature attacks the duo, forcing them to flee into a misty forest. The creature catches up to them and they struggle against the unseen foe, but Fang manages to wound it, in the process discovering tar-like slime that comes from its body. As the beast emits earsplitting shrieks, Spear learns of its weakness to light. Using sparks from his weapon, Spear and Fang create a ring of fire to trap the now-revealed creature and kill it by igniting the slime. | ||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Slave of the Scorpion" | David Krentz | Bryan Andrews, Darrick Bachman, Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky | November 1, 2020 (2020-11-01) | 0.348[22] | ||||||
| While fishing, Spear and Fang encounter a bound, bald tall woman with a scorpion brand on the back of her head fleeing from a pliosaur that Spear fights off. The three take a mutual interest in each other and the woman joins Spear and Fang on their travels. She introduces herself as Mira and uses a combination of Arabic and sand drawings to tell them how her people were enslaved by invaders before she escaped. She even uses her advanced knowledge to make a bow and arrows to kill an oviraptorid. The next morning, Mira is kidnapped by a group of cave monkey-men. Spear and Fang follow, but find the monkey-men killed by arrows and strange footprints. The pair follow the footprints to the beach, where they see Mira bound on a boat with a sail marked with the same scorpion sigil branded on her head. Unable to continue their pursuit, Spear and Fang watch helplessly, with Spear saying Mira's name. | ||||||||||||
Close
Season 2 (2022)
More information No. overall, No. in season ...
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Written and storyboarded by | Story by | Original air date [11] | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Sea of Despair" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Darrick Bachman & Tartakovsky | July 22, 2022 (2022-07-22) | 0.180[23] | |
| Determined to rescue Mira after her abduction, Spear attempts to swim after the boat whilst frantically shouting her name, but fails. Refusing to give up, he builds a makeshift raft with Fang's help. The duo set sail, with Spear paddling them out to sea before Fang uses her tail to propel them. After Spear searches for food for some time, the duo manages to kill a large Archelon, which they feast on before Spear uses its shell to construct a shelter. Days later, whilst collecting a bounty of fish, the raft sails into a storm, where the duo encounters a flock of pterosaurs and a Megalodon that destroys their vessel. After a struggle, Spear manages to blind the Megalodon, but the violent waves separate him and Fang. Washed ashore on an unknown beach, Fang awakens alone and searches for Spear, who is nowhere to be seen. | |||||||
| 12 | 2 | "Shadow of Fate" | David Krentz & Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | July 22, 2022 (2022-07-22) | 0.167[23] | |
| Separated from Spear in a strange new land, Fang explores her surroundings and encounters Red, a male Tyrannosaurus whom she competes with while hunting an Arsinoitherium before eventually befriending him. Meanwhile, an unconscious and injured Spear washes ashore and is discovered by Celtic warriors, who take him to their village. Spear is startled awake by a one-eyed medicine woman and violently attempts to escape despite being pursued by the warriors until the village Chief stops the group and offers Spear food and water. As the medicine woman treats Spear's wounds, Red leads Fang to the village to attack the villagers. Spear and Fang reunite, and Fang tries to keep Spear and Red from harming each other, to no avail. As Spear and the villagers battle Red, Fang attempts to protect Spear, but accidentally kills her new friend in the process. After comforting the dying Red, a depressed Fang leaves the village with a remorseful Spear in tow despite the Chief's pleas. | |||||||
| 13 | 3 | "Dawn of Man" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | July 29, 2022 (2022-07-29) | 0.205[24] | |
| While Spear and Fang, who is still mourning Red's death, take shelter from the rain in a cave, Spear discovers cave paintings. The next day, he finds a valley teeming with giant deer and buffalo, and has visions of people from the cave paintings. After acquiring a new spear from a nearby abandoned village, Spear hunts for himself and Fang. Later that night, Spear and Fang are attacked by a pair of Viking warriors riding giant bears. Though Spear is injured, the pair manage to defeat both bears and one of the Vikings. Recognizing the scorpion sigil on the remaining warrior's shield, Spear calls out Mira's name. The Viking flees, but the two give chase and Fang kills him while Spear takes his sword. The two follow the cave bear tracks to a populated village, where Spear finds a group of slaves and reunites with Mira, who is delighted to hear him speak. Spear tries to get Mira to leave, but she refuses to leave her people behind. Spear and Mira lead the others out of the village before Spear hears something growling in the nearby mist. | |||||||
| 14 | 4 | "The Red Mist" | Mark Andrews | Bachman & Tartakovsky | August 5, 2022 (2022-08-05) | 0.231[25] | |
| Viking warriors and their bears emerge from the mist. Mira and her people bow in fear, angering Spear. He and Fang battle the warriors while Mira and her people flee into the forest. The duo are overwhelmed, with Fang being injured by a female warrior named Rikka while Spear accidentally kills Rikka's son. Under the cover of a red mist, the pair give into their rage and kill Rikka and the remaining warriors before they return to their senses and escape with Mira using a stolen boat. Sometime later, another boat arrives carrying the Vikings' Chieftain, his eldest son Eldar, and a small group of slaves. After discovering the massacre, they become devastated over the loss of their clan, the Chieftain's wife Rikka, and their youngest son. They soon bury their clan members, free the slaves, and give their deceased family a ceremonial ship funeral. Seeking revenge, they set sail to hunt down the ones responsible for the destruction of their village. | |||||||
| 15 | 5 | "The Primal Theory" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | August 12, 2022 (2022-08-12) | 0.310[26] | |
| In 1890 England, Charles Darwin unsuccessfully tries to defend his theory on evolution to his fellow scientists C. D. Darlington, Blakely, Bertie, and Giroud. Charles surmises that, in the right situation, any person would regress back to their primitive roots in order to survive, which Darlington dismisses as lunacy. The evening is cut short when an escaped inmate from a nearby asylum - who heavily resembles Spear in figure - breaks into the house, kills the butler, and proceeds to prey on every person inside; including Giroud and Bertie. As the night progresses, the three survivors take on weapons in Darlington's collection; such as guns, swords, and arrows. In the ensuing fight, Blakely is eventually knocked out by the inmate before Charles and Darlington gain the upper hand. They pursue the inmate to the greenhouse, but he overpowers them and attempts to cannibalize Charles. In a fit of primal rage, Darlington attacks and kills the inmate with a massive bone and a spear; seemingly mimicking Spear with his own actions. Coming back to his senses, he looks at an injured and winded Charles who is pleased with being vindicated. | |||||||
| 16 | 6 | "Vidarr" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | August 19, 2022 (2022-08-19) | 0.271[27] | |
| Mira tends to an injured Spear and Fang while taking their boat upriver, but they are attacked by the Chieftain and Eldar. As Mira takes command of the Vikings' ship, Eldar is thrown overboard, forcing the Chieftain to abandon the fight to save him. The trio is forced to dock to repair the ship, during which Spear realizes Fang is about to lay a clutch of eggs following her time with Red and eagerly helps her prepare. Meanwhile, the Chieftain tends to his and Eldar's injuries. That night, his dreams are haunted by an ominous horned figure. The next day, Fang lays her eggs, but does not allow Spear to approach them. The Chieftain and Eldar mount two teratorns to attack the trio. Spear and Mira fight while Fang protects her eggs. The battle is soon taken to the sky, where the Chieftain and Eldar fall from their mounts. The Chieftain survives, but witnesses Eldar fall to his death. Left with nothing to fight for, the grieving Chieftain allows himself to be swept away by the river. Spear and Mira fly on the back of a teratorn and reunite with Fang, who allows Spear to approach her eggs. | |||||||
| 17 | 7 | "The Colossaeus" | David Krentz & Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | August 26, 2022 (2022-08-26) | 0.216[28] | |
| The Chieftain succumbs to his wounds and sees three valkyries approaching him from the sky. Before they can reach him, he is dragged to the underworld by demons and brought before the demonic entity from his dreams, who offers him the chance to get his revenge on Spear and Fang on the promise of releasing Eldar's soul if he succeeds. Wanting Eldar back, the Chieftain agrees and is transformed into an infernal juggernaut. Meanwhile, Mira, Spear, and Fang set sail to reunite with Mira's people, but encounter a city-sized ship called the COLOSSAEUS and are boarded by Egyptian warriors. Spear and Mira defeat several of them, but struggle against a 10 ft. tall warrior named Kamau. The ensuing fight leads to one of Fang's eggs being destroyed and the warriors' queen Ima taking the remaining two hostage as she breaks up the fight. Spear and Fang are imprisoned on the COLOSSAEUS alongside Kamau, who they discover is also a slave, while Mira is imprisoned with other women. Ima uses Fang's eggs as leverage to force Fang and Spear to join Kamau and her soldiers in laying siege to a Babylonian city. Though reluctant, the pair successfully break through the city gates slaying the Babylonian soldiers and their War elephants as the Babylonian king emerges from his palace. | |||||||
| 18 | 8 | "The Colossaeus, Part II" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | September 2, 2022 (2022-09-02) | 0.246[29] | |
| The reborn Chieftain rises from the underworld and begins searching for the group. After Ima's soldiers kill the Babylonian king and take his pet cheetah cub, Spear discovers that Kamau only fights for Ima because she holds his daughter Amal hostage. After Spear, Fang and Kamau invade villages in Rome, China and Slavic lands, and battle a Philistine fleet, they encounter a peaceful Indian village offering them tributes, but Ima forces Kamau to massacre the defenseless villagers anyway. That night, Spear breaks out of his cell and searches for Fang's eggs. He finds Ima forcing Mira to dance for her with the eggs and Amal next to her throne after Ima killed the captive Philistine fleet leader. The guards engage Spear as Mira rescues the eggs and Kamau's daughter. Fighting their way across the COLOSSAEUS, the eggs hatch and the hatchlings cry out, inciting Fang to escape her cell. As Kamau breaks out to investigate the chaos, the outnumbered group is forced to surrender Fang's hatchlings and Amal as Ima looks expectantly at the approaching Kamau. | |||||||
| 19 | 9 | "The Colossaeus, Part III" | David Krentz | Bachman & Tartakovsky | September 9, 2022 (2022-09-09) | 0.308[30] | |
| A flashback details how Kamau and Amal lived peacefully in a pastoral Bantu village herding quaggass and raising chickens until Ima's forces invaded. Only Kamau resisted, but Ima held Amal hostage after she was ripped off his back by one of Ima's soldiers. In the present, Ima commands Kamau to execute Fang. After grappling with whether to comply, he frees Fang. She reunites with her hatchlings while Spear and Mira free themselves and fight off Ima's warriors. Ima attempts to kill Amal, but Kamau rescues her and discovers the rest of his tribe in the COLOSSAEUS's lower deck. As Spear fights a losing battle against Ima, a warrior's spear injures one of Fang's hatchlings. Mira and Spear retrieve the hatchlings and jump overboard to escape causing Fang to follow shortly. Kamau inspires his people to break free and throws Ima to her death. Spear, Fang, and Mira take over a smaller ship, freeing the slaves within. Spear and Kamau part on good terms before Spear's group sails away. As Kamau's tribe recuperates, they see the demonic Chieftain walking on the water, following the others' trail. | |||||||
| 20 | 10 | "Echoes of Eternity" | Genndy Tartakovsky | Bachman & Tartakovsky | September 16, 2022 (2022-09-16) | 0.280[31] | |
| Spear dreams of his childhood when a pack of sabertoothed cats attacked his tribe and killed his father. Spear kills the sabertooths and became the new leader. Mira wakes Spear as they arrive at her homeland. She recalls how the Vikings killed her loved ones and enslaved her and how she fled under cover of a storm. The group makes camp in a cave where Spear joins Mira in praying to the moon. The next morning, Mira reunites with her Nubian tribe. Her father calls for a celebration that night after which Mira provides shelter for Spear, Fang, and her hatchlings. The next day, the Chieftain attacks the village, overwhelming Spear and Fang with his newfound fiery powers and shapeshifting ability. After the Chieftain corners them on top of a mountain, Spear tackles him off the peak, but he is gravely burned and wounded in the process. However, the demonic entity's hand bursts from the ground, reverting the Chieftain to normal and dragging him back to the underworld for his failure to kill both Spear and Fang. The village shaman tends to Spear, but declares his wounds fatal. As Fang and her offsprings leave in grief, Spear weakly calls out to Mira and the two have sex before Spear dies. Years later, Fang's children have grown up. Mira's hair has grown out and she now has a Neanderthal/homo sapien daughter who is heading out with Fang and her children. | |||||||
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The first season premiered on October 8, 2019, with episodes from the first half of the season airing daily from the premiere date.[32][33] An episode from the second half was shown during Adult Swim's April Fools' Day 2020 run. Adult Swim announced on their Twitter that the second half would start airing on October 4, 2020.[34][35][36]
The first season of Primal was broadcast during Thanksgiving weekend on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block for the first time on November 29, 2020. The marathon commemorated the launch of the series on the HBO Max streaming service.[37] The first season began a second run on the normal schedule of the Toonami block beginning on May 15, 2022.[38] The second season encored on the block on July 24, 2022. As of May 2023, the second season has been repeating numerous times on the block. The encore rerun left the block in June 2023.
The first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on June 1, 2021, by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.[39] It was later released in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. The second season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 25, 2023.[40]
Critical response
Initial reception for Primal was highly positive; much praise was given to the art and animation, the use of storytelling with no dialogue, and the balancing of the show's interpretation of violence and beauty. In a review from IndieWire, Steve Greene wrote "Primal is a piece of elemental storytelling that finds some real emotional depth without either of its protagonists uttering a single word of dialogue", ultimately giving the series an "A−".[41] On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 23 critics, with an average rating of 9.1/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Epic in every sense, Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal is a stunning feat of visual storytelling."[42] The second season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 15 critics, with an average rating of 9.1/10. The site's critical consensus states: "Primal evolves into a more serialized tale while losing none of its beautiful savagery in a second season that exemplifies Genndy Tartakovsky's knack for storytelling economy."[43] On Metacritic, the first season of the series has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100 based on 5 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim", and the second season has a weighted average score of 97 out of 100 based on 4 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[44][45]
Awards and nominations
More information Award, Year ...
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Awards | 2021 | Best General Audience Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Primal | Won | [46] |
| Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Genndy Tartakovsky (for "Plague of Madness") | Won | |||
| 2023 | Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production | Scott Wills (for "Echoes of Eternity") | Nominated | [47] | |
| Critics' Choice Awards | 2023 | Best Animated Series | Primal | Nominated | [48] |
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2020 | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation | Stephen DeStefano (character designer; for "A Cold Death") | Won | [49] |
| Genndy Tartakovsky (storyboard artist; for "Spear and Fang") | Won | ||||
| Scott Wills (art director; for "Spear and Fang") | Won | ||||
| 2021 | Outstanding Animated Program | Genndy Tartakovsky, Brian A. Miller, Jennifer Pelphrey, Keith Crofford, Mike Lazzo, Oussama Bouacheria, Julien Chheng, Ulysse Malassagne, Erika Forzy, Shareena Carlson, Darrick Bachman, David Krentz, and Bryan Andrews (for "Plague of Madness") | Won | [50] | |
| Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation | David Krentz (storyboard artist; for "Plague of Madness") | Won | |||
| 2023 | Outstanding Animated Program | Genndy Tartakovsky, Mike Lazzo, Keith Crofford, Brian A. Miller, Jennifer Pelphrey, Oussama Bouacheria, Julien Chheng, Ulysse Malassagne and Erika Forzy, Shareena Carlson, Darrick Bachman, and David Krentz (for "Shadow of Fate") | Nominated | [51] | |
| Saturn Awards | 2021 | Best Animated Series on Television | Primal | Nominated | [52] |
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After the second-season finale "Echoes of Eternity" aired on September 16, 2022, Genndy Tartakovsky confirmed that while Spear and Fang's story was officially concluded, he was formulating a third season for the series with a focus on new characters, intending for Primal to become an anthology series, inspired by the stand-alone second-season episode "The Primal Theory". Tartakovsky said that he intends to develop the third season after completing his work on New Line Cinema's Fixed, and season 3 was officially announced in June 2023.[1]
- Following the airing of the second season, Genndy Tartakovsky confirmed that Primal would become an anthology series from its forthcoming third season onward, with the fifteenth episode, "The Primal Theory", having served as a backdoor pilot for the concept to network executives.[1]
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- Fleet, Adam (September 26, 2023). "Neanderthal thrills and dinosaur kills: a caveman and a T rex take on the world in Primal". The Guardian. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- Valdez, Nick (February 14, 2022). "Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal Confirms Release Window for Season 2". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- "Bubbleblabber's Summer 2022 Adult Animation TV Preview". Bubbleblabber.com. 2022-05-24. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- Sirani, Jordan (June 16, 2023). "Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal Is Getting a Third Season". IGN.com. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- Eddy, Cheryl (July 24, 2019). "We Got a First Look at Genndy Tartakovsky's Beautiful and Brutal Primal". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
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- Milligan, Mercedes (August 31, 2020). "'Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal' Saga Continues with 5 New Eps". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
- "'Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal' Season 3 Renewed". Collider. 16 June 2023.
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- Rejent, Joseph (October 11, 2019). "Thursday cable ratings: MLB continues to lead, 'Jersey Shore: Family Vacation' rises". Archived from the original on October 11, 2019.
- Rejent, Joseph (October 14, 2019). "Friday cable ratings: Nationals vs. Cardinals soars, 'Gold Rush' returns low". Archived from the original on October 14, 2019.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 6, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.4.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.31.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-02.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 13, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.11.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 20, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.18.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 27, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.25.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- Metcalf, Mitch (November 3, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11-1.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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- Eddy, Cheryl (7 October 2019). "Genndy Tartakovsky Explains How He Created Primal's Ferocious Fantasy World". io9.gizmodo. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- Valentine, Evan (April 2, 2020). "When Will Primal Return With A New Episode On Adult Swim?". ComicBook. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
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- adult swim [@adultswim] (August 31, 2020). "Spear and Fang continue their journey together with five all-new episodes of Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal premiering Sunday, October 4 at 11:30pm ET/PT on #adultswim. Catch up on @hbomax" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "To celebrate the first season of Primal coming to HBO Max, we're running a special Thanksgiving marathon!". Facebook. Toonami. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
- "May is here and our line up is changing with the season! Spring into double Naruto: Shippuden bumped up to 2:00a on 05/07, then brace yourself for adventure on 05/14 with season 1 of Primal at midnight! Check out the full line ups below". Facebook. Toonami. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
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