Russian-born/Chicago-raised, gifted animator Genndy Tartakovsky returns to his best form in this prehistoric fantasy about MAN and DINO-BEAST. The Adult-Swim series a visual knockout. (And it better be as there’s no traditional dialogue, just grunts, snorts & screams in this paleo-world.) With a storyline all but entirely about survival, Tartakovsky manages to find plenty of variety within a narrow narrative window as Early Man (‘Spear’) and Late Dino (‘Fang’) bond thru hunting game and fending off attack after losing their families to (I think) a T-Rex. Obviously, Tartakovsky knows these two were never on Earth at the same time (or did he visit that Biblical Museum down South?), but the stories regularly deep dive into genre material of fantasy and horror. Realism not a goal. Instead, a sort of learning curve of ‘mutualism’ for brain and brawn, though that’s a 60/40 split between Caveman and Dinosaur, more partners than benevolent owner and loyal pet. The tastelessly amusing, if one-note FIXED/’25 was released just as this series reached its end. (Three seasons, only the first seen here.) And if not the visual/narrative bomb-blast of his astounding SAMURAI JACK/’01 - ‘17, PRIMAL isn’t trying to recapture that sharp-edged look, moving to near-naturalistic backgrounds (at times almost like watercolors), interspersed with blasts of blistering speed, macho aggression and ultra-violence more often found in Graphic Novels. Exceptionally well developed in character & story, with excellent production all the way down to its eclectic rock-influenced score and imaginative sound design. Next up for Tartakovsky, theatrical feature BLACK KNIGHT.
DOUBLE-BILL: Tartakovsky has done lots of kid-oriented work, so if that’s not your thing, go with SAMURAI JACK, best in earlier episodes.
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