The Land Before Time is a film.
Donald Virgil `` Don '' Bluth ( born September 13 , 1937 ) is an American animator , film director , producer , writer , production designer , video game designer , and animation instructor who is known for directing animated films , such as The Secret of NIMH ( 1982 ) , An American Tail ( 1986 ) , The Land Before Time ( 1988 ) , All Dogs Go to Heaven ( 1989 ) , and Anastasia ( 1997 ) , and for his involvement in the LaserDisc game Dragon 's Lair ( 1983 ) . The Land Before Time is a 1988 American-Irish animated adventure drama film directed and produced by Don Bluth and executive produced by Steven Spielberg , George Lucas , Kathleen Kennedy , and Frank Marshall . The film explores issues of prejudice between the different species and the hardships they endure in their journey as they are guided by the spirit of Littlefoot 's mother and also forced to deal with the murderous T-Rex that killed her . This is the only Don Bluth film of the 1980s in which Dom DeLuise did not participate ( instead , he starred in Disney 's Oliver & Company that same year ) , and the only film in The Land Before Time series that is not a musical , as well as the only one to be released theatrically worldwide . Released by Universal Pictures on November 18 , 1988 , the film was a critical and financial success , and spawned a multimillion-dollar franchise with thirteen direct-to-video sequels and a television series ( without involvement from Bluth , Spielberg , or Lucas ) as well as merchandise ( toys , video games , etc. ) and a television series .