Primal is an apt title. The show depicts primal violence, primal rage, primal grief. But what I was most surprised by was its display of primal empathy. Yes, the show is gorgeously and lavishly animated. There are shots that will take your breath away, and it knows when to rev up the engine and when to slow down and luxuriate in the stillness and beauty of the environment, much like Samurai Jack before it. Yes, it is a brutal and gory show- every hit has impact, and the fifth episode is bloody enough to make Mortal Kombat blush.
But the core theme running through the show is empathy. The animation pays just as much attention to the eyes as they do the action sequences, knowing that in a show without words, eyes are truly windows to the soul. A perfectly placed soft smile will melt your heart. And each episode returns to that theme of empathy. It'd be an easy excuse in a prehistoric story to say that at our primal core, humanity are monsters. But we're not- we're animals. Animals can be brutal, violent, ruthless. But they think and feel as well, and it is empathy that is the main characters' biggest strength.
It is empathy that leads them to bond and grieve together. It is empathy that leads Spear, the neanderthal, to help a pack of starving humans without second thought. It is empathy that diffuses a situation with woolly mammoths who did not want vengeance but simply the opportunity to mourn and honor their fallen. Spear and Fang the dinosaur's bond is what gives them strength, and the interconnectedness of life is reinforced even in its antagonists, whether in comparison like a group of bats and a spider working together to feed or in contrast like the group of apes that brutalize each other for the chance of brutalizing strong foes for glory. The protagonists even defeat the bats by leading them into the territory of a separate pack of beasts. Nothing is truly alone. The companionship of Spear and Fang is what sets them apart and strengthens them. Empathy is what keeps them alive. And it is that heart that elevates Primal from being not only something nice to look at, but an engaging work of art.
Come on mannnn.. I'm in my 40s..its midnight and I'm gettin all teary eyed and shit I gotta be up early!
The coolest cartoon I've seen.
Fantastic show! Really loved story, art and sound tracks.
Do yourself a favor and watch this with some really good headphones. The sound and music alone are remarkable!
a Masterpiece of animation, visual storytelling, sound, action, violence, drama.
Loved this so much. its raw and violent and touching at the same time. I just wish the caveman didn't have to lose every single one at the end. that really spoiled my enjoyment.
Wow that was amazing and visual storyline, human culture
A tour de force in both animation and the emotion it elicits without a single word.
It's a masterclass in story telling that completely engulfs the viewer in a brutal world where just surviving each day feels like a triumph.
The way It builds and evolves just draws you in deeper with every episode without ever feeling formulaic. Just when you think you have a bead on where the story is headed, it throws a curve ball right at your face.
One point that really stood out to me was just how rich and lush the world felt even though there was such economy in the animation. Your mind fills in the missing details because of how involved you are in the story. Nothing comes to mind of having done done more with less.
I try not to hand out 10s very often, but it's nearly impossible to find fault here.
It blew my socks off! Really, I can't find them anywhere.
Genndy Tartakovsky's "Primal" for your 30s
Genndy Tartakovsky's "Dexter's Laboratory" for your 10s"
Level "Marvellous" • 9 :heart: • Very Recommended.
[HBO Max] An exceptional series, open to exploring narrative possibilities, developing new visual approaches in a traditional 2D animation for adults and offering such risky creative freedom. Despite its treatment of violence, finally the story talks about the family, which is more developed in S2, with episodes of surprising dramatic depth, and allowing itself to break with its own concept and expectations.
I'm shocked at how profoundly moving and interesting this animated series is. It accomplishes so much with minimalist animation and essentially no dialog.
It's a tribute to how successful a series can be with interesting plot elements and no preachy / overly emotionally, woke nonsense.
injuries and wounds dont exist in this universe
season 2 ending is pretty interesting. Is this the end for this show? No season 3?
Season 1 was brilliant. Season 2 is stunning! Tartakovsky smashing it...once again. Beautiful, brilliant, clever, visceral and human show.
absolutely brilliant. Not been this emotionally invested in animated characters since toys story. considering there is barely any dialogue this is portrayed beautifully.
I loved playing Far Cry: Primal, so to see a TV show around the same theme.
Well, hello!
The final episode was a little silly with the Incredible Hulk drink but this show is just beautiful, one of my favorite animation styles ever, especially of the environments. And yeah, like everyone says, it's probably the most metal shit in history that isn't called Iron Maiden. Which is interesting, because the show is strongest when the characters show momentary empathy for others that are also surviving the best they can. Also, I'm kind of a sissy so some of the suffering and pain in the show was hard to watch but I also think that was the point.
MORE! NOW! Seriously intense visual storytelling. The material may be too graphic for some, but don't confuse this series for shallow and violent romp, there is depth there.
Magnificent animation series that proves good stories can be told without dialogue and within the confines of mere minutes. Primal is brutal and doesn't shy away from the hardships of life and living.
This show desperately needs a second season, maybe even a third. I'm sad about how it ends and that it ends... and all of that for a mere hour of television.
art/design: 10
music and sound: 10
animation: 10
story: 9.5
so different and strangely powerful. kinda wish the story was more connected instead of contrastly separate stories each episode. personal preference. each story is still so developed and you connect to the essentially mute characters. kinda reminds me of 'heavy metal'. seemed to get more trippy and less raw - love that word used by another commenter - as it continued, culminating in that nightmarish finale. and yet, it was engaging and moving throughout. not sure I've ever had a show stick with me like this before. even my uneasiness is so grounded
holyyyy shit, Genndy Tartakovsky didn't need to go that hard with this show. like Aaron Stark said, entertaining as fuck.
for only 5 episodes, this show has me hooked. i cannot wait for next year's season release.
Shout by Abdullah FarooqBlockedParent2019-10-17T07:22:01Z
One of the most Metal as Fuck shit I've seen in recent years. WOW.. The concept, it's execution, the Art, the score, the sound design, the humanity, the awesomeness and cruelty of nature of the era. Just mind blowingly original and entertaining as fuck. All that without a single word uttered. You have to watch it to know how metal it really is.