The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water

2002 1h 11m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 240

AnimationAdventureFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Littlefoot befriends with a mysterious, fun-loving dolphin-like creature named Mo, who is trapped in "new water" caused by heavy rain. The gang then goes on an adventure to the "big water" to bring Mo home.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

John Ingle
Narrator / Cera's Dad (voice)
Kenneth Mars
Grandpa (voice)
Miriam Flynn
Diplodocus Mom / Grandma (voice)
Thomas Dekker
Littlefoot (voice)
Anndi McAfee
Cera (voice)
Aria Noelle Curzon
Ducky (voice)
Rob Paulsen
Spike / Mo (voice)
Tress MacNeille
Ducky's Mom / Petrie's Mom (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Charles Grosvenor
Writers: Dev Ross
Languages: English
Countries: Taiwan, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 71-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Land Before Time Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Michael Tavera. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jay Bixsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Ingle and Kenneth Mars and Miriam Flynn carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Charles Grosvenor directs. Michael Tavera scores. Jay Bixsen cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Taiwan, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 71-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 24 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, United States of America.
4Part of the "The Land Before Time Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
6Original score by Michael Tavera. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Jay Bixsen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8John Ingle and Kenneth Mars and Miriam Flynn carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0345543 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Released under 17 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Original score: Michael Tavera
Editing: Jay Bixsen
Runtime: 71 min · 1h 11m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water (2002)

Part of

The Land Before Time Collection

The series follows a group of young prehistoric friends—Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike—living in the Great Valley. Together, they face challenges, go on adventures, and even raise a young Sharptooth named Chomper. Along the way, they learn valuable lessons about friendship, teamwork, and courage in stories filled with music, fun, and heart.

Also by

Charles Grosvenor

Stills · wallpapers

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Gimly2020-07-26
★ 3/10
I know I've still got 5 more of these things to get through, but boy am I sick of rehashing the same two or three messages and story concepts over and over again already. Also Mo was endearing for about the first 5 seconds, then annoyed me every moment he was on screen for the rest of the runtime. Journey to Big Water also features the first time we get a cross-movie reprise which was... A thing that happened which I feel neutral about. I didn't like or dislike this, I just felt it was worth mentioning. It is pretty unusual how contextually they start singing because "singing will cheer them up" so they sing that old song about how afraid they are and the various ways they could die. Speaking of songs, the first one is pretty bizarre, firstly because it's about imaginary friends, but kind of passes the line of "it's okay to have an imaginary friend and you shouldn't be ashamed" and breezes into "imaginary friends are better than real ones", and secondly because the impetus for it is a lead character talking about how he has an imaginary friend he talks to every single day. Even though we've spent 14 years with this character, and in no other media has he ever mentioned an invisible friend, or even been shown in a scene that could be implied to involve one prior to this very unnecessary song. Oh and also this is the worst Land Before Time yet. Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible.

Production companies

Who made it

Universal Cartoon Studios
US
Wang Film Productions
TW

Key crew

CastingSusan Blu
ProducerCharles Grosvenor
CharactersJudy Freudberg
Art DirectionFlamarion Ferreira
EditorJay Bixsen
CharactersTony Geiss
Associate ProducerDaniel J. Wiley
Executive ProducerJames Wang
Supervising ProducerSteve Chen
Background DesignerMicki Zurcher
SongsMichele Brourman
SongsAmanda McBroom

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

sequel
dinosaur

Release history · US

When it landed

Theatrical2002-12-17G

Also known as

International titles

The Land Before Time 9: Journey to the Big WaterUS
Landet för länge sedan 9 - Resan till det stora havetSE
Landet For Længe Siden 9: Rejsen Til Det Store HavDK
Platvoet en z'n vriendjes IX - Terug naar het grote waterNL
The Land Before Time 9 - Journey to the Big WaterAU
En busca del Valle Encantado 09: Travesía a los océanosES
Platvoet en z'n vriendjes IX - Terug naar het grote waterBE
The Land Before Time IX - Journey to the Big WaterUS
The Land Before Time IX: Journey to the Big WaterUS
The Land Before Time IX - Journey to Big WaterUS
I gi prin arhisei o hronos IX - Taxidi sta vathia neraGR
The Land Before Time: Journey to Big WaterUS
In einem Land vor unserer Zeit IX: Die Reise zum großen WasserDE
Alla ricerca della Valle Incantata 9IT
Земля до начала времен (Часть 9: Путешествие к Большой Воде)RU

6.2