PRIMAL
Savage and emotional storytelling, with engrossing animation that carries artistic soul and originality.
Pure art meets pure violence, in a endearing tale of friendship forged through survival and endeavor
SPOILERS
Primal is a five-time Emmy Award-winning show created by Genndy Tartakovsky, and it has secured a place among my all-time favorite animated series. I was familiar with some of Tartakovsky's earlier work as a child, such as Dexter's Lab and Clone Wars, however, this series marks a departure into more mature and graphic territory, showcasing a genuine artistic vision alongside his iconic and signature style.
*The art direction initially felt a little rough and rudimentary, but within just a few episodes, I found myself hooked. Not only by the show's original premise but also with a rapidly growing appreciation for how perfectly the animation complements its prehistoric setting, as well as the emotional and frequently brutal content.
It can be better described as a 'stripped-back' approach to animation, yet there is no shortage of depth and detail to be found. Tartakovsky's world is intriguing, atmospheric and lush, feeling as alive as any other animated show out there. Attention is given to all aspects of the screenplay: the stunning landscapes, the subtle moments within the ecosystem, the experience of survival, the ebbs and flows of characters' moods, and, of course, the visceral slaughter of battle. Together, these elements create an incredibly compelling ride that places passion at the heart of every episode.
You can tell that the creators had a lot of fun making this show. It's a constant cycle of satisfying combat scenes and humorous interactions. The pauses of silent tension before the relentless, full-throttle, rage-induced screams were so so good. I had a huge smile across my face every time this occurred, knowing that bodies were about to go flying, brains sent spilling, torso’s crunched in half, and guts and blood flung in all directions. It’s carnage that is often comical, but it is such an integral part of the show's DNA that the exaggerated approach is perceived more as a fundamental truth about the characters' unforgiving reality rather than indulgent gore for its own sake.
How does a show so focused on violence, yet devoid of spoken words, evoke such profound emotion and empathy for its characters? The answer lies in the masterful design of the faces and body language, brought to life with thick sketched lines, amazing detailed and pronounced expressions, and significant emphasis on the eyes. The main character, Spear, conveys a thousand emotions through countless permutations of non-verbal expression, showcasing a depth of feelings that elicited genuine happiness, sadness, delight, and laughter from me. The best of which is the portrayal of Spear's rage and anger, which is frequent and some of the most explosive forms of aexpression I have ever seen in animated form.
I felt everything that Spear felt and more. His relationship with Fang was heartwarming and endearing, and the moments of love and despair always offered room for pause. The characters journey also felt well-developed, prompting me to consider the challenges of his life and, by extension, how our ancestors must have endured similar struggles in our own human prehistory.
As for my favorite moments and episodes, the scene where Fang nearly dies and Spear drags her to safety truly tugged at the heartstrings. Additionally, the preceding battle in the arena, where he dispatches hordes of monkeys, was quite the event. Season 2's battle in the Viking village may represent the pinnacle of Primal, featuring an incredibly brutal episode that showcases stunning visuals and intense action, finishing in a solemn moment between a grieving father and son. Nia’s first hunt and the hilarious reactions from Fang and Spear to her competence, and an owls watchful gaze over Spear as he mimics Mira's religious ritual, were also small moments of joy that contributed to the show's endearing quality.
It’s all just beautifully executed. The use of space, color, and proportion is excellent, often resulting in striking and artistic scenes where enormous creatures and acrobatic movements swirl together in flashes, silhouettes, and contrasting colors, framing characters against backdrops of huge landscapes and fauna with dramatic layering and perspectives. All this is elevated by a fantastic OST and sound design, which succeeds in drawing further emotional depth from the work. It's an artistic masterpiece.
High praise so far, but unfortunately, there are issues with storytelling, and some significant ones too. My minor criticisms point towards the convoluted and less grounded approach, particularly in Season 2. Magic and fantasy elements could have been dialed back in favor of the multitude of real creatures and situations from this period. Additionally, the liberal blending of different cultures and historical eras somewhat detracted from the fundamental primal world, taking away some of the rawness for me and occasionally hindering the pacing and narrative at times too.
The real blow comes with the final episode, which was a huge disappointment. It raised the previously mentioned magical elements to their peak but ultimately delivered it in one of the most anti-climactic battles in the series. The entire episode felt rushed, and before we knew it, Spear was dead. How could they make his final moments so poor? The sex scene felt extremely misplaced in the storyboarding and should have been a meaningful and touching moment prior to the fight, rather than when Spear’s entire body, including his pickle, were horrifyingly burned.
Fang, his best friend, responds to all this with an insignificant scream and quick march away. Where was the emotional payoff between these two characters? They had endured so much together, and they both deserved better endings. This represents a rare failure in what had been, up until this point, an almost flawless show. However, Spears' fate and the collapse of storytelling at the crucial moment is hard to swallow. I want nothing more than to rate this show in the 85+ range, but I simply can't bring myself to do so when the ending capitulates this badly and leaves me feeling so deflated.
Part of me naively hopes that Season 3 will include some magical twist to bring Spear back, but I recognize this is wishful thinking. The good news is that 2024 looks promising for its release, with Tartakovsky telling Collider in September that the animation is "halfway done" and that it's going to "blow everyone's socks off". Looking forward to it!
VERDICT
Primal is an artistic masterpiece, with raw animation that evokes an extraordinary range of emotions. Without a single word spoken, deep connections between the characters and viewer are formed, all amongst a backdrop of glorious violent spectacle that is matched only by its beautiful, silent, and contemplative moments. These nurtured connections feel betrayed when the final climax lands, but ultimately, it’s not enough to detract from the overall experience, making it one of the most unique and artistically conceived animated shows in recent years.
RATING BREAKDOWN
Story
74
Directing:
83
Visuals:
89
Acting / Dialogue :
n/a
Music / Sound:
77
BONUS
Animation
FINAL
