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Trailer

Primal

2019 – nowShow4 seasons30 episodesTV-14

Action & AdventureAnimation
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.6Metacritic908.3Rotten Tomatoes100%90%

A nerve-racking, brutally violent animated series about family, with standout direction and editing.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 30 episodes · best: S2E4 "The Red Mist" 9.3

Episodes

8.7
8.6
8.3

Story

A caveman forms a bond with a dinosaur as they struggle to survive in a hostile world.

Feels like

  • Wordless Narrative
  • Brutal Prehistoric Survival
  • Emotional Bond Between Species
  • Visceral Action Animation
  • Hans Zimmer Score
  • Trauma and Grief
  • Stylized Violence
  • Cinematic Editing
  • Dark Fantasy Realism
  • Masterpiece of Sound Design

Cast

15 of 15 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Genndy Tartakovsky
Written by
Genndy Tartakovsky, Darrick Bachman, Bryan Andrews
Produced by
Shareena Carlson
Music by
Tyler Bates, Joanne Higginbottom

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 8, 2019 · March 15, 2026 · Still running

First aired
October 8, 2019
Latest episode
March 15, 2026
Status
Still running
Length
4 seasons · 30 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Action & Adventure, Animation
Original language
English
Also spoken
xx
Made in
France, United States
Available in
83 countries

Tropes

All for Nothing, Cue the Sun, Fantasy Counterpart Culture +9

  • All for Nothing
  • Cue the Sun
  • Fantasy Counterpart Culture
  • Evil Tower of Ominousness
  • Nothing Is Scarier
  • Trailers Always Spoil
  • Noisy Nature
  • Skeleton Motif
  • Loincloth
  • Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene
  • And Now for Someone Completely Different
  • Anti-Hero

12 of 205 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Primal?"

Questions about Primal

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Primal?

HBO MaxYouTube TVAdult SwimSpectrum On Demand

In the United States, Primal streams on HBO Max, YouTube TV, and Adult Swim, and it is free with ads on Spectrum On Demand. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. It also streams in 81 other countries.

Is Primal worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 90).

Is Primal okay for kids?

TV-14ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch Primal?

11 h

About 11 hours: 30 episodes in 4 seasons of about 22 minutes each since 2019, and it's still in production.

Will I feel good after watching Primal?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 3 for hopefulness.

Will Primal scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 7 of 10).

What tropes does Primal use?

All for NothingCue the SunFantasy Counterpart CultureEvil Tower of OminousnessNothing Is ScarierTrailers Always SpoilNoisy NatureSkeleton MotifLoinclothAction Film, Quiet Drama SceneAnd Now for Someone Completely DifferentAnti-Heroand 193 more

TV Tropes lists 205 tropes for it, including All for Nothing, Cue the Sun, and Fantasy Counterpart Culture.