One of my favorite all time animated films was the 1988 Don Bluth film The Land Before Time. Bluth did something that made this movie great. Simply put Bluth added many spiritual elements to this movie. What he does is make you not only like the characters but identify with them as well. The story behind Littlefoot and his fellow dinosaurs is more than a story of dinosaurs. Its a story of courage,faith and self sacrifice.The Land Before Time has many parallels to past and later films(and even to some extent The Bible.) One element is a strong display of childlike faith. A pivotable scene was while Littlefoot and his mother are on the way to The Great Valley. His mother is telling Littlefoot all of the wonders of The Great Valley. Littlefoot then as a typical curious would do asks a question of his parent,"Have you ever seen the Great Valley?" His mother swings her long gracefull neck and looks at him and says calmly"no." Littlefoot then asks her another question "Well,How do you know its really there?". His mom smiles back at him and answers "Some things you see with your eyes, others you see with your heart".This statement here is pure outright faith. And its a true statement as well.Blessed is the person who has not seen yet believed.The Land Before shows the most beautiful thing that a parent can do for his or her child to sacrifice theirselves for their children or for others.This trait is displayed in later films such as Armageddon,Independence Day and Terminator 2 Judgement Day(The T-800 acting as a substitute father to John Conner).Personal courage is displayed throughout The Land Before Time by almost all of the protagonists of the film. And this is why it is a well loved movie.I happened to see TLBT a few months after the death of my mother and I was able to identify with Littlefoot very well.I think that more films should contain elements like The Land Before Time. Maybe Hollywood would be able to get people to go back to the movie theatre.