Primal is set in an anachronistic vision of prehistory, portraying extinct dinosaurs, Ice Age mammals, early hominids, and post-metallurgy Homo sapiens all coexisting in a single time period, incorporating many elements of science fiction, fantasy, horror, action, and adventure.

The first two seasons revolve around the journey of Spear (Aaron LaPlante), a Neanderthal, and Fang (Joel Valentine), a uniquely intelligent female Tyrannosaurus rex, both of whom lose their families tragically in the opening episode.

[1] Primal has received widespread critical acclaim, with much praise for its animation, storytelling, music, emotional depth, horror elements, and editing.

Set in an anachronistic and fantastical prehistoric world, the series is about the survival and bond between a Neanderthal man Spear and a female Tyrannosaurus rex named Fang[2] as they struggle day-to-day and battle against various carnivorous dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals and other dangerous animals, along with more advanced groups of Homo sapiens that also live in their world, including an Ancient Egyptian army and Viking-like Iron Age humans.

[6][7] He also stated that the method in which he approached animated projects began to slow down in terms of energy, and by the time he finished working on Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018), it had come full circle.

Running for their lives, the duo trick the behemoth over a cliff and into a narrow ravine before finally escaping by making a mad dash across a lava field.

The sauropod's massive weight makes it fall into the magma, which incinerates it to ash as Spear and Fang observe its final agonizing moments in grief.

[40] Initial reception for Primal was highly positive; much praise was given to the art and animation, the use of storytelling with no dialogue, and the balancing of the show's interpretation of violence and beauty.

In a review from IndieWire, Steve Greene wrote "Primal is a piece of elemental storytelling that finds some real emotional depth without either of its protagonists uttering a single word of dialogue", ultimately giving the series an "A−".

The site's critical consensus states: "Primal evolves into a more serialized tale while losing none of its beautiful savagery in a second season that exemplifies Genndy Tartakovsky's knack for storytelling economy.