Primal (also known as Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal), is an American adult animated action horror television series created by Samurai Jack's Genndy Tartakovsky for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. The series premiered on October 8, 2019 in the United States on Adult Swim.
A second season was announced on September 3, 2020 and premiered on July 21, 2022.[1][2]
Following the second season finale and conclusion of the "Spear and Fang" storyline, Tartakovsky confirmed that Primal would become an anthology series from its forthcoming third season onward.[3] However, Tartakovsky later backtracked on this plan.
In June 2023, the series was renewed for a 10-episode third season[4] and premiered on January 11, 2026.[5][6][7][8] It follows a zombified Spear regaining his memories and coming across various dangers whilst searching for Fang. It also takes place before the epilogue of the second season's last episode.
Plot
Set in an anachronistic and fantastical prehistoric-like world, the premise is a bond between a caveman and a Tyrannosaurus (named "Spear" and "Fang" in the production notes and credits, respectively) who struggle to survive as they encounter the various dangerous fauna and people that live in their world.
Characters
Main Characters
- Spear (voiced by Aaron LaPlante) (seasons 1-2 as a caveman, season 3 as a zombie)
- Fang
- Mira (voiced by Laëtitia Eïdo)
- Charles Darwin (voiced by Jacob Dudman) (The Primal Theory)
- Darlington (voiced by Jeremy Crutchley) (The Primal Theory)
Recurring Characters
- Spear's Family (season 1)
- Fang's First Offspring (season 1)
- Chieftan (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) (season 2, season 3 in Mira's dream)
- Eldar (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) (season 2)
- Demonic Entity (season 2)
- Ima (voiced by Amina Koroma) (season 2, season 3 in Mira's dream)
- Kamau (voiced by Imari Williams) (season 2)
- Amal (voiced by Hillary Williams) (season 2)
- Spike and Sonja
- Jabu (voiced by Debra Wilson) (season 3)
- Black River Leader (season 3)
- Black River Shaman (season 3)
Series overview
| season: | episodes: | season premiere: | season finale: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | October 8, 2019 | November 1, 2020 |
| 2 | 10 | July 22, 2022 | September 16, 2022 |
| 3 | 10 | January 11, 2026 | March 15, 2026 |
Episodes
Season 1: 2019-2020
| No. | Title | Plot | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spear and Fang | Tragedy forces a caveman and a dinosaur to trust each other in order to survive. | October 8, 2019 | |
| 2 | River of Snakes | Man and beast are tested to find a way to coexist. | October 9, 2019 | |
| 3 | A Cold Death | In the harshness pf the primordial winter, a herd of woolly mammoths hunt for the murderers of one of their own. | October 10, 2019 | |
| 4 | Terror Under the Blood Moon | The horrors of the red night test Spear and Fang for survival. | October 11, 2019 | |
| 5 | Rage of the Ape-Men | An oasis of peace leads them into a brutal attack by an aggressive tribe of ape-men. | October 12, 2019 | |
| 6 | Scent of Prey | Spear tries to heal Fang to escape the scavengers of the primordial world. | October 4, 2020 | |
| 7 | Plague of Madness | A sick and unstoppable sauropod has set its sights on two new prey. | April 1, 2020 (April Fools Day) October 11, 2020 |
|
| 8 | Coven of the Damned | A tribe of mysterious and primitive women seek to sustain their group, by using black magic on Spear and Fang. | October 18, 2020 | |
| 9 | The Night Feeder | Spear and Fang are followed through the night by a never-before-seen terror. | October 25, 2020 | |
| 10 | Slave of the Scorpion | Spear and Fang are confronted by a human much more evolved than they have ever seen before. | November 1, 2020 |
Season 2: 2022
| No. | Title | Plot | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sea of Despair | Spear and Fang venture into the unknown to rescue Mira from her captors. | July 22, 2022 | |
| 12 | Shadow of Fate | Spear and Fang get separated in a strange new land. | ||
| 13 | Dawn of Man | The quest to find Mira leads Spear and Fang to the village of fearsome warriors. | July 29, 2022 | |
| 14 | The Red Mist | Spear and Fang fight to save Mira from the warrior clan who enslaved her. | August 5, 2022 | |
| 15 | The Primal Theory | A night of horrors reveals the true nature of man's origin. | August 12, 2022 | |
| 16 | Vidarr | Spear, Fang, and Mira are hunted by survivors of a village decimated by their carnage. | August 19, 2022 | |
| 17 | The Colossaeus, Part I | Spear, Fang, and Mira's journey home is threatened by a mysterious threat at sea. | August 26, 2022 | |
| 18 | The Colossaeus, Part II | Spear and Fang are used as instruments of war for the tyrannical Queen of a formidable warship, the Colossaeus. | September 2, 2022 | |
| 19 | The Colossaeus, Part III | Spear, Fang and Mira lead a daring escape from the Colossaeus. | September 9, 2022 | |
| 20 | Echoes of Eternity | An old vengeance returns to wreak havoc. | September 16, 2022 |
Season 3: 2026
| No. | Title | Plot | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Vengeance of Death | Spear's lifeless body is reanimated to enact brutal vengeance. | January 11, 2026 | |
| 22 | Kingdom of Sorrow | A zombified Spear wanders aimlessly with no purpose until a distant sound awakens something. | January 18, 2026 | |
| 23 | Feast of Flesh | Spear is drawn to follow a very familiar creature which leads him to make a horrific discovery. | January 25, 2026 | |
| 24 | Prey for the Wicked | A pack of hideous creatures attack a village forcing the villagers to flee. Can Fang and her children investigate the issues? | February 1, 2026 | |
| 25 | The Dead Cast No Shadow | The ramifications of Spear's return from the dead reverberate through the world he once knew. | February 8, 2026 | |
| 26 | Cavern of Horrors | A rescue party makes a terrifying discovery while attempting to save villagers from a pack of hideous hyena-like creatures. | February 15, 2026 | |
| 27 | Heart of the Undead | Spear's world shatters when he's shunned by everyone and finally realizes what he has become. | February 22, 2026 | |
| 28 | The River of Life | Spear finds a new path after encountering a primordial tribe that time forgot while Mira searches for Spear. | March 1, 2026 | |
| 29 | The Hollow Crown | Spear starts to question his new life with the Black River people. Can he investigate the issue? | March 8, 2026 | |
| 30 | An Echo of Eternity | Spear is caught in an epic battle to appease the bloodlust of the Black River People. | March 15, 2026 |
Home Media
Season volumes:
- The Complete First Season (June 1, 2021)
- The Complete Second Season (April 25, 2023)
- The Complete Third Season (June 30, 2026)
Trivia
- The second Cartoon Network original series to be co-produced with Williams Street.
- The first Cartoon Network original series to be produced in 2.39:1 aspect ratio.
Gallery
Season 3 poster
Videos
Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal - SEASON 3 FIRST LOOK - adult swim
Genndy Tartakovky's Primal - Season 3 Early Preview - adult swim
Death is not the end. Primal S3 Premieres Jan 11th - Next Day HBO Max
Season 3 Preview - Primal - adult swim
Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal Season 3 - OFFICIAL TRAILER - January 11 - adult swim
Genndy Tartakovky's Primal - Season 3 Early Preview -2 - adult swim
References
- ↑ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/primal-season-2-release-date-window-adult-swim-genndy-tartakovsky/
- ↑ https://www.bubbleblabber.com/bubbleblabbers-summer-2022-adult-animation-tv-preview/2/
- ↑ https://ew.com/tv/primal-creator-finale-uncertain-future/
- ↑ https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/news/1297265-primal-season-3-renewal-confirmed-adult-swim
- ↑ https://collider.com/primal-season-3-release-window-2026-adult-swim/
- ↑ https://x.com/AnimationOnMax/status/1976423632277733574
- ↑ https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/11/genndy-tartakovskys-primal-roars-back-to-life-in-s3-premiere-on-jan-11/
- ↑ https://press.wbd.com/ca/media-release/whats-new-hbo-max-january-1
Cartoon Network Studios Series
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| 2017 | Ben 10 • OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes |
| 2018 | Apple & Onion • Craig of the Creek • Summer Camp Island |
| 2019 | Victor and Valentino • Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart • Infinity Train • Primal • Steven Universe Future |
| Adult Swim Shows | |
|---|---|
| 1990s premieres | Space Ghost Coast to Coast |
| 2000s premieres | The Brak Show • Sealab 2021 • Aqua Teen Hunger Force • Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law |
| 2010s premieres | Samurai Jack • Primal |
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| Upcoming | SuperMutant Magic Academy • Heist Safari |