The Gang of Five

The Land Before Time => General Land Before Time => Character Showcase => Topic started by: rhombus on June 30, 2019, 11:46:23 PM

Title: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: rhombus on June 30, 2019, 11:46:23 PM
(http://i41.tinypic.com/6t0co8.jpg)

Uh... that's right, Spike, it is your month!  :^^spike (You can probably get off of Petrie now...  :opetrie)

In this topic please feel free to discuss Spike as a character, to share your own creations (fanfics or fanart), or to mention some of your favorite fanworks of others involving this character.  For a full set of rules please see the Monthly Character Showcase topic (http://www.gangoffive.net/index.php?topic=16265.0) but keep in mind that this is meant to be fun as opposed to any sort of contest.

I will go ahead and get the discussion started with the following questions:

1) In the first film Spike is a hatching so it is obvious why he is not speaking during that movie.  In your personal head-canon does he still not speak due to the fact he is too young to do so, or do you think there is another reason for his lack of speech?

2) What do you feel are Spike's most prominent virtues (or vices) as a character?
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Sneak on July 01, 2019, 07:25:37 AM
Answers on questions:

1) Spike can talk if he wants. He's grown enough for that (Even Chomper is younger than him).
Why he doesn't talk? Hmm, because he doesn't want. He does only in very important circumstances.
Well, his viewpoint is quite odd, and differs from other dinosaurs, it also one of reasons why he doesn't use speech normally.

2) oh ho hohoho ohoh
oooooooooooooh
Spike...

My personal opinion, built since the very first days I watched LBT.

His rare moments of virtues are completely overthrown by endless amount of vices for me.

Simply because creatorns in sequels didn't give him any (almost) character, personality. I consider him as robot, who eats and gives audience comedy.

And that's almost all what I can say about Spike. He's still my less favorite character. Even Stupid Claws and Yellowbellies are above him! Simply because he's main character, member of gang of five.

He had his moments. He had potential to grow up as character. Moments in 4,8, TV series. But those attempts to show us his personality and character are not enough for me. :(

Spike, Spike...

Why did you end like this?..
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: DiddyKF1 on July 01, 2019, 12:08:21 PM
In a way, I can somewhat relate. One of my younger brothers is nonverbal and tends to eat quite a lot. He has a more severe case of autism than I do, and in a way, he reminds me of Spike.

I don't really have much to say about Spike. His moments in the spotlight are extremely rare, and even if he is, it's only for a brief moment. All we've really seen is that he really does have a heart and cares about his friends, especially Ducky, but that's about it. All it's really been is a bunch of potential opportunities for character development wasted and instead used up on all the other main characters. It's really a shame, to be honest.

"Through the Eyes of a Spiketail" essentially ruined it for me, though. To think that in his eyes, his friends just become a bunch of nonsensical blabbermouths just ruined any more hope I had for his potential. All of this is why he is my least favorite of the Gang of Seven, because ... well, ... he's just ... there for no reason other than to just be a silent, dimwitted companion and nothing more. :(
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on July 01, 2019, 01:24:42 PM
Quote
2) What do you feel are Spike's most prominent virtues (or vices) as a character?
I mentioned in Petrie's showcase how he initially didn't stand out much compared to Littlefoot and Cera and Ducky, but that the sequels expanded on Petrie's character much further. Spike, meanwhile, stands out less than the others in the first film... and it kinda stays that way. There are occasional glimmers of something more. The Big Freeze gives both Ducky and Spike some good development. And my favourite Spike moment is in Journey Through the Mists when he cries out, "Ducky!!!!" Very touching.

But those are really the only distinct Spike moments off the top of my head. He's cute, he's mute, and he's a big eater, but he's otherwise rather underdeveloped. He's not a bad or annoying character by any means. I just wish they'd done more with him. I'm torn here, because I still feel that those are essential and iconic parts of his character. But on the other hand, I also feel like they limited his development by not having him speak.

And on that note, does he ever say anything besides the aforementioned "Ducky"? Or is that the only time in the series he talks?
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Sneak on July 01, 2019, 01:27:43 PM
@StardustSoldier : He screamed "Mother!" when he was drowning at the end of Big Freeze.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on July 01, 2019, 01:30:16 PM
Ah, okay. Thanks. I had a feeling there might be at least one other moment when he spoke. Interesting that I forgot about that part despite having watched The Big Freeze not that long ago.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: DiddyKF1 on July 01, 2019, 02:54:09 PM
Somehow, I feel as though I've overlooked his role in "The Big Freeze." It was the one and only time where it seemed there was that sense of development in Spike, even if it was all thrown away from the next film onward as if the writers/producers kept pushing the "Reset Continuity" button. In spite of how dimwitted he seems to be, inside he has a heart that cares and knows who his "real" family is. I just wonder why they haven't touched upon him since then ...
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on July 01, 2019, 06:21:33 PM
Quote
1) In the first film Spike is a hatching so it is obvious why he is not speaking during that movie.  In your personal head-canon does he still not speak due to the fact he is too young to do so, or do you think there is another reason for his lack of speech?
I was originally going to say that Spike doesn't speak simply because he's too young, even in the sequels, as he is still five or so years younger than the rest of the gang. But then I thought about it, and realized that Chomper was born later than Spike, and yet Chomper eventually learned to speak. And it's not as though Spike is incapable of speech, as previously discussed. Yet he still talks so rarely that it does make one wonder why he doesn't talk more.

Interesting. I will need to ponder this further.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: pokeplayer984 on July 08, 2019, 01:59:40 PM
To me, I find Spike to be a character who can express himself without speaking.  Those kind of characters have always been interesting to me.  In fact, for the longest time, I felt Spike was someone who felt he didn't NEED to speak to express himself. (I could point out all the little moments, but we'd be here all day.) Then came Episode 26 of the TV Series.  That episode completely contradicts everything that was being built up with Spike, giving him a mental condition that wasn't needed.  As such, since it contradicts the movies, I don't consider that episode cannon. :PCera

He has definitely shown development through the movies.  The biggest being the 4th and 8th movies.  However, the others have shown bits of his character.  Really, he's a good character to develop overtime.  I feel the writers have done a good job with him overtime.

I like Spike.  Just not as much as others.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Anagnos on July 09, 2019, 08:12:26 AM
Spike has certainly always been a pretty interesting character to me. I do believe that with practice Spike could eventually learn to speak, but he doesn't really need speech to communicate with the other members of the gang, as they can understand him just fine. Ducky, however, seems to be the one who understands the most of them all. Probably because she likely spends more time with him than the others. I do have to raise one point up, and that is where are his parents? I admit it would be pretty crazy to one day finally have them appear in some form or another in the universe. Spike wouldn't probably take that well, as they have been missing from his life for many years already. As for the question that would he actually wish to return to his original and real family if given the chance? I believe he has learned a valuable lesson about who truly are his family in the Big Freeze. He certainly has seen some character development, as have the rest of the gang. Witnessing Spike ''speak'' for the first time in the TV Series was a mistake in my opinion. That thing about his muteness is what makes his character truly unique in my opinion. That and he obviously loves food too much. :P
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on July 09, 2019, 11:35:27 AM
I was originally going to say that Spike doesn't speak simply because he's too young, even in the sequels, as he is still five or so years younger than the rest of the gang. But then I thought about it, and realized that Chomper was born later than Spike, and yet Chomper eventually learned to speak. And it's not as though Spike is incapable of speech, as previously discussed. Yet he still talks so rarely that it does make one wonder why he doesn't talk more.
I do believe that with practice Spike could eventually learn to speak, but he doesn't really need speech to communicate with the other members of the gang, as they can understand him just fine.
Thought about this some more. A disclaimer that I haven't seen the TV series yet, as mentioned by Pokeplayer and Anagnos above, thus I only have the movies to go from.

I think Spike's relative muteness is simply due to him not having learned to speak yet. There are a couple instances where he says one word, but I view that as similar to a baby whenever they speak their first word. Chomper probably just learned to speak fluently faster than Spike would. But I think, as Spike would continue to grow older, he'd slowly learn to speak properly. Although even there, he'd probably remain the most quiet of the Gang.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: OwlsCantRead on July 18, 2019, 08:46:21 AM
Spike is... there. He's just there. That's the best way I can sum him up, really.

He is technically a relic of when the original LBT was conceived as a documentary-like film and none of the dinosaurs had vocal roles of heir own (which I can't imagine). Rather interestingly, this makes him more of a background character than some of the one-off characters that appear the sequel films. He doesn't stand out much except for The Big Freeze, where his absence ironically makes him feel more present.

1) Personally I think Spike is of sound mind but he's willingly mute.

2) Spike does come off as a bit too aloof at times. The reason why I feel this way is probably because he's usually always with his sister Ducky in the sequels and concurs with her and her friends all the time, and that makes him comes off as... too easily influenced by the remainder of the group.

It's a little hard to put into words, but the prime example I can think off is when the Gang is mad at Littlefoot in Invasion of the Tinysauruses, when Spike continually nods at Ducky and Petrie's angered flurry of complaints against Littlefoot until Littlefoot pointed out that Petrie's last complaint was actually against Spike himself. I know it's played for laughs, but this specific exchange really fits Spike's carefree "go with the flow" mentality I'm painting here.

Long story short, it feels like Spike never has a modus operandi or goal of his own besides getting more food and/or following his sister/friends about. The Big Freeze is probably the only time they break this status quo, but it's hard to look at him individually as a result. He stands out the least of the entire Gang of Seven as a result, admittedly.

That said, his biggest strength is also his concern for his friends, especially his bond with his adopted sister. The films do capture this rather well.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on July 21, 2019, 03:53:44 AM
Spike is... there. He's just there. That's the best way I can sum him up, really.

He is technically a relic of when the original LBT was conceived as a documentary-like film and none of the dinosaurs had vocal roles of heir own (which I can't imagine). Rather interestingly, this makes him more of a background character than some of the one-off characters that appear the sequel films. He doesn't stand out much except for The Big Freeze, where his absence ironically makes him feel more present.

1) Personally I think Spike is of sound mind but he's willingly mute.

2) Spike does come off as a bit too aloof at times. The reason why I feel this way is probably because he's usually always with his sister Ducky in the sequels and concurs with her and her friends all the time, and that makes him comes off as... too easily influenced by the remainder of the group.

It's a little hard to put into words, but the prime example I can think off is when the Gang is mad at Littlefoot in Invasion of the Tinysauruses, when Spike continually nods at Ducky and Petrie's angered flurry of complaints against Littlefoot until Littlefoot pointed out that Petrie's last complaint was actually against Spike himself. I know it's played for laughs, but this specific exchange really fits Spike's carefree "go with the flow" mentality I'm painting here.

Long story short, it feels like Spike never has a modus operandi or goal of his own besides getting more food and/or following his sister/friends about. The Big Freeze is probably the only time they break this status quo, but it's hard to look at him individually as a result. He stands out the least of the entire Gang of Seven as a result, admittedly.

That said, his biggest strength is also his concern for his friends, especially his bond with his adopted sister. The films do capture this rather well.
I think they could have rectified all that by having Spike gradually learn to speak as the series progressed. It seems like that's the direction they were going with him with "Ducky!" at the end of LBT 4, but then he otherwise remains a relatively mute character. Whereas if he'd slowly begun to speak from LBT 5 onward, his personality and his dynamic with the rest of the Gang would've started to shift. I would've been interested to see how that could have developed.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Mumbling on July 21, 2019, 03:59:07 AM
There isn't much to say about Spike (or by Spike :D ). Like others have said, he's just kind of there. A friend that Ducky can take care of. I have not seen most of the TV series so I am going to disregard the episode mentioned by others where he is considered dimwitted. Instead if I think of Spike I think of his "Ducky!" moment in LBT 4. It was the only LBT movie I owned as a child, so I've seen it over and over again. His reaction is very true to their friendship and shows that he is capable of many more feelings than hunger. Similarly in LBT 8 where he gets another place in the spotlights. However, looking at all other movies, there's just not much to say.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/3o7TKIGBt0heL4c7N6/giphy-tumblr.gif)
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: ImpracticalDino on July 24, 2019, 10:24:05 PM
I wish I could add more to what others have already said about Spike, but there isn't really much to him honestly. Although, I can relate to Spike a lot. :lol
Big appetite, check. Quiet, check. Lazy? Also check!

I also particularly enjoyed one scene a lot in LBT 4, it's one of the highlights of that film in my opinion.
I'm going to partially quote what I said on a post in the Thoughts on LBT 4 thread.

Quote from: ImpracticalDino on: June 27, 2019, 6:58:03 PM
I thought it was very heartwarming to see Spike have his first ever dialogue spoken, even if it's just one word.

"Ducky!"

It was during the scene where Ichy & Dil were chasing the GOF near a river, and Ducky was in danger of being eaten by Dil. It really shows the strong sibling bond that they both possess and how much they care for each other. In order to have a character speak a word when he isn't supposed to, just speaks volumes about how dire the situation is.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: LeventeII on July 28, 2019, 11:17:03 AM
Spike's calm and stress-free attitude is something that I admire. His love for food seems to be above everything for him. This is also noticeable afterwards, because since I've seen some of the movies again, I think that Spike can definitely be considered corpulent. As often as he got stuck or fell down because of his weight...
I like Spike as a character. There are times when I should be just like Spike. Just living without worries. I always do so many things that I often forget to stop and enjoy.  :^^spike

Although Spike has often brought trouble to the Gang, for example while sailing on the log in V or on the plants above the ravine in VII, I have never really got angry at him. But I normally hate characters who do such things. I don't know why, but Spike never collected a minus point from me for that. He is an exception
Without Spike, the Gang would be missing something, I'm sure of that.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Flathead770 on July 30, 2019, 12:45:40 AM
Ah yes Spike. I've honestly never been that fond of him, though I don't hate him. I guess you could say I'm indifferent? The fat, always eating character archetype is pretty dull in my opinion. The best part about him is that he doesn't speak so that we don't have to hear all the "I'm hungry" jokes :p

I do believe he remains silent as opposed to not really being able to and I do actually really like him calling out to his mom in 8 when under the water. Not over dramatized like in 4 but still a nice inclusion.

Did a random drawing from an image I found on google. Didn't get the random inspiration like I did with Petrie this time around  :PCera

(https://i.postimg.cc/W1TVfgbd/Spike-Showcase.jpg)
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: The Lone Dragon on July 30, 2019, 10:30:21 PM
Nice art Flathead! :)Littlefoot

I rather like Spike and I'm probably one of the few who sees his tv episode as good character development but that is probably due to how I interpret his character. Spike's constant appetite has gotten himself into a lot of trouble like crossing the vines in LBT 7 but in other instances his motivation to have food has helped him get across the Canyon in LBT 6. I find that he can often be overlooked but when he is in the spotlight like in LBT 8, he can easily communicate without words what he is feeling and it shows in his facial expression.

As of the times when he does speak, both are incredibly significant and both relate to his family. Calling out for Ducky was not only his first word but it also showed how much Ducky means to him and through out the series Spike has been very protective of Ducky even sometimes blindly following her. The second time he talked was to who he considered his mother and was also significant in showing who he truly viewed as a family despite having already chose to go with the Spike tails earlier on.

As for his tv episode. I find it to be rather interesting, he is a quite person but he has a very active might which wouldn't surprise me. There is also his colour blindness and how he hears or perceives hearing. He doesn't talk so he can listen to the sound of food. I would call that a weakness, it doesn't wholly justify why he doesn't speak. I think he is just used to being quiet and has no interest in speaking and he and Ducky can already communicate effectively with each other.

I wish his big episodes in the tv series weren't so cringe worthy but for the most part I enjoy how he is portrayed in much of the series. 
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: Sovereign on July 31, 2019, 04:36:14 PM
Amazing picture as usual, Flathead! :yes

Spike has never been my favorite member of the Gang even if his presence usually doesn’t hurt the scenes he appears in. He has various amusing/sweet scenes with Ducky and the swimmer makes Spike more interesting as well. Family brought more depth into his character and it emphasized on his relationship with Ducky very well. I must agree with Diddy that the Big Freeze was the only time he felt like a character at all and even his role in that film was soured by Tippy. :x

Most often, Spike is at his best when he’s part of the background. His short attention span creates some interesting situations but when he’s the center of attention, things get worse. His “singing” ruins any song he takes part in and the episodes he stars are some of the worst ones for me. So yeah, I don’t mind Spike being there but whenever a fuss is made of him, my respect for him drops greatly. :p
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: DaveTheAnalyzer on August 07, 2019, 05:52:14 PM
One of my favs. A month late posting but I can’t resist talking about my fondness of Spike. He is a disability-coded character and as an autistic person, I can see something to relate to. I have come to appreciate him when I revisited the series a few years ago. He is laidback and silly, and pretty unashamed about marching outside of social norms while being pretty likeable about it. That can get him into trouble, like when he eats other people’s foods or is focused on eating in the middle of danger. Still, he is pretty friendly to his friends and others.

His bond with Ducky is sweet, and often the heart or an important part of a film or episode. I like Spike and Chomper bond as sniffers in one episode. I think they would get along very well as the youngest of the group. Despite Cera’s derision of him joining the group in that deleted scene in the first film, I think they do and can grow to get along well, with Spike’s laidback tendencies calming Cera and both of them having a tendency for mischief. I can see their mud pool trips with Ruby and Tria as time to bond more. I can see the gang coming to appreciate Spike’s laidback attitude as they grow up, as a wise thing to do after all the drama they get involved in.

While his “Through the Eyes of a Spiketail” episode mightn’t be great in execution, I do appreciate and like the concept. It does show nonverbal people often have as complex thoughts and inner lives as everyone else. I just consider him hearing Cera and Littlefoot and Topps and Mr. Thicknose’s arguing as nonsensical sounds as his way of tuning it out, having long grown annoyed by/used to it. I do wonder if speaking for Spike is more challenging than just not wanting to. He only does it two times due to direct danger and he and his friends get into a lot of danger. In the episode where Littlefoot and Cera argue about the frozen watersweets, he thinks in frustration he knows where they are but doesn’t vocalize it. Maybe speaking is a challenge for him. Even if he can’t become completely verbal, I’m sure he can find other ways like some kind of spiketail sign language to communicate and his friends presumably would become more familiar with what he is trying to get across when they’re more grownup.

The episode saying his smells come out as songs to him does provide me with the amusing headcanon that when he eats during dangerous situations, the smell was like a siren song to him. I’m kind of sad Spike hearing his smells doesn’t become a meme, with pop songs and other music like “Absolute Destiny, Apocalypse” from Revolutionary Girl Utena being pasted into clips of that episode and others. 

Writing him as part of an ensemble in fanfiction can be challenging when he isn’t directly involved. I keep having to remind myself to at least give one moment a page or every few pages so he doesn’t disappear from the scene. Hopefully, I’m doing him okay. I want him to be part of the group in stories, not a character only added in grudgingly because he's part of the canon.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on September 08, 2019, 02:05:31 PM
One thing I will say is that he still feels like an indispensable part of the Gang to me. Even in the first movie, it's hard to imagine it without him.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on October 16, 2020, 09:41:56 PM
1) In the first film Spike is a hatching so it is obvious why he is not speaking during that movie.  In your personal head-canon does he still not speak due to the fact he is too young to do so, or do you think there is another reason for his lack of speech?

Belated response here. But I just watched "Through the Eyes of a Spiketail" yesterday and so I wanted to chime in with some new thoughts regarding this question. I was hoping that this particular episode might help better clarify things... but instead I feel more confused than before.

I speculated last time that Spike's lack of speech was due to him being too young and not fluent enough yet, but as he got older he'd be able to speak properly. But the TV episode shows that he thinks in perfectly coherent thoughts. In itself, this would cause me to speculate that either Spike has a physical inability to speak properly despite still thinking intelligently, or else he simply chooses to remain silent for whatever reason.

... ... except that the episode also shows that he apparently can't understand his friends' words. From his POV shots, he hears the rest of the Gang speaking unintelligible garble. Now this in itself would make me think that he speaks an altogether different language from everyone else. But then that theory doesn't really make sense because all the other spiketails can speak normally. And, as mentioned earlier, Spike himself has spoken the very occasional word in the same language as the others ("Ducky!" "Mother!"). So then why does he hear his friends speaking garble?

...

Yeah, I no longer have a clear answer to this question. Now I just get confused the more I think about it. :wacko
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: RainbowFaceProtege on October 17, 2020, 04:33:25 PM
@StardustSoldier Yeah...that was one of my least favorite episodes for basically all the reasons you just mentioned. I felt like they were meaning to use it to clear up some of the mysteries about Spike, but all they really did was just cause even worse inconsistency with previous depictions of him.
Title: Re: Spike Showcase - July 2019
Post by: StardustSoldier on October 18, 2020, 03:09:26 PM
I thought it was a solid episode in itself. I certainly liked the core concept. It was unique and refreshing. I just think certain aspects of it could've been explained a bit better. It seemed like the writers hadn't watched LBT 4 & 8 in a while, and/or just forgot that Spike had brief speaking roles in those.