Ruby (a.k.a. "Responsible Ruby", as she is referred to as on the official website, and by fans), voiced by Meghan Strange, is a main character in The Land Before Time series, when she took on the responsibility as Chomper's caregiver after being separated from their families. She is an Oviraptor, which is called a "Fast Runner" in the series. The first movie she has appeared in is The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave. She has been listed in seventh place of the main characters after Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, Spike, and Chomper, but before Ali and Guido.
Character
Ruby is often the voice of wisdom among the young dinosaurs, able to explain matters the others do not understand. She has a calm demeanor and shows kindness and empathy to others. A strange habit of hers is to sometimes immediately repeat herself in a "backwards" way. For instance, she might say as a greeting: "Hello my friends; my friends hello!" She may be considered the "opposite" of Chomper, being female, calm, and more relaxed than him (she preferred to relax in warm mud over playing a sport with him in one episode). She is also older and smarter due to more experience in life.
History
As seen in flashbacks in the series, Ruby lived with her family in the Mysterious Beyond until Red Claw and his Fast Biters, Screech and Thud, posed a threat to them. Chomper suggested that the two of them travel to the Great Valley, and meet up with his friends Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike. Chomper's mother and father had apparently given Ruby the responsibility to look after and protect Chomper, as stated in "The Cave of Many Voices".
In a flashback in "The Star Day Celebration", just before Ruby and Chomper make their way to the Great Valley, Ruby is saying goodbye to her family, and her father reminds her to study how the residents of the Great Valley cooperate with each other. Her mother then adds "Someday it may save us from...", at which point she is interrupted by Chomper's warning that Red Claw and the Fast Biters are close at hand, and he and Ruby set off. This scene implies that Ruby is on a mission to learn how the inhabitants of the Great Valley work together as one herd, though they are of diverse species, so she can communicate this information to the residents of the Mysterious Beyond. They can then, in turn, use this knowledge to defeat or drive off Red Claw and his Fast Biters.
Family
Ruby has a mother, a father, and two siblings. They have appeared in "The Star Day Celebration" and "Return to Hanging Rock". Her parents have wrinkles, implying age. The Mother is pink and the Father is blue. The Father also has an elderly-like voice. Her siblings are also pink and blue.
Age
Ruby's age is not known in the TV series, but she is older than the Gang. It might be that she is an 11-year old Oviraptor that was born last during the time when Littlefoot and his friends were born, but she was born in the Mysterious Beyond in that time.
Character Development
Ruby was originally going to be named "Ovie", a pun on her species name, Oviraptor.
On many pieces of The Land Before Time merchandise and media, Ruby is shown to have her lighter belly-color on the top part of her beak instead of it being her base color. This could indicate that she was originally intended to have lighter color there.
Cultural Influence
Merchandise
Ruby has not spawned as much merchandise as the other main characters in the series. The character is featured, however, in "The Land Before Time Earthshakin' Playset", issued by Playmates, and also has a beanie plush toy.
Reception
Trivia
- It's unknown how Ruby understands the language of Sharpteeth from when Chomper's parents asked her to look after him from Red Claw.
- Chomper and Ruby do not appear in The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends, as the story takes place before the TV series, though it was issued after the series premiered.
- Ruby has so far appeared in every episode of the TV series, with the exception of "The Great Egg Adventure". In this episode, she, together with Cera and Spike, is at the mud pools, which play no part in the story.
- Oviraptors did not have teeth; which is accurately pointed out in "The Mysterious Tooth Crisis", when Chomper mentioned that Ruby doesn't have any teeth. Regardless, she is shown with teeth towards the end of that episode, during the theme song, in "The Cave of Many Voices", and "The Star Day Celebration, and Search for the Sky Color Stones.
- Ruby has ears but they are unseen, unlike most of the other characters.
- Ruby ate a clam shell in Cave of Many Voices.
- Oviraptor in reality were thought to have eaten eggs, but Ruby is not an Egg Stealer. Struthiomimus' are Egg Stealers. This may be because early scientists had mistaken the dinosaur eggs beneath the Oviraptor that was first discovered, instead of being an egg thief it was actually a caring and loving parent. Many scientists suggest today that from the adjustment of its beak that it ate plants and maybe even crustaceans such crabs and mollusks (which Ruby is seen eating in the series).
- Ruby does seem to have higher than average intelligence, which fits with the Oviraptor species being one of the smarter groups of dinosaurs.
- Ruby appears to be able to swim, as she is shown swimming in Star Day Celebration and goes underwater to rescue Chomper in Missing Fast Water Adventure.
- For reasons unknown, she and Chomper do not go with Littlefoot's friends to go after him when he sets out alone to go find Bron in Journey of the Brave, though they do set out behind Grandpa Longneck, Mr. Threehorn, and Wild Arms.
Quotes
- Ruby: Hello, my friends, my friends, hello!
---
- Ruby: Hey now, those Tree Stars that aren't yours aren't yours!
---
- Ruby: Being here is even better, now that we are here!
---
- Ruby: I'm right here. Of course, I'm always here since here is wherever I am.
_______________________________________________
- Ruby: I'm glad it's you and not the you I thought was you.
---
- Ruby: (to Ducky) You only think I talk big because I'm bigger than you. But if you were bigger than you, you'd talk bigger too. Of course, then it wouldn't be bigger to you.
- Ruby: I may not be with my family, but I sure do feel at home!
- Chomper: This game is fun, especially when I win!
- Ruby: Don't count your hatchlings before they hatch, Chomper!
- Ruby: That Chomper sound sounded just like Chomper!
- Chomper: What's that smell?
- Ruby: I can't smell anything. But your smeller does smell more smells then mine.
- Ruby: How exciting! Now I know why everyone's so excited!
- Ruby: Whatever is going to happen won't happen until it does.
_______________________________________________________________
- Ruby: I don't want this Star Day to be my last day!
- Chomper: Are you OK, Ruby?
- Ruby: Yes, but I think that big rock will keep me in here with it instead of out there with you!
___________________________________________
- Ruby: Chomper wait! How am I supposed to watch you if I can't see you!?
- Littlefoot: Seems like everywhere we go, more and more people want to hear about the amazing threehorn girl.
- Ruby: I don't think she minds. After all, talking about Cera is one of Cera's favorite things to talk about!
- Ruby: (On hard water sweets) That sounds like something I've never heard of before!
- Mr. Thicknose: Are you kids all right?
- Ruby: Except for being cold, wet, hungry. and miserable, I think we're all fine thank you.
- Ruby: The longer you're mad, the less you're happy.
- Ruby: We just need to practice until practice isn't practice anymore.
- Ruby: I think I need to go do some thinking at my thinking place.
______________________________________________________________________