Dino-Riders

Dino-Riders
Product logo
Genre Action/adventure
Science fiction
Created by Gerry Conway
Carla Conway
Directed by Ray Lee
Steven Hahn
Starring Charles Adler
Jack Angel
Cam Clarke
Townsend Coleman
Joe Colligan
Peter Cullen
Ike Eisenmann
Dan Gilvezan
Noelle North
Rob Paulsen
Patrick Pinney
Frank Welker
Composer(s) Haim Saban
Shuki Levy
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 14
Production
Running time approximately 23 min
(per episode)
Production company(s) Marvel Productions
Tyco Toys
—Animation by—
Hanho Heung-Up Co., Ltd.
(South Korean Animation Studio, episodes 1 & 2)
AKOM Productions Ltd.
(South Korean Animation Studio, episodes 3-13)
Distributor New World International
BVS Entertainment
Mattel Playground Productions
Release
Original network First-run syndication
Original release October 1 – December 31, 1988[1]

Dino-Riders is a cartoon television series that first aired in 1988.[1] Dino-Riders was primarily a promotional show to launch a new Tyco toy line.[2] Only fourteen episodes were produced, three of which were produced on VHS for the United States.[2] The show aired in the U.S. as part of the Marvel Action Universe.[2]

The series focuses on the battle between the good Valorians and the evil Rulons on prehistoric Earth.[2] The Valorians were a superhuman race, while the Rulons were a mixture of humanoid creatures. Both races came from the future but were transported back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Once on Earth, the Valorians befriended dinosaurs, while the Rulons brainwashed them.[2]

Overview

The Valorians were a peaceful race that lived on Valoria until they were attacked by the Rulons.[2] The Valorians attempted to escape from the Rulons' assault using their "Space Time Energy Projector" (S.T.E.P.); however, something went wrong. They were sent back in time, 65 million years to the age of the dinosaurs.[2] Unknown to them, the Rulons in the spaceship Dreadlock were also sent back through time when the S.T.E.P. was activated.[2]

After successfully landing on prehistoric Earth, the Valorians, led by Questar, used their AMP ("Amplified Mental Projector") necklaces to telepathically communicate with the dinosaurs they encountered and eventually befriended them.[2] On the other hand, the Rulons, led by their leader Emperor Krulos, used brainwashing devices known as brain-boxes to control dinosaurs for their own needs.[2] The Rulons then launched an attack on the Valorians, who called upon their dinosaur friends to assist them in fighting back. After successfully defeating the Rulons, the Valorians declared themselves to be the Dino-Riders.[2]

In regard to the dinosaur (and other animal) species present, the series is extremely anachronistic, showing late Cretaceous species like Tyrannosaurus rex alongside species from earlier eras, including the Permian genus Dimetrodon, which lived 200 million years earlier, before dinosaurs existed.

Characters

Valorians

  • Questar (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) – Leader of the Valorians who is strong-willed and courageous.[3]
  • Mind-Zei (voiced by Peter Cullen) – A blind warrior with a sixth-sense for detecting people around him. He offers advice to Questar and is also Serena's grandfather.[3]
  • Yungstar (voiced by Joe Colligan) – Young and eager for action, is prone to letting pride get in his way. He rides a Deinonychus.[3]
  • Serena (voiced by Noelle North) – Able to heal other beings and can sense when someone is in trouble. She is also the granddaughter of Mind-Zei.[3]
  • Gunnur (voiced by Peter Cullen) – A hardened war veteran and high-ranking official who often helps train other Dino-Riders.[3]
  • Ikon (voiced by Cam Clarke) – A statistician as well as a pragmatist. Ikon is one of Questar's top advisors. He possesses a staff that allows him to answer Questar's questions almost instantly.[3]
  • Vector (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) – Vector is one of Questar's top advisors. He is a general contractor who has a computerized wrist strap that allows him to assess projects that need carried out such as camp expansion and infrastructure repair.[3]
  • Aero (voiced by Cam Clarke) – The competitive rival of Yungstar. He flies a Quetzalcoatlus and can maneuver it better than anyone.[3]
  • Tark - A high-ranking Dino-Rider official. Questar would often consult with Tark on a number of important matters, his years of experience, and his vast amount of knowledge has earned him respect from his peers.
  • Ayce – He usually teaches training and equipment familiarization classes.[3]
  • Aries – Aries is a young warrior who is frequently unsure of himself and is always seeking guidance from the other Valorians. He mainly mans the artillery of the Diplodocus.[3]
  • Neutrino – He assists in various training courses. Although much of Neutrino's time is spent training others, Neutrino is more than capable on the battlefield.[3]

Commandos

The Commandos are a special forces military unit within the Dino-Riders.[3]

  • Astra (voiced by Townsend Coleman) – A hardened war veteran and leader of the Commandos. Formerly a teacher at the Valorian University and once counted Questar as a student.[3]
  • Bomba (voiced by Peter Cullen) – An explosives expert who is utilized to make clearings or remove obstacles.[3]
  • Kameelian (voiced by Rob Paulsen) – Specializes in surveillance and reconnaissance. Kameelian is a master of disguise.[3]
  • Glyde (voiced by Frank Welker) – Aerial reconnaissance and artillery cover. Uses a glider to navigate through the air.[3]
  • Rok – Expert in crossing rocky terrain such as mountains.[3]

Cro-Magnons

The Valorians have also made allies with a tribe of Cro-Magnons. Among the known Cro-Magnons are:

  • Zar (voiced by Townsend Coleman) – Leader of a clan of Cro-Magnons. He leads his clan against the evil Neanderthals of Grom and refuses to succumb to his powers like the other tribes before him.[3]
  • Kub (voiced by Ike Eisenmann) – A young but courageous Cro-Magnon who lost his father during an earlier attack by Grom. He helps the Valorians in their fight with the Rulons ever since going with them to the past to reunite with the Dino-Riders.[3]
  • Maya (voiced by Liz Georges) – Maya is a compassionate Cro-Magnon who is the Cro-Magnon equivalent of Serena as she is the healer of the tribe.[3]

Rulons

The Rulons are a race of aliens that are the enemies of the Valorians and the main antagonists of the series.

  • Emperor Krulos (voiced by Frank Welker) – The evil leader of the Rulons who rules them with fear. Krulos is a frog-like humanoid creature in an armored suit who seeks world domination. He mostly uses a Tyrannosaurus when going into battle.[3]
  • Rasp (voiced by Frank Welker) – Rasp is a cobra-like creature who is the leader of the Viper group and Krulos's second-in-command. Rasp always tries to usurp Krulos's place while keeping Hammerhead and Antor from trying to take his status.[3]
  • Hammerhead (voiced by Charlie Adler) – Hammerhead is a hammerhead shark-like creature who is the leader of the Sharkmen and one of Krulos's top generals. Hammerhead usually vies with Rasp and Antor for second-in-command status.[3]
  • Antor (voiced by Peter Cullen) – Antor is an ant-like creature who is the leader of the Antmen and one of Krulos's generals. Antor usually vies with Hammerhead and Rasp for second-in-command status.[3]
  • Krok (voiced by Cam Clarke) – A crocodile-like creature and one of Krulos's generals. He is entirely obedient to Krulos and focuses on serving his master rather than getting involved in the petty-squabbling in which his fellow generals engage.[3]
  • Skate – Skate is a manta ray-like creature who is a low-ranking official of the Rulons.[3]
  • Lokus (voiced by Charlie Adler) – Lokus is a locust-like creature who is a low-ranking official of the Rulons.[3]
  • Algar - A crocodile-like creature.
  • Buzz - A locust-like creature.
  • Dedeye - A member of the Viper Group.
  • Demon - An Antman.
  • Drone - An Antman.
  • Fang - A member of the Viper Group.
  • Finn - A Sharkman.
  • Fire - An Antman.
  • Gill - A Sharkman.
  • Gorr - A crocodile-like creature.
  • Gutz - A crocodile-like creature.
  • Kraw - A crocodile-like creature.
  • Mako - A Sharkman.
  • Pox - A locust-like creature.
  • Rattlar - A member of the Viper Group.
  • Rayy - A manta ray-like creature.
  • Sidewinder - A member of the Viper Group.
  • Six-Gill - A Sharkman.
  • Skwirm - A member of the Viper Group.
  • Sludj - A manta ray-like creature.
  • Snarrl - A crocodile-like creature.
  • Squish - A locust-like creature.
  • Sting - An Antman.
  • Termite - An Antman.

Neanderthals

Zar's tribe of Cro-Magnons have been at war with a rogue tribe of Neanderthals. Among the known Neanderthals are:

  • Grom (voiced by Jack Angel) – Grom is the leader of a deadly clan of Neanderthals who seeks to control or annihilate all neighboring tribes. He has ruled his tribe for years and has struck fear into the hearts of many rival Neanderthal tribes. Following the fight against the Dino-Riders, Grom was accidentally pulled back to the Dino-Riders' time and runs off.[3]

Episodes

The Dino-Riders series consisted of a single season of 14 episodes. The first two episodes were produced for release on VHS as standalone specials, the first in 1987 and the second in 1988. Also in 1988, the series transitioned to television, with a further 11 episodes being produced and added to the specials to create a standard season's worth of 13 episodes. Lastly, in 1990, an additional VHS special was produced to promote the new range of "Ice Age" figures, released as "Ice Age Adventure" (but with the on-screen title "Dino-Riders in the Ice Age"). [4] Below is a list of each episode along with the date it first aired.[1]

Episode # Title Aired Synopsis
1 "The Adventure Begins" 1987 (VHS release)
October 01, 1988 (airdate)
2 "Revenge of the Rulons" October 08, 1988
3 "The Rulon Stampede" October 15, 1988
4 "The Blue Skies of Earth" October 22, 1988
5 "Toro, Toro, Torosaurus" October 29, 1988
6 "T-Rex" November 05, 1988
7 "Krulos" November 12, 1988
8 "Tagg, You're It!" November 19, 1988
9 "Thanksgiving" November 26, 1988
10 "To Lose the Path" December 03, 1988
11 "Enter the Commandos" December 10, 1988
12 "Battle for the Brontosaurus" (1) December 17, 1988
13 "One to Lead Us" (2) December 24, 1988
14 "Ice Age Adventure"/"Dino-Riders in the Ice Age" 1990 (VHS release) Upon the S.T.E.P. being repaired, the Dino-Riders work to keep it from being claimed by the Rulons where an accident sends the Commandos members Astra, Kameelian, Bomba, Faze, and Glyde to the Ice Age where it leads to them encountering it's creatures and a tribe of Cro-Magnon led by Zar. As the Commandos work to repair the S.T.E.P. and reunite with the Dino-Riders, they must also help Zar's tribe in their fight against Grom's tribe.

Cast

Crew

Toys

In total, there were four series of Dino-Riders toys: Series 1 (1988), Series 2 (1989), Series 3 and Ice Age (1990).[5][6] The Ice Age line focused on Ice-Age mammals rather than dinosaurs.[6]

The larger toys in the range also had a motorized walking action with the dinosaur's head swaying from side to side.[7] Each Rulon faction toy came with a different self-automated trap.[7]

The dinosaurs were acclaimed for their highly detailed bodies and color, and impressed the Smithsonian Institution, who contacted Tyco to reproduce the dinosaurs (without the motorized mechanisms and wheels) for their "Dinosaur and other Prehistoric Reptile Collection".[8] Dinosaur illustrator William Stout was credited for dinosaur design on the show's credits.

Series 1 (1988)

The release of the first series of Dino-Riders toys was timed to coincide with the cartoon series on television.[7] It initially consisted of 5 Valorian and 6 Rulon toys, along with eight 2-figure packs.[5][7] A sixth Valorian toy, Torosaurus, would be released at the end of the series.[9] The Diplodocus,[10] Torosaurus,[9] Tyrannosaurus Rex,[11] and Triceratops[12] all had motorized walking mechanisms.

Valorians Rulons
Diplodocus with Questar, Mind-Zei, and Aries Tyrannosaurus Rex with Krulos, Bitor, and Cobrus
Torosaurus with Gunnur and Magnus Triceratops with Hammerhead and Sidewinder
Deinonychus with Sky Deinonychus with Antor
Styracosaurus with Turret Monoclonius with Mako
Quetzalcoatlus with Yungstar Pteranodon with Rasp
Pterodactly with Llahd Ankylosaurus with Sting

Action figures

  • Questar / Krulos
  • Proto / Rattlar
  • Orion / Six-Gill
  • Mind-Zei / Fire
  • Quark / Finn
  • Nova / Demon
  • Mercury / Fang
  • Boldar / Termite

Series 2 (1989)

The second series of Dino-Rider toys consisted of 7 new Valorian toys and 3 new Rulons,[5][13] along with eight more 2-figure packs as well as 6 "Commandos".[14] The Commandos consisted of a human figure with unique weapons and accessories.[13]

The most notable toy from this series was the Brontosaurus, which was the largest toy in the entire range, measuring 34 inches long and 15 inches tall.[15] In an effort to keep costs down, Tyco had to abandon several features that were originally intended to be part of the figure.[16] These included motorized walking action, four figures instead of three, and an entirely different weapons system.[16]

The Stegosaurus toy had motorized walking action,[17] while the Pachycephalosaurus and Saurolophus both had a mechanism that allowed their bodies to thrust from a horizontal position with their tail in the air into a vertical position with their tail on the ground.[18][19]

Valorians Rulons Commandos
Brontosaurus with Serena, Ayce, and Ion
(also included 3 Rhamphorhynchus pterosaurs)		 Kentrosaurus with Krok Astra, commander
Stegosaurus with Tark and Vega Saurolophus with Lokus Bomba, munitions expert
Edmontonia with Axis Placerias with Skate Kameelian, infiltrator
Dimetrodon with Shado Glyde, paratrooper
Pachycephalosaurus with Tagg Faze, artillery expert
Struthiomimus with Nimbus Rok, mountain warfare expert
Protoceratops with Kanon

Action figures

  • Questar / Krulos
  • Serena / Skwirm
  • Yungstar / Dedeye
  • Mind-Zei / Sludj
  • Hondo / Drone
  • Ursus / Snarrl
  • Neutrino / Poxx
  • Graff / Kraw

Series 3 (1990)

The third series of Dino-Riders toys was split into two assortments: 3 new dinosaurs for the regular series and 4 prehistoric mammals for the new "Ice Age" concept.[5][20] The dinosaur sets are among the rarest of the entire range due to a limited production run.[21]

The Quetzalcoatlus, originally released as a Valorian in Series 1, was re-released as a Rulon with a new yellow and spotted black paint scheme.[22][23] The Pachyrhinosaurus had motorized walking action.[21]

Valorians Rulons
Pachyrhinosaurus with Atlas Quetzalcoatlus with Algar
Chasmosaurus with Llava

Ice Age

The Ice Age subline was unique in that all of the animals produced belonged to the Valorian faction and, with the rest of the Series 3, are very hard to find.[5][24] This line also included six more 2-figure packs. The Woolly Mammoth, the largest figure in the range, had motorized walking action.[25]

Valorians
Woolly Mammoth with Grom
Giant Ground Sloth with Ulk
Killer Warthog with Zar
Sabre-Tooth Tiger with Kub

Action figures

  • Onk / Buzz
  • Tor / Gorr
  • Urg / Rayy
  • Agga / Gill
  • Ecco / Squish
  • Wizz / Gutz

Comics

Apart from the miniature comics included with each of the dinosaur toys, Marvel released a 3-part miniseries of Dino-Rider comics. The comics' storylines were considered to be much darker than the cartoon, sometimes focusing on conflicts between the Valorians. For instance, one storyline involves Questar being accused of murdering his jealous, scheming brother, Tark.

The first comic book issue, "The Path", was released in February 1989 and was 23 pages long. A Dino-Riders Annual was later released as a hardcover book that contained both the first and second issues in one collection.

Film adaptation

In October 2015, Tracking Board reported that Mattel has teamed with Solipsist Film to develop a live action Dino-Riders movie with Alissa Phillips and Stephen L’Heureux producing.[26] As of 2018, there is no indication in the media that the film is going forward.

Other media

  • In addition to the toys and comics, there were a number of other products released during the Dino-Riders run on television. These were primarily child-oriented products such as colouring books, puzzles, and crayons, but also included clothing, kites, stickers, and costumes. Tyco also released a number of Super Dough play sets.
  • The character Bix in the Dinotopia series is modeled after the Dino-Riders Protoceratops toy.[27]
  • In the South Park cartoon episode "Imaginationland Episode III", a Rulon Dino-Rider on a Tyrannosaurus can be seen for several seconds marching in the background with the other evil characters.[28]
  • In the Robot Chicken cartoon episode "G.I. Jogurt", the Dino-Riders have a rock song that is performed by Sebastian Bach. This theme song depicts the Dino-Riders treating the dinosaurs like weapons, running a labor camp to have the primitives make the Dino-Riders' stuff, and feeding babies to an armored Tyrannosaurus. Astra (voiced by Seth Green) quotes "hey at least we don't have sex with the dinosaurus" while another person quotes "speak for yourself, bro."

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 TV.com. "Dino-Riders - Episode Guide". TV.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Archived February 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Archived October 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Cartoons". Dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  6. 1 2 "STA: Dino Riders: The Toys". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "STA: Dino Riders: Toy line Series 1 (1988)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  8. ↑ "STA: Dino Riders: The Smithsonian Institution Dinosaur Collection (1992)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  9. 1 2 "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  10. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  11. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  12. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  13. 1 2 "STA: Dino Riders: Toy line Series 2 (1989)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  14. ↑ "STA: Dino Rider Commando's (1989)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  15. ↑ "STA: Dino Riders: Bronotsaurus w/ Ion, Serena & Ayce". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  16. 1 2 "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  17. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  18. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  19. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  20. ↑ "STA: Dino Riders: Toy line Series 3 (1990)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  21. 1 2 "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  22. ↑ "STA: Dino Riders: Quetzalcoatlus w/ Algar". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  23. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  24. ↑ "STA: Dino Riders Ice Age (1990)". Toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  25. ↑ "Dino Riders World - Toy Section". www.dinoridersworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  26. ↑ Boyle, Lance (October 12, 2015). "{EXCLUSIVE} MATTEL IS INTERESTED IN A "DINO-RIDERS" FILM". The Tracking Board.
  27. ↑ "Gurney Journey: Bix Maquettes". Gurneyjourney.blogspot.com. 2007-11-26. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  28. ↑ "Miscellaneous". Dinoridersworld.com. 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
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