Dino riders
Dino-Riders is the name of a successful and popular American action figure toy line from the late 1980s . Primarily to market Tyco's toys , a 14-part animated series was created in 1988 , which was also shown on German television from 1992 in the Saturday morning program of RTL plus . In addition, the first episodes appeared on VHS in this country . In addition to the television series, a three-part series of Marvel Comics comics was created and numerous other merchandising products appeared. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the dinosaur riders toy and the animated series celebrated great success in North America, Europe and even in Japan (there under the title Busō Kyōryū Dainosu , 武装 恐 竜 ダ イ ノ ス).
The toy
By Dino-Riders -Toys published three series and finally the Ice Age series. The concept of equipping dinosaurs with futuristic weapons and using them as mounts was extremely successful at the time, not least due to the high-quality and detailed figures. The dinosaurs were sold in elaborate, hinged cardboard boxes that could be seen behind a transparent pane, and each figure was accompanied by a small comic book that told the background story. Depending on the size and opulence of the dinosaur, the number of accessories also varied, such as weapons for the figures or dinosaur traps, and the action figures themselves. Other game figures, one Valorian and one Rulonier per pack, were also available separately.
The first series, which appeared in the late 1980s, was the most successful and this was quickly followed by Series 2. The third series was only released in Europe in the early 1990s, with a few models, in small numbers and at a time when the hype had subsided . This was followed a little later by the Dino-Riders: Ice Age series, which had little in common with the actual series. These now offered an Ice Age scenario and Neanderthals as figures. In addition, a series of figures called Dino Riders: Commando appeared , which had detailed soldiers, but no dinosaurs.
The largest and most sought-after figures of all toys, all of which were in proportion to one another, were those of Tyrannosaurus rex ; Diplodocus and Brontosaurus . Today the figures are in demand among collectors and, especially in their original packaging, fetch high prices (especially the rare series 3).
In 1992, the Tyco Industries, Inc. dinosaur models were sold in the Smithsonian Institution's museums in their special packaging and without toy figures and accessories under the name The Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of Natural History - Dinosaur and other prehistoric Reptile Collection and the Ice Age mammal models under The Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of Natural History - Ice Age Mammal Collection sold as the Smithsonian was impressed with the accuracy of the figures.
Series 1
The first series of the toy produced the following dinosaurs (name of the animal, then the crew and affiliation):
| dinosaur | crew | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Tyrannosaurus rex | Krulos , Bitor and Cobrus | Rulonians |
| Triceratops | Hammerhead and Sidewinder | Rulonians |
| Deinonychus | Antor | Rulonians |
| Diplodocus | Questar , Mind-Zei and Aries | Dino Riders |
| Pteranodon | Rasp | Rulonians |
| Torosaurus | Gunnur and Magnus | Dino Riders |
| Monoclonius | Mako | Rulonians |
| Deinonychus | Sky | Dino Riders |
| Styracosaurus | Turret | Dino Riders |
| Ankylosaurus | Sting | Rulonians |
| Pterodactylus | Llahd | Dino Riders |
| Quetzalcoatlus | Yungstar | Dino Riders |
Series 2
The second series of toys produced the following dinosaurs (name of the animal, then the crew and affiliation):
| dinosaur | crew | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| brontosaurus | Ian , Serena and Ayce | Dino Riders |
| Stegosaurus | Vega and Tark | Dino Riders |
| Placerias | Skate | Rulonians |
| Kentrosaurus | Croc | Rulonians |
| Dimetrodon | Shado | Dino Riders |
| Edmontonia | Axis | Dino Riders |
| Protoceratops | canon | Dino Riders |
| Struthiomimus | nimbus | Dino Riders |
| Pachycephalosaurus | Tagg | Dino Riders |
| Saurolophus | Locus | Rulonians |
Series 3
The third series of toys produced the following dinosaurs (name of the animal, then the crew and affiliation):
| dinosaur | crew | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Pachyrhinosaurus | Atlas | Dino Riders |
| Chasmosaurus | Llava | Dino Riders |
| Quetzalcoatlus | Algar | Rulonians |
Ice Age
The "Ice Age" series of toys produced the following figures (name of the animal, then the crew and affiliation):
| dinosaur | crew | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| mammoth | Grom | Neanderthals |
| Entelodon | Tsar | Neanderthals |
| Saber-toothed tiger | Kub | Neanderthals |
| Giant sloth | Joke | Neanderthals |
Backstory of the animated series
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| German title | Dino riders |
| Original title | Dino riders |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| year | 1988 |
| length | 22 minutes |
| Episodes | 14th |
| genre | Animated series , science fiction |
| idea | Paul Kirchner |
| production | Ray Lee |
| music | Haim Saban |
| First broadcast | October 2, 1988 (USA) |
| German-language first broadcast |
March 7, 1992 on RTL plus |
The background of the toys, which the series takes up, tells the story of the Valorians; peaceful, telepathic people. Their home planet was attacked and conquered by the evil Ruloni, humanoids with the heads of reptiles, fish or insects, so that four hundred survivors decide to flee in a large spaceship. This spaceship also serves as a time machine and this is how the refugees are brought to the solar system on prehistoric earth. They used the experimental “Space-Time Energy Projector”. Unfortunately, the Rulonians who chased the Valorians on their escape were dragged back to earth with them, because they held onto the people's ship with a tractor beam while it made the time jump.
Stranded on earth, both groups recruit the dinosaurs for themselves in order to continue their war with them as riding and fighting animals on earth. The Valorians use their telepathic skills, with which they can also communicate with the dinosaurs, and encourage them to volunteer. The Rulonians, on the other hand, catch the dinosaurs and put so-called "brain boxes", helmets or caps made of metal, on them, with which the animals are now controlled, which unconditionally obey their masters. Both parties equipped the dinosaurs with large weapon platforms and lasers with which they now go into battle.
Unfortunately, the “Space-Time Energy Projector”, which is needed to return to one's own time and galaxy, was damaged when it crashed to earth. The Valorians are therefore looking for materials on earth to repair it. The Rulonians also want to return, but want to use force to grab the “Space-Time Energy Projector”, which is why there are now frequent fights. The Rulonians are led by the evil Krulos , the Valorians by the brave Questar , who from then on call themselves Dino-Riders .
Web links
- Dino-Riders in the Internet Movie Database (English)