Triceratops (Happinet)

Photographs and review by Indohyus, edited by Suspsy

The number of Triceratops models and figures can hardly be counted at this point. Every line has one, some great, some not. Here I will be examining the one from Happinet, a Japanese company, that created a series of articulated dinosaur figures, similar in certain styles to the Sega Dinosaur King line.

As an introduction of Triceratops should be unnecessary, let’s get on to this figure’s details. At 7.9” long and 3.7” high, it is a decent size and should fit in would most toy lines. The figure is a mix of grey and beige, far from eye-catching, but appropriate for a large herbivore, similar to modern rhinos. The figure features five points of articulation, with the head and all four limbs able to turn 360°, giving it decent poseability potential (though I will say they are a bit on the looser side on mine). I will say the face does come off as a little cartoonish, even dopey, but it has a charm to it. The plastic is very soft and the figure itself is hollow, so it should stand up to rough play fairly well. I would beware the horns if it does get thrown. While soft, they may still injure the sibling it is being thrown at.

Accuracy-wise, this Triceratops does very well. The legs are correct, the right number of toes are on each foot, and the horns are a good length. I do feel that, due to the articulation there, the neck is a little short and the body seems a little slopped near the head. These are minor points, though.

Overall, this toy is definitely more for kids than collectors, as the articulation and soft nature make it perfect for rough play. I dare say it will keep youngsters quiet for a good while. Happinet figures are available on eBay, so if you find the Triceratops cheap, by all means get it. Otherwise, it’s not really a must have.