Brachiosaurus marks the fourth prehistoric animal Takara Tomy produced for their Animal Adventure (ANIA) line, following Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. The figure is a decent – if unremarkable – depiction of the long-necked giant, which I think it’s safe to say has eclipsed Apatosaurus/Brontosaurus as the default iconic sauropod. The “arm lizard” has always been a charismatic genus, regularly appearing in books and videos as one of the biggest dinosaurs known, but ever since its appearance in Jurassic Park, it has become especially prevalent in dinosaur media. It’s no surprise then that Takara Tomy would pick this genus early on for their toy line.
The Brachiosaurus is a fair bit larger than most of the ANIA dinosaurs, but it still fits within its own box. As far as I can tell, it is pretty accurate to skeletal reconstructions, at least in broad strokes (fun fact: most reconstructions are actually based on the African species B. brancai, which has been reclassified under the genus Giraffatitan). The head might be a little large and the tail appears shortened. However, Takara Tomy has opted to place the nostrils at the end of the snout rather than on top of the head as more traditionally (and probably less accurately) portrayed. The belly is big and round, and the musculature seems full throughout the body.
Detailing on the figure consists mostly of wrinkly skin; the coloration is a ruddy brown with darker shaded highlights. Although these aren’t uncommon traits in sauropod toys, I think it’s likely this figure is specifically inspired by Jurassic Park (as other figures in the line seem to be). I find this to be something of a detriment; it’s a rather plain design, whereas the figure’s own box art offers a much nicer-looking design on the back. The JP franchise casts a long shadow, though.
There are five points of articulation in the figure, all within the neck and tail. The Brachiosaurus can stretch its head nearly straight up or lower it down to the ground, and with some fiddling, one can tilt the upper neck from side to side. The tail functions the same way, but obviously to a lesser extent. The toy stands roughly 5.5″(14 cm) tall with its neck straight up and 7.5″(20 cm) long with its neck stretched out.
As a fairly cheap toy/collectible, the ANIA Brachiosaurus is a nice addition to the shelf and displays well with its companions in the series. If you’re interested in obtaining one, you can check Takara Tomy’s own site, Japan-based shops like HobbySearch or HobbyLink Japan, or, of course, Amazon and eBay.
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Another review with Takara Tomy. Thanks for that new review.