Mosasaurus (Jurassic World: Rebirth, Bite ‘N Blast by Mattel)

I generally don’t have favorable opinions about the Jurassic World trilogy, but I’ll give them credit for one thing: reinstating Mosasaurus as the A-List paleo-media star it deserves to be. Mosasaurus has been a staple of Mesozoic media since its discovery two centuries ago now; but thanks to its prominent appearances in the Jurassic World films, the mighty quasi-lizard of the ocean has been thrust front and center into widespread fame once again.

Mattel has given Mosasaurus some impressive offerings within their Jurassic toy line in the past. With the fresh new release of Jurassic World: Rebirth in cinemas, Mattel’s latest waves of toys has been invading shelves; among the biggest of these new toys is the “Bite-n-Blast” Mosasaurus, a whole new sculpt and gimmick for the animal’s revamped film design. The figure comes in a sizable package, commanding a lot of shelf space and considerable presence even when displayed on the lowest store racks. The tail fin and the left-side flippers are detached in the package so the giant toy can even fit on shelves properly at all. Once unpackaged and properly assembled (which, like all Mattel creatures, is one-way and permanent), this Mosasaurus is an impressive action figure indeed.

The Bite-n-Blast Mosasaurus is noticeably darker in coloration than the Real Feel/Ocean Protector figures, trading the ocean blues for a military camo-style green with brown and black gradient splotches on the head and back. The transitions between these color splotches and the darker parts of the head and tail aren’t as smoothly applied as they perhaps could be, but the overall figure is dark enough in coloration it probably won’t be noticeable to most buyers. The jaw and belly, meanwhile are white, and the eyes are a piercing orange-yellow. The mouth is stark red, with off-white teeth for contrast. This pattern doesn’t quite fit the typical countershading color schemes seen in large oceanic predators, but it makes for a good-looking movie monster and a good-looking toy in turn, at least in my opinion.

The Bite-n-Blast figure is also only slightly smaller than the Mosasaurus toys from prior series, measuring roughly 66 cm (26 in) from nose to tail (which would translate to a roughly 12-meter/39-foot animal in 1:18 scale). Proportionally the figure seems to be an improvement, though; the tail is about 30.5 cm (12 in) long, almost half the figure’s total length, while the head measures 14 cm (5.5 in), less than a quarter of the length. This is a much more robust depiction of Mosasaurus overall, with a rounded snout, fewer sunken spots in the skull and jaws, and a significantly deeper and more rounded rib cage. These traits lend themselves to a more healthy-looking and even more scientifically-accurate reconstruction of Mosasaurus, giving the design a natural elegance to complement the fearsome size. The tail fin is still a step sideways in accuracy, being more eel-like than shark-like, but this still a Jurassic World creature we’re talking about, so the grading curve is going to be different. The new design also eschews the crocodile scutes in favor of what look like few rows of large ossified scales – still not great for streamlining, but an improvement over those oppressive scutes (which got stuck on seemingly just about anything with sharp teeth in the previous World films).

Skin texture consists mostly of vertical wrinkles and scattered patches of pebbly scales(?), with a ridged pattern running the length of the underbelly. The overall effect looks reminiscent of some modern baleen whales. The detailing is generally pretty good, although once again more stylistic than functional for an oceanic ambush/pursuit predator. The flippers are more pointed and narrow than previous incarnations of the creature, but have nice nuances to the textures and flexes of each flipper, suggesting an animal that’s actively swimming and adjusting to the currents it navigates. The best details, however, are inside the mouth. While the tongue is molded to the bottom of the mouth unremarkably (and un-forked, sadly), the teeth are delightfully sharp-looking as they poke out from the gums. Mattel has introduced a new style of sculpting teeth on the larger meat-eaters, using soft rubber pieces that allow finer detail while maintaining child safety for buyers. The results are terrific, especially with the Mosasaurus being fully lipped, safely sheathing its dentary until the time is right to open wide and deliver a most terrifying last view to any doomed toy in sights. Even the pterygoid teeth in the back of the mouth roof are sculpted in this manner, a detail Mattel could have easily skimped on but didn’t, to the absolute benefit of the toy’s presentation.

The titular gimmick of the Bite-n-Blast Mosasaurus is a twofold action feature which integrates the entire body of the figure. The Mosasaurus’s articulated jaws are controlled by a button atop the base of the tail, snapping the jaws open and shut again; in addition, the back of the throat features a “cannon” which thrusts forward when the mouth is open. Place a minifigure inside Mosasaurus’s mouth, and press the button with decent force to vomit the minifigure back out again. It’s a fun gimmick, albeit one that’s not as impressive as it could be. The launching mechanism lacks power, so the “blasted” minifigure usually doesn’t travel beyond a few inches when I try it out.

The minifigure included with the product is a tiny Dilophosaurus, one of the same sculpts for the dinosaur Mattel has been using since 2018. The Dilophosaurus measures just 8 cm (under 3.25 in) long, so it’s not exactly scale-consistent with its giant package partner. The toy is made of very soft, rubbery plastic, and leans forward on its frill. It is colored teal-green, with darker splotchy patterns on the back, and a crimson-red coat of paint on the crests and the front of the frill. It’s minimal work, but this Dilophosaurus is nothing more than a glorified “bullet” accessory anyway, and it works fine in that regard.

Another aspect of the Bite-n-Blast gimmick is the ability to thrash the Mosasaurus’s head back and forth for additional effect. With one hand on the rear half of the body and the other hand holding the tail, pivot the tail left or right to swing the front half of the body in the opposite direction. Regrettably, like the Blast gimmick, this feature feels like it could use some improvement. If the Mosasaurus isn’t held perfectly level, the front half of the body might swing to one side or the other by itself, and the mechanisms inside aren’t strong enough to counter gravity when working the tail. It’s a rather floppy figure in hand, in short. Each of the flippers also features a ratcheted swivel-hinge joint, and the tail has a basic rotating joint a third of the way down.

While the marketable gimmicks of the toy might leave a little to be desired, I don’t consider this a crucial setback to what is still a very impressive toy to behold. Mosasaurus was one of the biggest, most powerful ocean predators the planet has ever seen, and Mattel’s Bite-n-Blast action figure has little trouble conveying that fearsome presence. Unless you’re not into action figures or Jurassic World toys – or, maybe, getting tight on space – I have little reason not to recommend this figure to fans of marine reptiles and prehistoric creatures. You can currently find it easily at local Walmart and Target stores in the US, as well as various online retailers who are carrying the Jurassic World: Rebirth merchandise line. Kids and adults alike should be able to appreciate this pelagic giant plenty.