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.
Review: Inostrancevia (Jurassic World: Rebirth, Strike Attack by Mattel)
3.7 (3 votes)
I first heard of Inostrancevia in a 1994 episode of Paleo-World titled “Tale of the Sail”, about the synapsids that dominated the Permian period. It has been one of my favorite prehistoric animal names ever since, with a pleasant mouthfeel even if the name sounds cooler than it is.
Review: Velociraptor (The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Hammond Collection by Mattel)
4 (3 votes)
Although I no longer hold The Lost World: Jurassic Park in high regard, I do have nostalgia for it. I was 13 when the movie was released and I don’t think I was ever more hyped for a film, aside from the first Jurassic Park, perhaps.
Review: Lythronax (Beasts of the Mesozoic by Creative Beast Studios)
5 (6 votes)
What better-suited rival for the “devil-horned face” than the “gore king” tyrant?
Some animals know the dangers of their environment by instinct. Other animals have to learn by experience – provided they can survive it. For young nestling Diabloceratopses exploring life in Late Cretaceous Utah, knowing danger could mean recognizing the difference between the casual bustle of the foraging adults, and the sound of the herd suddenly tensing in fear.
Review: Jaekelopterus (Prehistoric World by CollectA)
5 (7 votes)
The genus Jaekelopterus contains two species from the Early Devonian; fossils of J. rhenaniae were originally discovered in the Rhineland of Western Germany while those of J. howellii were originally discovered in Wyoming, USA. Jaekelopterus rhenaniae is not only the largest eurypterid, it is the largest known arthropod…EVER!
Review: Kaprosuchus (Jurassic World Epic Evolution by Mattel)
4 (3 votes)
Imagine yourself for a moment in a swamp. Not just any particular swamp. There’s mangrove trees with many vines hanging off their branches, tall reeds and cattails, and a strange assortment of prehistoric fauna. There’s a herd of ginormous Paraceratherium feeding on the trees, Phiomia fleeing from ravenous Titanoboa, Baryonyx fishing, and Beelzebufo hopping around.
Review: Diplodocus (Jurassic World, Legacy Collection by Mattel)
4.2 (5 votes)
It has gotten to the point where I wince a little whenever Mattel announces a new giant sauropod toy. It wasn’t that long ago that the Legacy Brachiosaurus was released, and I naively thought that such an enormous toy was a one-off release.
Review: Pyroraptor (Jurassic World Hammond Collection, by Mattel)
4 (5 votes)
Nearly 30 years after Jurassic Park released and had helped reform the general public’s perception of dinosaurs, Jurassic World Dominion released in 2022. It is the first film in the franchise to feature fully feathered dinosaurs (and a pterosaur), another major step moving in line with the science that had been going on for decades.
Review: Tyrannosaurus rex Off-road Tracker Pack (Jurassic Park, 93’ Classic by Mattel)
3.5 (6 votes)
The Tyrannosaurus Off-road Tracker Pack represents the last set released in the short-lived Jurassic Park 93’ Classic line, which was replaced last year by the (so far) inferior Jurassic World Reimagined line. I suppose it makes sense that the line wouldn’t last too far past the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park but I think the entire range of toys released under it are some of Mattel’s best and most fun.
Review: Carnotaurus (Roarin’ Real Feel, Jurassic World Legacy Collection Reimagined by Mattel)
4.6 (5 votes)
In 1994 Kenner released the first ever toy of Carnotaurus under their Jurassic Park line. Although now one of the most popular theropods, Carnotaurus had only been described 9 years prior to the release of the Kenner toy.
Review: Scutosaurus (Jurassic World, Hammond Collection by Mattel)
4.2 (5 votes)
Perhaps the most surprising addition to the Hammond Collection so far, today we’re looking at the Scutosaurus. Scutosaurus has never appeared in any Jurassic media aside from the Jurassic World: Alive augmented reality game but the Permian pareiasaur has popped up repeatedly in Jurassic franchise toy lines.
Review: Diabloceratops (Beasts of the Mesozoic by Creative Beast Studios)
5 (7 votes)
Diabloceratops is a dinosaur in a curious position. Despite relatively little fame or pop culture presence, the “devil-horned face” has been a popular choice of genus for toy companies; Safari ltd., Collecta, Schleich, Mattel, and recently Haolonggood, among still others, have all taken a crack at the animal, with surprisingly good results in general.