With a lot of companies that produce prehistoric animal figures, you can often get a lot of repetition of familiar species, or focus on large dinosaurs. Very few decide to make figures of the less familiar or smaller creatures that shared their world with the terrible lizards.
Brand: Kaiyodo
Review: Hallucigenia (Kaiyodo vs. Trilobiti Design)
5 (7 votes)
Review and images by bmathison1972, edited by Suspsy
Today we are going to look at the history of the enigmatic Cambrian animal Hallucigenia sparsa, by comparing an older, outdated model with one depicting the most recent concept of this species.
Hallucigenia sparsa was first described by Charles Doolittle Walcott as a polychaete worm in the genus Canadia.
Review: Hemicyclaspis (Series 3 by Kaiyodo)
5 (6 votes)
Review and photographs by Indohyus, edited by Suspsy
Outside of Dimetrodon and more recently, Dunkleosteus, toy companies rarely produce species from the Palaeozoic era. Maybe it’s due to them not being as large or as popular as dinosaurs. In any case, there are relatively few of the amazing and bizarre creatures from this huge expanse of time.
Outside of Dimetrodon and more recently, Dunkleosteus, toy companies rarely produce species from the Palaeozoic era. Maybe it’s due to them not being as large or as popular as dinosaurs. In any case, there are relatively few of the amazing and bizarre creatures from this huge expanse of time.
Review: Huayangosaurus (Dinotales series 7 by Kaiyodo)
4.4 (8 votes)
This spikey Chinese stegosaur is hugely detailed for such a tiny figure (about 8 cm long). Kaiyodo has this down to an art and their figures are often tiny but very detailed and highly accurate. The Huayangosaurus figure is part of Kayodo’s Dinotales line, specifically from Series 7, the most recent release.
Review: Kitadaniryu (Kaiyodo Animatales Series 6)
4.7 (3 votes)
After the release of a certain film having to do with dinosaurs in 1993, dromaeosaurs have captured the public imagination. While some are famous, such as the notorious Velociraptor and Utahraptor, there are many more obscure species as well. Kitadaniryu is a very mysterious dinosaur, as there is very little information about it available.
Review: Leaps in Evolution (Kaiyodo)
4.8 (12 votes)
Review and photographs by Tim Sosa
From July-October 2015, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo hosted an exhibit called “Leaps in Evolution: Tracing the Path of Vertebrate Evolution.” To commemorate the exhibit, Kaiyodo made a set of five vending machine capsule figures, most representing a stage in the evolution of vertebrates.
From July-October 2015, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo hosted an exhibit called “Leaps in Evolution: Tracing the Path of Vertebrate Evolution.” To commemorate the exhibit, Kaiyodo made a set of five vending machine capsule figures, most representing a stage in the evolution of vertebrates.
Review: Liopleurodon (Dinotales Series 1, Versions A and B by Kaiyodo)
4.6 (9 votes)
Although these figures might fall short of Dinotales’ best, they are still delightful and unique representations of the famous Jurassic pliosaur.
Dinotales (in Chocolosaurs) were something of a hidden gem for me; despite an extensive production series, the Japanese capsule toys haven’t ever been marketed much at all overseas, at least that I know of.
Review: Maiasaura (Kaiyodo Dinoland Natural History)
4.6 (7 votes)
Review and photos by Bokisaurus
Part 3 of Kaiyodo Dinoland Natural History review series
The state of Montana today is one of the most scenic and picturesque states in the Unites States. It is also one of the riches in fossils of prehistoric animals, especially dinosaurs.If you drive around the many lonely and winding roads, you have a feeling that you just stepped backed in time.
Review: Male Velociraptor (Jurassic Park III by Kaiyodo)
3.6 (8 votes)
The Jurassic Park movies are what led Velociraptor to its great fame and popularity in popular culture. This dinosaur has been represented many times in Jurassic Park memorabilia, collectibles, and toys. It is fitting that when Kaiyodo produced a set of 13 figures based on the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park 3, figures of both the male and female Velociraptors in the movie were produced.
Review: Meganeura (Dinotales Series 4 by Kaiyodo)
5 (5 votes)
Review and Photos by Dr Andre Mursch (“Brontodocus”). Edited by Plesiosauria.
Meganeura monyi was a gigantic insect belonging to the extinct Protodonata and superficially resembling a dragonfly. Its remains come from the Stephanian (late Carboniferous) of France and England and are approximately 300 million years old.
Meganeura monyi was a gigantic insect belonging to the extinct Protodonata and superficially resembling a dragonfly. Its remains come from the Stephanian (late Carboniferous) of France and England and are approximately 300 million years old.
Review: Oviraptor (Dinotales Series 5 by Kaiyodo)
4.9 (12 votes)
Review and photos by forumite Himmapaan
The Kaiyodo Dinotales Oviraptor displays all the usual qualities the manufacturer is well known for: up-to-date anatomical accuracy and beautiful craftsmanship all united in one tiny, commercially produced model. It is in fact one of the scarcer figures in the line, originally released in Japan as a promotional item accompanying a bottle of lemon drink.
The Kaiyodo Dinotales Oviraptor displays all the usual qualities the manufacturer is well known for: up-to-date anatomical accuracy and beautiful craftsmanship all united in one tiny, commercially produced model. It is in fact one of the scarcer figures in the line, originally released in Japan as a promotional item accompanying a bottle of lemon drink.
Review: Pachycephalosaurus (Dinotales Series 5 by Kaiyodo)
3.8 (6 votes)
Pachycephalosaurus is the largest and most well recognized member of the dome-headed dinosaurs. It lived at the end of the Cretaceous 66-65 million years ago and therefore would have been amongst the last non-avian dinosaurs ever to be alive. It coexisted with other well known dinosaurs like Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus.
Review: Palaeoloxodon naumanni (Dinotales Series 4 by Kaiyodo)
3.2 (5 votes)
A smaller relative of true Cenozoic giants, this diminutive figure bears itself in a convincingly lifelike manner with plenty of detail.
Earlier this year, Eofauna floored collectors with their release of Palaeoloxodon antiquus, one of the largest known land mammals ever. While the figure is exceptional, it’s not the first time one of the Palaeoloxodon species has been recreated in toy form.
Earlier this year, Eofauna floored collectors with their release of Palaeoloxodon antiquus, one of the largest known land mammals ever. While the figure is exceptional, it’s not the first time one of the Palaeoloxodon species has been recreated in toy form.
Review: Parasaurolophus (Jurassic Park III by Coca Cola)
4.1 (8 votes)
Famous among dinosaur figure collectors for their excellent Dinotales figures, Kaiyodo also produced a lesser known set of dinosaur figures in 2001, following the release of Jurassic Park III. The set, sponsored by Coca Cola, consisted of 12 dinosaur figures and a secret figure (a Spinosaurus skull).
Review: Plateosaurus (Dinotales Series 5 by Kaiyodo)
4.8 (4 votes)
Review and photographs by Dennis AKA Lanthanotus
When I first discovered the Dinosaur Toy Blog, I began with browsing the several dinosaur toy producing companies listed. The Kaiyodo site woke my interest, mainly because of the intriguing color schemes and accuracy of their models. I’ve never heard of the producer before, but when searching the forum I eventually found that they had made a plentiful array of prehistoric models (not to mention the Capsule Q and others).
When I first discovered the Dinosaur Toy Blog, I began with browsing the several dinosaur toy producing companies listed. The Kaiyodo site woke my interest, mainly because of the intriguing color schemes and accuracy of their models. I’ve never heard of the producer before, but when searching the forum I eventually found that they had made a plentiful array of prehistoric models (not to mention the Capsule Q and others).