For many years, the Triassic period has been the most overlooked part of the Mesozoic in toy form, usually Coelophysis or Postosuchus. More recently, however, more and more species are coming to the forefront and being made available in plastic.
Type: Action Figure
Review: Pteranodon (Jurassic Park: Legacy Amber Collection by Mattel)
3.1 (15 votes)
The Amber Collection Pteranodon is actually quite a mixed bag, with great coloration and good sculpting, but noticeable flaws in articulation.
Say what you will about the film as a whole, but Jurassic Park III had arguably some of the best creature designs in the Jurassic franchise (scientific [in]accuracies notwithstanding).
Review: Velociraptor “Delta” (Amber Legacy Collection by Mattel)
3.8 (14 votes)
There aren’t a lot of dinosaur toys on the market that specialize in articulation (David Silva’s Beasts of the Mesozoic line being the main shining exception right now), so the announcement of Mattel’s Amber Collection for their ongoing Jurassic World line was reason for excitement.
Review: Pentaceratops (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Mega Destroyers by Mattel)
4.6 (52 votes)
Every year, starting with the release of their misnamed Pachyrhinosaurus in 2018, Mattel has released a ceratopsian that I’ve absolutely adored. In 2019 it was the Nasutoceratops, in 2020 it was the Sinoceratops, and it looked like this year it would be the Pentaceratops.
Review: Dr. Wu’s Lab: Baby Dinosaurs Breakout (Jurassic World by LEGO)
3.8 (11 votes)
“Season’s Greetings, fellow dinosaur lovers! Yes, it is I, Dr. Bella Bricking and my invaluable assistant and companion Beth Buildit, back once again to celebrate the holidays with you!”
“Hiya, folks. Sure hope 2021 was kinder to all of you than 2020 was.
Review: Kentrosaurus (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Roar Attack by Mattel)
3.6 (16 votes)
With the addition of a re-sculpted Stegosaurus, Chialingosaurus, and now this Kentrosaurus to the line, Mattel has given the stegosauria clade much love this year. Until now the only member of this group represented in the line was the 2018 Stegosaurus and its re-paint.
Review: Allosaurus (Kid Galaxy/Lontic by Happy Kin)
2.5 (15 votes)
Although this DK-inspired poseable figure is alright as a generic theropod toy, it’s a pretty weak depiction of the iconic genus it’s meant to represent.
Dinosaur toy history is a relatively new endeavor of study, be it researching the origins of the hobby in the famous Marx line, or trying to catalogue the onslaught of brand-new models from PNSO.
Review: Chialingosaurus (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Fierce Force by Mattel)
2.3 (28 votes)
Chialingosaurus kuani was a stegosaurian that lived 160 million years ago in China. It is one of the oldest species of stegosaurs known and would have resembled Kentrosaurus in appearance. You would be forgiven for having never heard of it, not many have.
Review: Apatosaurus (Jurassic World Legacy Collection, by Mattel)
Review: Ouranosaurus (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Roar Attack by Mattel)
3.5 (22 votes)
With its tall neural spines similar to those of Spinosaurus, Ouranosaurus is one of the most unique and visually distinct species of ornithopods, and yet has remained relatively obscure. Many figures of the genus do exist with notable ones by Recur, CollectA, Schleich, and Starlux but they aren’t of particularly high quality or accuracy.
Review: Carcharodontosaurus (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Mega Destroyers by Mattel)
3.3 (25 votes)
It has been a good year for Carchorodontosaurus, as I mentioned in my review of the figure by PNSO. The PNSO figure, along with the one by GR toys, gave sophisticated collectors a fantastic, updated pair of “shark toothed lizards” to display and admire whilst sipping brandy by the fireside.
Review: Ankylosaurus (Bumpy) (Jurassic World Dino-Escape, Roar Attack by Mattel)
3.3 (20 votes)
They grow up so fast! It was just over 13 months ago when I reviewed the bouncing baby Bumpy for the DTB and now here I am again with another Bumpy review. Only this time, Bumpy isn’t a baby anymore. When I reviewed that baby Bumpy, the animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous hadn’t even premiered yet, but I knew I had to have Bumpy in my collection because she was just so stinkin’ adorable.