Review and photos by Nathan ‘Takama’ Morris, edited by amargasaurus cazaui and Suspsy
Hi everyone! You have heard of Styracosaurus, right? If so, then you’re likely a regular member of our community. If you’re not (I know I wasn’t when I first found this blog), then you may have read about it in many different dinosaur books over the years. If you still have not heard of it, then a little background would be in order.
Styracosaurus was a ceratopsian dinosaur hailing from the late Cretaceous deposits of the Dinosaur Park Formation. It is recognized by a variety of spikes on its frill and a long nasal horn that would make Triceratops green with envy. When it comes to toys, almost every company has made one at some point. It’s no surprise that it is usually overshadowed by Triceratops in books. Styracosaurus has also appeared in some movies, the most recent of which being Disney’s Dinosaur, which had a ripple effect on the dinosaur toy industry as a whole.
The dinosaurs in the movie were for the most part natural and appeared to be based on the current fossil evidence at the time of the movie release in 2000. There were a few things that made some of the creatures stand out to some degree so that audiences could follow and identify the key characters. For the most part, these changes made the characters look distinctive while still being recognizable as their respective species. But there were a few inconsistencies and one example is the character named Eema, who was a Styracosaurus that looked nothing like the other ones in the movie.
“Dinosaur” had a wide theatrical release and has had some influence on the public’s perception of dinosaurs. As a result, some companies were prompted to tackle obscure creatures that appeared in the film. The most common dinosaur toy spawned by the film is Carnotaurus, which up until the film’s release, was seldom seen in toy form. Prior to the movie, it had only been released in the Carnegie and Battat collections .
Another dinosaur that earned notice from more companies was Pachyrhinosaurus, which was first made by CollectA, and later by Papo, Safari, and Battat. Even though the film prompted companies to make their own versions of dinosaurs that appeared in it, there are some models that were made based on the characters themselves. Case in point: Schleich’s World of History Styracosaurus.
When I first saw this model previewed in 2012, I immediately thought it looked like Eema. Everything about this model just screams at you that Schleich did little to no research on it. Rather, they chose to copy a character from a popular movie. Just like Eema, this model has a very short body and two pairs of stout legs. The feet on this figure are not accurate as they don’t face the proper direction and have too many claws.The only things that separate this figure from its movie counterpart are the long pointed horns, which on Eema were worn and sometimes broken. There are also also a bunch of scutes on the back and the frill.
The colors on this figure are little brighter than what Schleich used prior to 2013, but that does not mean it’s not realistic. The dark blue goes well with the blend of orange and green on the figure’s spine and frill.The only color I don’t like is the white on the horns, toes, and scutes.
Overall, this is a terrible replica of Styracosaurus. It just shows how ignorant a company can be of scientific accuracy, no matter how common their products are in today’s market. Despite this, the toy has a certain charm that only the WoH collection can bring. It’s one of Schleich’s laziest efforts, yet I still like it in the same sense that one would like B-movies. It’s just so bad that it’s good to me, and if you have the same tastes, then you might find it to be a interesting addition to your collection as well. If you’re looking for an accurate model, then I suggest you find something else because this model just won’t cut it for you.
Available from Amazon.com here.
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Well, you say in a very un-polite way: “Overall, this is a terrible replica of Styracosaurus. It just shows how ignorant a company can be” So, you are saying ignorants to people that worked hours to make children and funny collectors happy, instead of make an small group of snobby collectors say uh oh ah ugh, about a cute and -for me- good model? It’s a toy, men, it’s a TOY! and also you say: “It’s one of Schleich’s laziest efforts, yet I still like it in the same sense that one would like B-movies” ¿lazy… WHAT? The creators of each one of this dinos, wherever thay are made, spend almost half month to produce each dino model, so don’t be so rude, ok? And B movies ¿seriously, again, WHAT? You are saying Dinosaur 2000 of Disney is a B movie? Disney is a great film making company, none of its films was bad, and DEFINETLY NOT B movies, also, dinosaur 2000 was MUCH better in designs, than some of cgi dinosaur models shown in films nowadays. Just to say it: The film is of 2000, 15 years before jurassic world 1, take accounts…
For an herbivore that wouldn’t want the wrong kind of attention, this one seems too loud and shiny. It would fit better in a tavern window than the Mesozoic Era
Maybe because the Styracosaurus is a female and don’t need to worry because males protect her. Some scientists say that ceratopsians as styracosaurus and triceratops lived in packs, where females and cubs were in the center and males were in round formation near them. Males were of most conservative colors. But most scientist believe male ceratopsians and not females were the most shiny and coloured in their frills than females and the reason is the mating season’s combats as male styracosaurus combat to attract females. The coloration of the frill was temporary, just during combats, after that, the frill returned to dark colors. The dinos were so small in brain size, that couldn’t pay attention to more than one thing at time. So when were fighting, male styracosaurus only thought in color its frills. Well, after all, yes, you are true… atracted some attention of predators, but I doubt an styracosaurus could have stayed alone, but in a pack.
Realy dont care what some people have to say about this dino, i think its a great piece and i could not wait to buy it.
In hand it looked even better and also dont care if its not accurate to the standard of some collectors.
[…] blog, I will be reviewing the Triceratops (be sure to read Alice’s Pentaceratops review and my Styracosaurus review). Triceratops is a very popular dinosaur, so there is no reason why I would have to introduce it […]
Jeez louise, this is dismal. It’s worse than their old Replicasaurus one, and that’s saying something. I was hoping Schleich had turned over a new leaf after last year’s basically decent Pentaceratops, but apparently not.
From my point of view styracosaurus Schleich is a very poor figure from all points of view.
I know that his figures are especially focused on a younger audience, but does not prevent say as you said the author of the article that is a figure with multiple scientific inaccuracies, but we must say that is not going on behind his predecessor in the world toy market styracosaurus 2002 that apart from commercial fabraso was totally inaccurate with the difference that you came with a training record with her figure as if a dinosaur collection.
At least in that in that Schleich has been renovated and they are not going to “scientific”.
I really wanted to like this guy, but when I saw it in person, UGH. There are so many things wrong with it, including its strange rambow bright colors.
I forgot to say, that it was a really good review, and honestly never knew about the Disney connection. I only saw the Dinosaur movie once along time ago. Oh, the typo on the above post is supposed to be rainbow bright, not a reference to the Sylvester Stallone Rambo movies.
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12795495_1039568626102297_5672852581585317851_n.jpg?oh=a73025d7e7619fb7b1cc28c844033997&oe=57886349
There are different points of view. Some people loved the Dinosaur 2000 version of Styracosaurus and love that this dino seems the character Eema of the film, some not. And if you only saw the disney movie, Schleich don’t take that in consideration. Schleich is a mark focused in kids, no matter if we liked it or not, pray the factory producers 1000000 times to change or not, make more “science” models or not, their audience is that, is play themed. If the man of this post or the collectors of dinotoyblog wanna make good reviews in some “mature themed” dinosaurs, not intend to play, comment about PNSO, Rebor or Papo and stop downvoting good dino models for children.