Dinosaucers
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| Dinosaucers | |
|---|---|
 Dinosaucers title screen |
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| Genre | Sitcom / Animated series |
| Running time | approximately 0:22 (per episode) |
| Creator(s) | Michael E. Uslan |
| Starring | See voice cast below |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original channel | USA Network (1993-1995), Family Channel (1989-1991) |
| Original run | September 12, 1987–Unknown, 1995 |
| No. of episodes | 65 |
| IMDb profile | |
Dinosaucers was a television cartoon created by DIC Entertainment in association with Ellipse Programme that originally aired on various UHF networks in the USA in 1987, on the Family Channel between 1989 and 1991, and later in 1993 and again in 1995 on the USA Network. 65 total episodes were made and the show only lasted one season during its 1987 run. The USA Network did reruns for a while and had edited some episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The show follows the Dinosaucers and their battles against the evil Tyrannos. Each group is composed of intelligent anthropomorphic dinosaurs or other prehistoric reptilian species. The Dinosaucers are also allied with four humans known as the Secret Scouts. The two groups originally come from a planet in a counter-Earth orbit known as Reptilon. Most of the characters are named after the type of creature they are based off of, or some pun of the name.
Both groups have a central base of operations. The Dinosaucers' base is called Lava Dome and is located in a mountain area, in a dormant volcano. The Tyrannos' base is located under a tar pit. Each of the groups' members, save for Teryx and Terrible Dactyl, have flying ships to travel around and even do battle with. Most ships actually resemble the personae of their respective owners. Along with their individual ships, both groups have a large mothership of sorts as well.
The Dinosaucers have a special ability to "dinovolve", or transform into the actual creature on which their character is based. The key advantage of this ability is that after the transformation, they retain the intelligence and speech abilities of their anthropomorphic form. The Tyrannos don't have the secret of dinovolving, however they do posess a special raygun called a devolver. Blasting a living creature with this weapon has the same "devolving" effect as dinovolving, but also reduces the victim's intelligence and removes the ability to speak. The Tyrannos also possess a weapon called a "fossilizer", which is capable of turning its target into stone, as well as reversing the condition.
[edit] Theme Song
- Ryan: We used to be four ordinary teenagers, until one day, we met some new friends, from out of town.
- Dinosaucers (sung)
- Ryan: They were called Dinosaucers
- Dinosaucers
- Ryan: My friends and I became the Secret Scouts, allies to these Dinosaucers from outer space; and joined in their battles against Genghis Rex and the evil Tyrannos.
- Ankylo: The Dinosaucers are leaving, Bossasaur!
- Genghis Rex: Well, follow them!
- Dinosaucers
- Dinosaucers
[edit] Characters (Dinosaucers)
The Dinosaucers are the forces of good in the series and have a total of 8 members in their group.
Allo is the leader of the Dinosaucers. He is by far the mostly commonly seen good guy in the series. Allo has a kind persona, but takes things seriously. He wears blue and teal armor, a teal helmet, and has brown skin. He has a wife named Vera, a daughter named Alloetta and even a maid named Gatormaid. He is the nephew of the Dinosorceror and Dinosorceress (rulers of Reptilon). Allo is an evolved Allosaurus.
Dimetro is another member of the Dinosaucers and Allo's assisant. Dimetro is the scientist/mechanic of the group. He wears brown and red armor, a blue mask on his head, has aqua green skin and speaks with a slight Scottish accent. Dimetro is an evolved Dimetrodon. (Note: Technically the Dimetrodon is not a dinosaur, but is commonly mistaken for one.)
Bronto Thunder, despite his name, is an evolved Apatosaurus. (Genghis Rex verifies this in episode 5: Divide and Conquer. The Brontosaurus never actually existed; it was the body of an Apatosaurus with the head of a Camarasaurus.) Often considered to be the second-in-command of the Dinosaucers, he usually takes command when Allo is away from Lava Dome. Bronto Thunder has a girlfriend back on Reptilon named Apatty Saurus, and was a "rep" for a ceramic tile shop before he became a Dinosaucer. Bronto Thunder's name is an example of a tautology, as "bronto" means "thunder" in Ancient Greek.
Stego is an evolved Stegosaurus and a rather dim-witted recruit when compared to the rest of the team. He tries to be brave, but is prone to panic attacks and general cowardice. Stego can pull his head inside his Dinosaucers' uniform, much like a turtle.
Tricero is an evolved Triceratops. He had a history for doing investigative work back on Reptilon, and provides a voice of calm reason. Tricero was a member of the law-enforcing Tricerocops on Reptilon before he became a Dinosaucer.
Bonehead is Allo's nephew. Has a baby brother named Numbskull (Nummy). Mother Bonehilda is a famous scientist, and Allo's sister. Bonehead is an evolved Pachycephalosaurus.
Ichy, whose name is prounounced "Icky", is an evolved Ichthyosaur. (Note: Technically an Ichthyosaur is not a dinosaur, but is commonly mistaken for one.) Ichy (and Plesio) can talk to sea creatures.
Teryx is an evolved Archaeopteryx and the only female Dinosaucer. (Note: There is a debate as to whether the Archaeopteryx was a dinosaur or the first bird, it seems to be something of a missing link between the two.) Teryx has a crush on Ichy, but fears it won't work out because she is a flying creature, while Ichy swims. Teryx used to be an actress on Reptilon's daytime television before she became a Dinosaucer.
[edit] Characters (Secret Scouts)
The Secret Scouts are four teenage humans that help the Dinosaucers as allies. According to the opening credits they met them when they first arrived and gained powers through magic rings they were given. They are some of the closest friends the Dinosaucers have while they are on Earth.
Ryan Spencer is a blond haired male teenager that seems to be the smartest and most athletic of the group. He doesn't seem to get into as much trouble as his three friends do. He is Sara's brother.
Sara Spencer is a blond haired female teenager and the only girl of the Secret Scouts. She is quite athletic and informative often teaching the Dinosaucers, albeit confusing to them, Earth related notions. With her ring power she can jump at amazing heights for short periods of time. She has a pet cat named Missy. Often goes on adventures with Bronto Thunder and relates very well to the only female Dinosaucer, Teryx. She is Ryan's sister.
Paul (surname unknown/not given) is an African American male teenager who seems to find the Dinosaucers thrilling and fun. He is often involved with various adventures with Stego and Bonehead. He also has a pet dog named Charlie who has caused a lot of trouble for the Dinosaucers in various episodes.
David (surname unknown/not given) is a black haired teenage male who is the wild one of the bunch. Often getting into trouble and making matters worse by getting the Dinosaucers involved in his "act first and think second" tactics. He is strong and athletic, but probably the least intelligent of the Secret Scouts.
[edit] Characters (Tyrannos)
The Tyrannos are the forces of evil in the series and have a total of 7 members in their group.
Genghis Rex is the leader of the Tyrannos. He is sometimes referred to as simply "Rex" and is by far the most commonly seen bad guy in the series. He wears orange and blue armor and has red skin. Genghis Rex is an evolved Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Typically, Rex will insult his minions with plays on dinosaur words or names, such as idiot-tops or tail-for-brains, whenever things do not go according to his plans. In exchange, Rex endures being called many flattering and important sounding names by the other Tyrannos, such as Bossasaur and Your Scaliness. A running gag throughout the series is that, for some reason, Rex strongly objects to the use of the term Chiefasaur when addressing him.
Genghis Rex was in love with Teryx and even wanted to marry her, but she was in love with Ichy. Genghis' parents were the king and queen of Reptilon, though it's unknown how far they've ruled on the planet. Genghis even has an equally evil sister named Princess Dei who is an evolved Deinonychus with yellow skin.
Ankylo is Genghis Rex's dimwitted assistant and is another member of the Tyrannos. He is probably the second most commonly seen bad guy in the series. Ankylo makes snorting noises when speaking sometimes. He wears grey armor, has red skin and has a special weapon called the Anklebuster which creates a chain made out of energy, often used to disable the Dinosaucers. Ankylo is an evolved Ankylosaurus.
Quackpot is an evolved Hadrosaurus. Quackpot is the practical joker of the group, using his pranks to his advantage, and sometimes his disadvantage. Like Ankylo, Quackpot is red. Quackpot makes a quacking sound in comparison to his appearance. Quackpot was the star of a children's television show back on Reptilon called Duckbill's Playhouse, under the stage name T.B. Duckbill.
Brachio is an evolved Brachiosaurus. Brachio is the typical stupid thug of the gang and is gray.
Styraco is an evolved Styracosaurus. Styraco is the evil counterpart of Tricero and was formely a dentist working at the office of Pinchem, Pullem & Yankem before joining Genghis Rex on Earth. He is very likely one of the least seen Tyrannos in the series.
Plesio is an evolved Plesiosaur. (Note: Technically a Plesiosaur is not a dinosaur, but is commonly mistaken for one.) Plesio is cunning and shifty, is pink, looks like a dragon, the evil counterpart of Ichy and sometimes uses his ship as a sub. Like Ichy, Plesio can talk to sea creatures. Plesio used to work for Slither, Slither & Shark, Attorneys at Law on Reptilon before becoming a Tyranno.
Terrible Dactyl is the flying member of the Tyrannos. He speaks with a British accent. He wears a pilot mask, purple armor, and a white scarf and has orange skin. Terrible Dactyl is an evolved Pteranodon, though commonly referred to as a Pterodactyl. (Note: Technically Pteranodons, Pteradactyls, and other Pterosaurs, are not dinosaurs, but are commonly mistaken for them.) In a large proportion of the episodes, Terrible Dactyl begins the conflict between the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos by observing some "suspicious" activity and reporting it to Genghis Rex. Aside from Genghis Rex, he is generally the most competent of the Tyrannos.
[edit] Characters (Miscellaneous)
The Dinosorceror and Dinosorceress are the leaders of Reptilon. They prefer to rule at arms length, staying out of the squabbles of the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos as parents would their children. They are very powerful, as shown in episodes where they levitate objects and heal deadly diseases. In addition to everything, they are also Allo's uncle and aunt. They possess a "Book of Reptilonian Wisdom" which predicts the future.
Apatty Saurus is an evolved Apatosaurus and is Bronto Thunder's girlfriend on Reptilon. She is an expert swamp boater and became a partner at the Color Rep-Tiles tile shop, where Bronto Thunder once worked, sometime after Bronto left for Earth.
Major Clifton appears in a couple episodes, although it is never revealed when he and the Dinosaucers first met. He is portrayed as a US Air Force officer who is trying to discover the truth about the Dinosaucers, at the expense of his reputation. He knows the Secret Scouts know about the Dinosaucers and confides in them about his theories, although the scouts try never to verify them.
Princess Dei is an evolved Deinonychus with yellow-green skin who is Genghis Rex's older sister. She appears a few times in episodes where the cast returns to Reptilon. It is generally believed that she is the leader of the Tyrannos' movement on Reptilon. Her name is an obvious reference to Princess Di.
The Furballs, Ugh and Grunt, are balls of fur who are equivalent to quite-intelligent pets on Reptilon. They get into trouble more often then not in each episode in which they appear, but end up saving the day for the Dinosaucers since Tyrannos are allergic to them.
[edit] Trivia
- It was DiC Entertainment's first show to feature the Kid in Bed after the ending credits.
- There were originally plans to release a Dinosaucers toyline, and prototype figures were produced, however the line was scrapped after the show was cancelled.
- The show and its characters were actually owned by the Coca-Cola company and featured a logo for Coca-Cola Telecommunications. This was because Coke owned Columbia Pictures during this time period. The show is presumably now owned by Sony, after its acquisition of Columbia but this has not been confirmed.
- After the cancellation, it still reran on Nickelodeon in 1995 to 2000 and on Cartoon Network in 2000 to 2004.
- The characters making an appearance changed from episode to episode; however, Genghis Rex appeared in every episode except for episode 13 (Trick or Cheat) in which Quackpot was the sole Tyranno to appear.
- All the Dinosaucers had a button on their uniform that would instantly devolve them to their unevolved dinosaur state while retaining their intelligence and speech capacity, but most episodes didn't contain any dinovolving. Teryx was the only Dinosaucer who would never dinovolve throughout the series. Tricero, Bonehead and Bronto Thunder would use the ability in more then one episode.
- While they couldn't Dinovolve, the Tyrannos did have a devolving ray that could change any creature into its primal state. To much comic effect, the device would often wind up being used against them rather than on the Dinosaucers. In this fashion, Genghis Rex, Ankylo, Quackpot and Brachio were all changed into primitive dinosaurs at various times in the series. Unlike when the Dinosaucers Dinovolved, the devolving ray removed the victim's intelligence and ability to speak.
- Numerous in-jokes peppered the dialogue of each script, such as references to Abbott and Costello sketches in Allo and Cos-Stego Meet the Abominable Snowman, and Allo mentioning that his address on Reptilon is "where Palmer avenue meets Emerson and Lake".
- Are they really all that bad? During the course of the series, Tyrannos Plesio, Terrible Dactyl and Quackpot would all betray Genghis Rex at least once over matters of conscience.
[edit] Home Video Releases
U.S. Releases:
- Dinosaucers: Dinosaur Valley & Carnivore in Rio -- Released in 1994. It included the first and seventeenth episodes of the series. It is no longer in print or available.
- Dinosaucers: Take Us Out to the Ball Game & Monday Night Clawball -- Released in 1994. It included the second and thirty-second episodes of the series. It is no longer in print or available.
- Dinosaucers: Hooray for Hollywood & Divide and Conquer -- Released in 1994. It included the fourth and fifth episodes of the series. It is no longer in print or available.
- Dinosaucers: The First Snow & Frozen Furballs -- Released in 1994. It included the twelfth and eighteenth episodes of the series. It is no longer in print or available.
Dinosaucers has not been released on DVD and there are no known plans to do so. There have been four tapes in total released for VCR viewing in VHS format specifically for the United States and Canadian markets. It is in the NTSC format.
U.K. Releases:
- Dinosaucers: Volume 1 -- Released March 14, 1994. The episodes included in this volume are Dinosaur Valley, Take Us Out To The Ball Game, Happy Egg Day To You, Hooray For Hollywood and Divide And Conquer
- Dinosaucers: Volume 2 -- Released October 10, 1994. The episodes included in this volume are Burgers Up!, Be Prepared, That Shrinking Feeling, Rockin' Reptiles and Sleeping Booty.
There were two tapes in total released for the UK market in PAL format. Unlike the United States released tapes that had two episodes in total on each tape, the United Kingdom tapes had five episodes each on both tapes released.
[edit] Episode Guide & Writing Credits
- 1 - Dinosaur Valley ~ Diane Duane
- 2 - Take Us Out to the Ballgame ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 3 - Happy Egg Day to You ~ Diane Duane
- 4 - Hooray for Hollywood ~ Felicia Maliani
- 5 - Divide and Conquer ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 6 - A Real Super Hero ~ Brooks Wachtel Homepage
- 7 - Burgers Up! ~ Ron Harris
- 8 - Be Prepared ~ Mike O'Mahony
- 9 - That Shrinking Feeling ~ Doug Molitor
- 10 - Rockin' Reptiles ~ Felicia Maliani
- 11 - Sleeping Booty ~ Ron Harris & Diane Duane
- 12 - The First Snow ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 13 - Trick or Cheat ~ Michael E. Uslan & Diane Duane
- 14 - Defective Defector ~ Doug Molitor
- 15 - For The Love Of Teryx ~ Felicia Maliani
- 16 - A Man's Best Friend Is His Dogasaurus ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 17 - Carnivore In Rio ~ Somtow Sucharitkul
- 18 - Frozen Fur Balls ~ J. Vornholt & S. Robertson
- 19 - Hook, Line And Stinker ~ Avril Roy-Smith & Richard Mueller
- 20 - The Prehistoric Purge ~ Walt Kubiak & Eliot Daro
- 21 - The Truth About Dragons ~ Doug Molitor
- 22 - Chariots Of The Dinosaucers ~ Somtow Sucharitkul
- 23 - Eggs Mark The Spot ~ Avril Roy-Smith & Richard Mueller
- 24 - Mommy Dino-Dearest ~ Brooks Wachtel Homepage
- 25 - The Whale's Song ~ Durnie King
- 26 - Inquiring Minds ~ Mark Cassutt
- 27 - War Of The Worlds...II ~ Dennis O'Flaherty
- 28 - Beach Blanket Bonehead ~ Chris Bunch & Allan Cole
- 29 - The Bone Ranger And Bronto ~ David Bischoff & Ted Pedersen
- 30 - Cindersaurus ~ Cherie Wilkerson
- 31 - Trouble In Paradise ~ Martha Moran
- 32 - Monday Night Clawball ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); J. Vornholt & S. Robertson
- 33 - Age Of Aquariums ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); Cherie Wilkerson
- 34 - Scents Of Wonder ~ Somtow Sucharitkul
- 35 - Fine-Feathered Friends ~ Felicia Maliani
- 36 - Allo & Cos-Stego Meet The Abominable Snowman ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); Brooks Wachtel Homepage
- 37 - The Quack-Up Of Quackpot
- 38 - It's An Archaeopteryx -- It's A Plane -- It's Thunder-Lizard ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); Arthur Byron Cover
- 39 - Teacher's Pest ~ Doug Molitor
- 40 - Dino-Chips! ~ Somtow Sucharitkul
- 41 - The Heart And Sole Of Bigfoot ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); David Bischoff & Ted Pedersen
- 42 - Karatesaurus Wrecks ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); David Wise
- 43 - Lochs And Bay Gulls ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 44 - The Trojan Horseasaurus ~ Ellen Goun
- 45 - We're Off To See The Lizard ~ Michael E. Uslan & Felicia Maliani
- 46 - Seeing Purple ~ Susan Ellison
- 47 - There's No Such Thing As Stego-Claws ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 48 - Applesaucers ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 49 - Reduced For Clarence ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); Carla Conway
- 50 - Attack Of The Fur Balls ~ Clancy Fort
- 51 - Dinosaur Dundy ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 52 - Those Reptilon Nights ~ Bill Fawcett
- 53 - The Dinolympics ~ Bill Fawcett
- 54 - Sara Had A Little Lambeosaurus ~ Cherie Wilkerson
- 55 - Beauty And The Bonehead ~ Brynne Stephens
- 56 - The Museum Of Natural Humans ~ Michael E. Uslan, Felicia Maliani & Lydia C. Marano
- 57 - Saber-Tooth Or Consequences ~ Michael E. Uslan, Craig Miller & Mark Nelson (story); Craig Miller & Mark Nelson
- 58 - Camp Tyranno ~ Michael E. Uslan & Beth Bronstein (story); Beth Bronstein
- 59 - The Babysitter ~ Gerry Conway
- 60 - Toy-Ranno Store Wars ~ Michael E. Uslan & Jody Lynn Nye (story); Jody Lynn Nye
- 61 - The T-Bone's Stakes ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 62 - Scales Of Justice ~ Michael E. Uslan
- 63 - I Got Those 'Ol Reptilon Blues Again, Mommasaur ~ Michael E. Uslan (story); Todd Johnson
- 64 - I Was A Teenage Human ~ Lydia C. Marano & David Wise (story); Lydia C. Marano
- 65 - The Friend ~ Bill Fawcett
[edit] Voice Actor Credits
- Len Carlson: Allo/Quackpot
- Rob Cowan: Tricero
- Marvin Goldhar: Bonehead/Bronto Thunder
- Dan Hennessey: Genghis Rex/Plesio
- Ray Kahnert: Stego
- Gordon Masten: Styraco
- Don McManus: Brachio
- Edie Mirman: Teryx
- Louise Vallance: Princess Dei
- Simon Reynolds: Ryan
- Barbara Lynn Redpath: Sarah
- John Stocker: Ankylo/Terrible Dactyl
- Leslie Toth: David
- Chris Wiggins: Dimetro
- Thick Wilson: Ichy
- Richard Yearwood: Paul
[edit] Other Selected Credits
- Producers: Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Andy Heyward, Michael Maliani
- Director: Stephan Martiniere
- Art Director: Pascal Morelli
- Animation Directors: Masnori Miura, Norimo Kashima
- Creative Supervisors: Robby London, Lori Crawford
- Production Supervisors: Winnie Chaffee, Bonnie Vitti
- Music: Shuki Levy, Haim Saban
- Story Editors: Diane Duane, Brynne Stephens, Lydia Marano
- Storyboard Artists: Kent Butterworth, Adrian Gonzalez, Steve Gordon, Gordon Harrison, Jim Smith
- Original Drawings: Craig Berman
[edit] External links
