Dinosaucers

Dinosaucers is a 1987 animated television series co-produced in the United States and Canada; developed and produced by DIC Animation City in association with Lightyear Entertainment and Coca-Cola Telecommunications.^[1] The show was created by producer Michael E. Uslan, who considered it a "harebrained idea".^[2] Despite only running for one season, it did run for a total of 65 episodes as ordered to be a 13-week-long series, when it aired on first-run syndication.^[3]

Dinosaucers
Title screen
Genre	Action Animation
Created by	Michael E. Uslan
Written by	Diane Duane Brynne Stephens Lydia C. Marano
Directed by	Stephan Martinière
Starring	Len Carlson Rob Cowan Marvin Goldhar Dan Hennessey[citation needed] Ray Kahnert Gordon Masten Don McManus Barbara Lynn Redpath Simon Reynolds John Stocker Leslie Toth Louise Vallance Chris Wiggins Thick Wilson Richard Yearwood
Composers	Haim Saban Shuki Levy
Country of origin	United States Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	65
Production
Executive producers	Andy Heyward Benjamin Melniker Michael E. Uslan
Producer	Michael Maliani
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	DIC Animation City Lightyear Entertainment Coca-Cola Telecommunications
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	September 14 (1987-09-14) – December 11, 1987 (1987-12-11)

Plot

"Ryan: We used to be four ordinary teenagers, until one day...we meet some new friends...from out of town. They were called... Dinosaucers! 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 (snort!)
Genghis: Well, follow them!"

- opening narration

The show follows the Dinosaucers and their battles against the evil Tyrannos.^[4] Each group is composed of intelligent anthropomorphic dinosaurs or other prehistoric saurian 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 prehistoric animal they are based on, 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 which is next to an abandoned amusement park. Each of the groups' members save for Teryx and Terrible Dactyl–who can themselves fly–have flying ships in which they can travel and do battle. 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.

Dinovolving

All the Dinosaucers have a button on the front of their uniforms which instantly devolves them to their primitive ancestors dinosaur state, while retaining their intelligence and speech capacity. This special ability is called Dinovolving and initially appeared to be a significant element of the series, as both Allo and Bronto Thunder Dinovolved in the first episode. Despite the apparent technological advantage, most of the later episodes did not feature any Dinovolving. Teryx was the only Dinosaucer who would never Dinovolve throughout the series, while Allo, Tricero, Bonehead and Bronto Thunder would use the ability in more than one episode.

The Tyrannos don't have the secret of Dinovolving, and a few episodes even revolve around their plans to steal the technology somehow. However, they do possess a special raygun called a devolver. Blasting a living creature with this weapon has the same "devolving" effect as Dinovolving, but reduces the victim's intelligence to that of the devolved form. For those from Reptilon, the form is that of a normal dinosaur while humans get reverted to primitive cavemen. In any case, the device often winds up being used against them, to much comedic effect, 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. The Tyrannos also possess a weapon called a "fossilizer", which is capable of turning its target into stone, as well as reversing the condition. The Dinosaucers were also shown to have access to this particular type of weapon in one episode, though it may have been on loan from the Tyrannos, as both factions had united to battle a group of anthropomorphic sabertooth tigers, who also hailed from Reptilon. These creatures possessed fossilizers as well, and also had a device which could disrupt the equivalent weapons belonging to the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos while leaving their own in perfect working order.

Characters

Dinosaucers

• Allo (voiced by Len Carlson): An evolved Allosaurus and the leader of the Dinosaucers. Allo is calm, collected and serious. He wears blue and teal armor, a teal helmet, and goes barefooted and has brown skin. He has a wife named Vera, a daughter named Alloetta and even a maid named Gatormaid (a play on Gatorade). He is the nephew of the Dinosorceror and Dinosorceress (rulers of Reptilon). His address on Reptilon is "where Palmer Avenue meets Emerson and Lake". He can Dinovolve into a 40-foot Allosaurus.
• Dimetro (voiced by Chris Wiggins): A member of the Dinosaucers and Allo's assistant. 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, which is a basal synapsid or proto-mammal, rather than a dinosaur. He can Dinovolve into a large Dimetrodon.
• Bronto Thunder (voiced by Marvin Goldhar): An evolved Brontosaurus. 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. Physically considered the strongest of the Dinosaucers. He can Dinovolve into an 80-foot Apatosaurus.
• Stego (voiced by Ray Kahnert): 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. However, he often manages to get through this and has come to the rescue of his friends, particularly in the episode Trouble in Paradise. Stego can pull his head inside his Dinosaucers' uniform, much like a turtle. Stego also has an armored space ship similar to his race of Stegosaurs. Stego is a very powerful hand-to-hand combatant who doesn't realize his own strength. He can Dinovolve into a 30-foot Stegosaurus, though he was never seen doing so in the series.
• Tricero (voiced by Rob Cowan): 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. Tricero has a vibrational super power that emanates from his 2 brow horns. He is a mortal enemy to Styraco. He can Dinovolve into a 30-foot Triceratops.
• Bonehead (voiced by Marvin Goldhar): Allo's nephew and is not particularly bright as his name suggests. However, he sometimes does display intelligence though in a mostly literal way. He has a baby brother named Numbskull (Nummy). Mother Bonehilda is a famous scientist, and Allo's sister. Bonehead is an evolved Pachycephalosaurus. He is good natured and innocent, without a doubt the stupidest Dinosaucer, even though he has great combat ability as a Pachycephalosaurus. He can Dinovolve into a 25-foot Pachycephalosaurus.
• Ichy (voiced by Thick Wilson): Ichy, whose name is pronounced "Icky", is an evolved Ichthyosaurus, a prehistoric aquatic reptile. He has a pointed beak, a tail with fins or flukes, grey skin and wears green armor. He also wears dark green flippers on his feet, rather than boots. Ichy (and Plesio) can talk to sea creatures. Throughout the series, though oblivious at first of her mutuality, he forms a couple with Teryx since the episode For the Love of Teryx. This is heavily implied because since then his love is reciprocal and he becomes very distressed when Teryx is approached by Genghis Rex, who also possess feelings for her, though these are not corresponded. He can Dinovolve into a 30-foot Ichthyosaurus.
• Teryx (voiced by Louise Vallance): The only female Dinosaucer. She is an evolved Archaeopteryx, which is a derived theropod dinosaur, considered to be the first "true" bird. She is therefore either half-bird, half-reptile or an avian reptile. She has white, blue, and salmon-colored plumage and unlike the other Dinosaucers, wears a simple backpack in lieu of armor. She can understand and talk to birds. Teryx has a crush on Ichy, but fears it won't work out because she is a flying creature, while Ichy is aquatic, though she comes around it and gains confidence in herself as the series progresses, even forming a pair with Ichy since the episode For the Love of Teryx. At the same time, Teryx completely denies Genghis Rex's advances. Despite doing so, she understands him and despite stating she has no feelings for Rex in the episode Scales of Justice, she does seem to feel pity towards him. However, her feminine charms have been used against Genghis Rex, since his affection for her prevents him from harming her or even plotting against the Dinosaucers at times. Teryx used to be an actress on Reptilon's daytime television before she became a Dinosaucer. She can Dinovolve into a large Archaeopteryx, though she is never shown doing so during the course of the series. Teryx was turned into a human during the episode Cindersaurus, as the group had developed a technology called the Dinotransformatter that would allow them to transform into humans— ironically created seemingly for sole the purpose of allowing Teryx to attend a masquerade ball with Sara due to her having developed an interest in human courting rituals— and briefly had an attraction to a human at Sara's school named Douglas. Returned to normal by the episode's end, the character has since had no romantic interest in humans and the plot point of the Dinosaucers having a technology that would allow them to take on human form was forgotten. Presumably, they still possess the device, but it has become a forgotten piece of their arsenal. This episode was aired after the episode For the Love of Teryx, but may take place before it chronologically, as Teryx did seem to have a genuine attraction to Douglas, something which would contradict the fact of her relationship with Ichy, established fifteen episodes prior, barring an off-screen breakup that may not have been mentioned. Alternatively, her attraction may have been caused by the alteration from Dinosaucer to human, though if this is so, it may have some lingering effect, as Teryx is shown at the end of the episode to still find the time spent with Douglas to be apparently a brief period of genuine romance.

Secret Scouts

The Secret Scouts are four teenage humans who 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.

The Secret Scouts. From left to right: Sara, Paul, Ryan and David

• Ryan Spencer (voiced by Simon Reynolds): A blond haired boy who is apparently the smartest and most athletic of the group; this, in the while, implies that he is the leader of the Scouts. He doesn't seem to get into as much trouble as his three friends do.
• Sara Spencer (voiced by Barbar Lynn Redpath): A blond-haired girl and Ryan’s younger sister. She is quite athletic and informative, often teaching the Dinosaucers (albeit confusing to them) Earth-related notions. With her ring power, she can strongly boost her physical abilities a little more than that of an Olympic athlete, allowing her to jump at amazing heights, run faster, and be more agile. She has a pet cat named Missy. She often goes on adventures with Bronto Thunder and relates very well to Teryx.
• Paul (voiced by Richard Yearwood): A smart bespectacled African-American boy. He seems to find the Dinosaucers thrilling and fun. He also has a pet dog named Charlie, who sometimes causes a lot of trouble for the Dinosaucers in various episodes. His Scout ring lets him run at enhanced speed over long distances. He generally spends a lot of time with Dimetro.
• David (voiced by Leslie Toth): A black-haired boy and the wild one of the Scouts. He often gets into trouble and makes matters worse by getting the Dinosaucers involved in his "act-first and think-second" tactics. He is strong and athletic, and although he doesn't quite have the sharp intellect of Paul or Ryan, he is creative and a quick thinker. He is often involved in various adventures with Stego and Bonehead. His ring can increase his strength, allowing him to lift objects weighing several hundred pounds.

Tyrannos

The Evil Tyrannos. From left to right: Styraco, Plesio, Genghis Rex, Quackpot, Brachio, Ankylo and Terrible Dactyl

The Tyrannos are the forces of "evil" in the series and, like the Dinosaucers, have a total of 8 members in their group. The picture above does not show Princess Dei, as she does not appear at the presentation of the series and is only introduced later as a means to balance the difference in numbers and power of the two opposing factions.

During the course of the series, Plesio, Terrible Dactyl and Quackpot would all betray Genghis Rex at least once over matters of conscience. Nevertheless, they would eventually return to Rex's side out of loyalty to his cause.

• Genghis Rex (voiced by Dan Hennessey): Usually referred to as simply "Rex", Genghis Rex is the leader of the Tyrannos, as well as Allo's evil counterpart. He is an evolved Tyrannosaurus, has red skin and wears orange, blue armor and goes barefooted. His first name is based on Genghis Khan the famous Mongol. Living up to his species' reputation, he is brutal and tyrannical, and has a violent temper. He appears in every episode except for episode 13 (Trick or Cheat) and episode 59 (The Babysitter), in which Quackpot was the sole Tyranno to appear, and episode 35 (Fine-Feathered Friends) and episode 51 (Dinosaur Dundy), in which none of the Tyrannos appear. Typically, Rex will insult his compatriots 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 Rex strongly objects to the use of the term Chiefasaur when addressing him (a reference to the "don't call me 'Chief'" running gag of Perry White from the 50s Superman show). As a villain, he tends to be staggeringly inept, always losing to the Dinosaucers in the end. Genghis Rex has deep feelings for Teryx and even attempted to kidnap and marry her, but she resisted since she was in love with Ichy and objected to his ways. Rex also has an equally evil sister residing on Reptilon, named Princess Dei. Despite being evil, Rex does display respect and honor towards others at times and his relationship with Allo and the Dinosaucers implies they are more like rivals than enemies.^{[citation needed]}
• Princess Dei (voiced by Louise Vallance): An evolved Deinonychus with yellow-green skin who is Genghis Rex's older sister and the only female Tyranno. 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. Almost as strong as her younger brother, but more intelligent and agile, she demonstrates considerable skill in battle. She also constantly scolds her brother when things go wrong, something no other Tyranno has the courage to do. She appears less than the others due to still being partially tied with her matters at Reptilon. Her name is a reference to Princess Diana.
• Ankylo (voiced by John Stocker): An evolved Ankylosaurus, is Genghis Rex's dimwitted, sycophantic assistant and is another member of the Tyrannos. Ankylo bears a resemblance to a warthog and exhibits porcine characteristics, often snorting when he speaks. 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. He is the most loyal Tyranno to Genghis Rex and constantly gives him advice about his schemes and tells him to back off about his feelings for Teryx, although in the latter case, his suggestions fall on deaf ears due to the intensity of Rex's emotions.
• Quackpot (voiced by Len Carlson): An evolved Hadrosaurus. Quackpot is the practical joker of the group, much to the ire of the other Tyrannos. Like Ankylo, Quackpot is red with white on his bill, neck and belly. He wears grey, blueish armor and goes also goes barefoot. Quackpot makes a quacking sound like a duck in comparison to his appearance, and talks like a 1920's gangster. In episode 63, Quackpot was the star of a children's television show back on Reptilon called Duckbill's Playhouse, under the stage name T.B. Duckbill. Therefore, he objects to harming children and even protects and cares for them at times.
• Brachio (voiced by Don McManus): An evolved Brachiosaurus. Brachio is the archetypal thug of the gang and is purple. Brachio is the evil counterpart of Bronto Thunder. Physically the strongest among the Tyrannos, Brachio nevertheless follows Genghis Rex's orders to the letter and is not very bright though not at the same degree of stupidity as Bonehead.
• Styraco (voiced by Gordon Masten): An evolved Styracosaurus. Styraco is the evil counterpart of Tricero. He is orange and wears yellow armor and goes barefoot. Styraco was formerly a dentist working at the office of Pinchem, Pullem & Yankem before joining Genghis Rex on Earth. He is intelligent and sometimes works with machines though not as often as Plesio. Like Ankylo, he is extremely loyal to Rex. He is sensitive to mental pressure and can behave in a deranged way when pushed to the brink of his sanity. He likes to eat, and really hates water.
• Plesio (voiced by Dan Hennessey): An evolved Plesiosaurus, a prehistoric aquatic reptile. Plesio is cunning and shifty, looks like a pink dragon, and is the "evil" counterpart of Ichy. 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. He once had a romantic relationship with the Loch Ness Monster. He serves as the scientist/inventor of the group. He does understand marine creatures and became obsessed in freeing some at the episode Age of Aquariums, though he only wanted to have an army of his own. Plesio seems to be most distant from Genghis Rex than the rest of the Tyrannos.^{[citation needed]}
• Terrible Dactyl (voiced by John Stocker): The flying member of the Tyrannos and the evil counterpart of Teryx. 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 Pterodactylus, a pterosaur which is commonly referred to as a Pterodactyl. 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. Unlike a true Pterodactylus, Terrible Dactyl has a crest like a Pteranodon and a long rhamphorhynchoid-style tail. He has a soft spot for baby pterosaurs and even once helped the Dinosaucers protect some Pteranodon eggs in the episode Eggs Marks the Spot, showing there is some good on this mostly evil-willed being after all. Additionally, he is of a more sporting nature than the other Tyrannos and will sometimes leave a conflict voluntarily if his side has an unfair advantage in numbers.

Minor characters

• The Dinosorcerer and Dinosorceress: The leaders of Reptilon. Dinosorcerer is a Megalosaurus and Dinosorceress is a Plateosaurus. They prefer to rule at arm's 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. They are also Allo's uncle and aunt. They possess a "Book of Reptilonian Wisdom" which predicts the future.
• Apatty Saurus: 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: Major Clifton appears in a couple episodes, although it is never revealed when he and the Dinosaucers first met. He is portrayed as a U.S. 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 do their best not to verify them. He currently is the caretaker of a large undersea creature that latched onto him the way newborn animals do when they hatch.
• The Furballs: Ugh (voiced by John Stocker) and Grunt, are balls of fur who are equivalent to quite-intelligent pets on Reptilon. They get into trouble more often than not in each episode in which they appear, but end up saving the day for the Dinosaucers since Tyrannos are allergic to them. They are brave and daring despite their size and seemingly frail appearance. They either have arms or legs, but not both. They're also able to talk and are afraid of ghosts.
• Captain Sabretooth and Smilin'Don: Evolved Smilodon. They are space pirates with advance weapons that rivals Reptilon's, like a device that neutralizes the Dinosaucers' and Tyrannos' Fossilizers. They're part of a group called the 'Sabretooths' where it is said that were invaders of Reptilon, according to the Dinosaucers. Though both Captain Sabretooth and Smilin' Don seem to state that Reptilon was their home. Either way, it took all of Reptilon to get and keep the Sabretooths off the planet. They can be fended off with cat nip, a little gift Sara gives to the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos in order to keep them away afterwards.
• Nessie: Known as the Loch Ness Monster, she is a female Elasmosaurus. Upon meeting Plesio, she falls in love with him and though Genghis Rex plans to turn her a member of the Tyrannos, Plesio loves her to the point of denying Rex's command and even defossilize the Dinosaucers to help free her. Even though she is offered to become a Dinosaucer, she declines. She became a close friend to Teryx due to both being females and kept her love to Plesio despite his evil roots. Nessie is currently an ally and friend to the Dinosaucers. She debuted in the episode "Lochs and Bay Gulls".
• Dinosaur Dundy: Joseph Dunderback is an Australian human scientist obsessed with studying biology. He once studied the lifeforms on a swamp, but changed his focus and started to study dinosaurs. Due to some radioactive material leaking while he was transporting them some of the creatures in the swamp mutated, Dundy gained intelligence (about level of Bonehead) and the ability to talk. The mutated creatures on the swamp felt his uninterest and started to behave wildly or strangely in order to draw his attention. Crocodiles, turtles, and snakes are his closest friends. In the end, he resumes his original quest and becomes an ally and friend to the Dinosaucers alongside his reptilian comrades. He debuted in the episode named after him. Dinosaur Dundy likes to drive watercraft in order for his reptilian friends to ski in the swamp. He is based on Paul Hogan's movie character Crocodile Dundee.
  • Turtleback and Shellhead: Two mutated Earthling turtles which are some of Dinosaur Dundy's closest friends. They have cheerful personalities and good will. Dundy refers to them as "two of the slipperies characters he has ever met". They also relate well with the Dinosaucers due to them all being reptiles. Though initially hostile and mischievous, they eventually learn the error of their ways and begin enjoying life for what is worth it. They made their debut in the episode Dinosaur Dundy. They love to ski in the swamp.
  • Crockpot: A mutated Earthling crocodile whom Dinosaur Dundy has cared since it was a hatchling. He became aggressive after Dinosaur Dundy forgot about him and only reverted when he gave up his obsession and returned to the passion of studying the creatures of the swamps. All he wanted was attention and notice from his old human friend after all. He began to enjoy life alongside his human and reptile friends. He was introduced to the series in the episode Dinosaur Dundy. He takes a liking to skiing since then.
  • Marty and Snake Eyes: Two mutated Earth snakes which are friends to Dinosaur Dundy. They are also close to the other mutated reptiles on the swamp. They are left to guard Sara by Crockpot but tag along with Sara after getting bored. They are very sympathetic, docile and friendly. They debuted in the episode Dinosaur Dundy and Sara states them to be musicians. They learn how to ski and greatly enjoy adventure.

Media

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.
• 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.
• Dinosaucers: Hooray for Hollywood & Divide and Conquer • Released in 1994. It included the fourth and fifth episodes of the series.
• Dinosaucers: The First Snow & Frozen Furballs • Released in 1994. It included the twelfth and eighteenth episodes of the series.

There have been four tapes in total released on VHS cassette in NTSC format specifically for the United States and Canadian markets. None are still in print or available, making these 4 VHS tapes rare. Dinosaucers has not been released on DVD and there are no known plans to do so from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

UK 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 on each tape, the United Kingdom tapes had five episodes each on both tapes released.

The first 21 episodes were previously purchased and downloaded online on Amazon.com as well as on iTunes until summer of 2013 with no current plans to return as of 2023.

Toys

There were originally plans by Galoob to release a Dinosaucers toyline, and prototype figures were produced. The toyline were to include the characters Stego, Bronto-Thunder, Allo, Bonehead, Plesio, Quackpot, Ankylo, and Genghis Rex.^[5] However, the line was scrapped when the show was canceled after airing its initial 65 episode.^[6] As a result, some markets began pulling the series from their cartoon line-ups instead of re-running the show's episodes for the remainder of the full 1987-1988 television season.

In 1989, after Dinosaucers premiered in Brazil, a company named Glasslite contacted Galoob and purchased the molds. As such, Glasslite produced 5 of the 8 unproduced Galoob molds of the 8" figures although they can be extremely hard to find.^[7]

Comic reboot

In 2018, Uslan joined with publisher Lion Forge Comics to revive Dinosaucers as a comic book.^[8] The 5-part mini-series however was left on a cliff hanger when the comic book was discontinued after a trade paperback was published in January 2019.

Episodes

Stephan Martinieri directed all episodes.^{[citation needed]}

No.	Title	Written by	Original air date
1	"Dinosaur Valley"	Diane Duane	September 14, 1987 (1987-09-14)
The Tyrannos discover a hidden valley full of tech-cancelling ore-and dinosaurs! The Dinosaucers head down to stop the Tyrannos from building a base there.
2	"Take Us Out to the Ballgame"	Michael E. Uslan	September 15, 1987 (1987-09-15)
The Secret Scouts teach the Dinosaucers how to play baseball while the Tyrannos search for the world's biggest diamond.
3	"Happy Egg Day to You"	Diane Duane	September 16, 1987 (1987-09-16)
The Secret Scouts and Dinosaucers plan a surprise party for Paul while the Tyrannos infiltrate Lavadome to steal the secret of dinovolving.
4	"Hooray for Hollywood"	Felicia Maliani	September 17, 1987 (1987-09-17)
Stego and Bonehead go to Hollywood to meet the dinosaurs they think are there while Genghis Rex and Ankylo plan to recruit those dinosaurs.
5	"Divide and Conquer"	Michael E. Uslan	September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18)
The Tyrannos fake news about a new energy source in New York in order to get Allo away from the Dinosaucers. Bronto Thunder goes to New York against Allo's orders.
6	"A Real Super Hero"	Brooks Wachtel	September 21, 1987 (1987-09-21)
Sara and Bonehead go to Hollywood to meet their favorite TV superhero, Mr. Hero. Unfortunately, the Tyrannos go to Hollywood too to eliminate Mr. Hero and get their claws on his weapons.
7	"Burgers Up!"	Ron Harris	September 22, 1987 (1987-09-22)
The Tyrannos steal a shipment of frozen hamburgers, mistaking them for a power source for their latest weapon.
8	"Be Prepared"	Mike O'Mahony	September 23, 1987 (1987-09-23)
The Dinosaucers and Secret Scouts go on a camping trip to hone their survival skills.
9	"That Shrinking Feeling"	Doug Molitor	September 24, 1987 (1987-09-24)
Teryx builds a 4-D ray that shrinks her, Bronto Thunder, Allo, Ryan, Sara, and the Tyrannos, leading to a miniature fight in the Spencer house.
10	"Rockin' Reptiles"	Felicia Maliani	September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25)
David uses the Dinosaucers' name and looks for his rock band, but is mistaken for the real thing by the Tyrannos.
11	"Sleeping Booty"	Ron Harris, Diane Duane	September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28)
Genghis Rex plans to recruit a giant monster to conquer Earth.
12	"The First Snow"	Michael E. Uslan	September 29, 1987 (1987-09-29)
Paul and Sara teach the Dinosaucers how to have fun in winter.
13	"Trick or Cheat"	Michael E. Uslan, Diane Duane	September 30, 1987 (1987-09-30)
The Secret Scouts practice their magic tricks, unaware that Quackpot plans to show off magic tricks of his own.
14	"Defective Defector"	Doug Molitor	October 1, 1987 (1987-10-01)
Quackpot is hit by Plesio's defector ray, causing him to join the Dinosaucers. Unfortunately, the Dinosaucers become the victims of Quackpot's practical jokes.
15	"For the Love of Teryx"	Felicia Maliani	October 2, 1987 (1987-10-02)
Sara helps Teryx admit her feelings for Ichy. At the same time, Genghis Rex plans on making Teryx his queen.
16	"A Man's Best Friend Is His Dogasaurus"	Michael E. Uslan	October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05)
Sara and Paul bring their pets Missy and Charlie to Dinosaucer HQ, but the Fur Balls give them dinosauce that turns them into dinosaurs.
17	"Carnivore in Rio"	Somtow Sucharitkul	October 6, 1987 (1987-10-06)
A tribe in the Amazon has begun misusing a Reptilon tool and the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos race to get it.
18	"Frozen Fur Balls"	J. Vornholt, S. Robertson	October 7, 1987 (1987-10-07)
The Tyrannos attack a supply ship driven by Stego and Bonehead, who only have Ugh, Grunt and their relatives to help them.
19	"Hook, Line, and Stinker"	Avril Roy-Smith, Richard Mueller	October 8, 1987 (1987-10-08)
While searching for sunken treasure, Plesio is photographed by a team of scientists. The Dinosaucers and Tyrannos rush to make sure the scientists are unsuccessful in capturing him.
20	"The Prehistoric Purge"	Walt Kubiak, Eliot Daro	October 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Stego becomes a wrestler known as the Prehistoric Purge and Genghis Rex plans to kidnap the Secret Scouts at one of his matches.
21	"The Truth About Dragons"	Doug Molitor	October 12, 1987 (1987-10-12)
The Tyrannos go to China to get their claws on the country's 'superpower'. A boy named Kai mistakes them for dragons.
22	"Chariots of the Dinosaucers"	Somtow Sucharitkul	October 13, 1987 (1987-10-13)
The Tyrannos travel to Egypt and force an archeologist to help them find the tomb of Stego-Ra, the creator of dinovolving.
23	"Eggs Mark the Spot"	Avril Roy-Smith, Richard Mueller	October 14, 1987 (1987-10-14)
A nest of pteranodon eggs are discovered and the Dinosaucers and Secret Scouts rush to get them before the Tyrannos do! However, Terrible Dactyl wants them for his own reasons...
24	"Mommy Dino-Dearest"	Brooks Wachtel	October 15, 1987 (1987-10-15)
Bonehead's mother Bonehilda comes to Lavadome with a device that'll prevent the Tyrannos from intercepting their communications and Genghis Rex wants it. Meanwhile, Bonehead tries to make his mother proud by pretending to be commander of the Dinosaucers.
25	"The Whale's Song"	Durnie King	October 16, 1987 (1987-10-16)
The Tyrannos head to the Bermuda Triangle to take a meteor that has the power to transport objects to Reptilon and the Dinosaucers team up with the meteor's whale guardians to stop them.
26	"Inquiring Minds"	Mark Cassutt	October 19, 1987 (1987-10-19)
When Sara photographs the Dinosaucers, the pictures end up in the hands of a greedy reporter, who teams up with the Tyrannos.
27	"War of the Worlds... II"	Dennis O'Flaherty	October 20, 1987 (1987-10-20)
David's cousin Francine causes alien invaders to appear on the TV sets of her hometown, causing a panic and bringing the Tyrannos who want to ally themselves with the non-existent aliens.
28	"Beach Blanket Bonehead"	Chris Bunch, Allan Cole	October 21, 1987 (1987-10-21)
In honor of Fern Day, the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos call a 24-hour truce. The Secret Scouts take the Dinosaucers to the beach and the Tyrannos follow.
29	"The Bone Ranger and Bronto"	David Bischoff, Ted Pedersen	October 22, 1987 (1987-10-22)
When a new dinosaur skull is found in Arizona, the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos venture there, both reenacting Reptilon's Old West days.
30	"Cindersaurus"	Cherie Wilkerson	October 23, 1987 (1987-10-23)
In order to learn more about dances, Teryx creates a device that temporarily turns her into a human.
31	"Trouble in Paradise"	Martha Moran	October 26, 1987 (1987-10-26)
While eavesdropping on a talk about volcanoes in Hawaii, Allo, Bronto Thunder, and Dimetro are captured by the Tyrannos, who are using a weather-controlling cannon. The Secret Scouts and Bonehead are likewise defeated, leaving it up to Stego to stop the Tyrannos.
32	"Monday Night Clawball"	Michael E. Uslan, J. Vornholt, S. Robertson	October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27)
The Dinosaucers and Tyrannos settle a dispute over a crater full of reptilite with a football game.
33	"Age of Aquariums"	Michael E. Uslan, Cherie Wilkerson	October 28, 1987 (1987-10-28)
Plesio frees the fish in the aquarium the Secret Scouts work at and tries to get them to revolt against humanity.
34	"Scents of Wonder"	Somtow Sucharitkul	October 29, 1987 (1987-10-29)
The Tyrannos believe that they have a mind-control weapon made from perfume.
35	"Fine-Feathered Friend"	Felicia Maliani	October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30)
Teryx comes down with a mysterious illness and Allo goes to get the Dinosorceress to cure her. Unfortunately, Teryx is kidnapped by a greedy birdwatcher who plans to make her the find of the century.
36	"Allo and Cos-Stego Meet the Abominable Snowman"	Michael E. Uslan, Brooks Wachtel	November 2, 1987 (1987-11-02)
-Genghis Rex tricks Stego into taking Allo on a search for the Abominable Snowman so that he can steal it and add it to the Tyrannos.
37	"The Quack-Up of Quackpot"	Michael E. Uslan	November 3, 1987 (1987-11-03)
It's April Fool's Day and Quackpot is running wild with practical jokes! It's up to the Secret Scouts to stop him.
38	"It's an Archaeopteryx — It's a Plane — It's Thunder-Lizard"	Michael E. Uslan, Arthur Byron Cover	November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04)
When Bronto Thunder lies to his girlfriend Apatty Saurus about his accomplishments on Earth, he's forced to become the superhero Thunder-Lizard. In one part of the episode, Bronto Thunder wears his swimming trunk shorts as he rides through a river.
39	"Teacher's Pest"	Doug Molitor	November 5, 1987 (1987-11-05)
When told to stay behind at Lavadome, Bonehead sneaks out to go to school with Ryan and Sara. Meanwhile, Genghis Rex plans to kidnap Bonehead and use him as leverage against Allo.
40	"Dino-Chips!"	Somtow Sucharitkul	November 6, 1987 (1987-11-06)
The Tyrannos sabotage a computer company with computer chips from Reptilon.
41	"The Heart and Sole of Bigfoot"	Michael E. Uslan, David Bischoff, Ted Pedersen	November 9, 1987 (1987-11-09)
While scouting in Canada, Quackpot turns a lumberjack into a Bigfoot-like creature. The Dinosaucers try to help him while the Tyrannos try to capture him.
42	"Karatesaurus Wrecks"	Michael E. Uslan, David Wise	November 10, 1987 (1987-11-10)
The Dinosaucers go to Japan and are roped into working in a monster movie. Meanwhile, the Tyrannos learn karate to fight the Dinosaucers.
43	"Lochs and Bay Gulls"	Michael E. Uslan	November 11, 1987 (1987-11-11)
Genghis Rex plans to recruit the Loch Ness Monster into the Tyrannos, but Plesio falls in love with her.
44	"The Trojan Horseasaurus"	Ellen Guon	November 12, 1987 (1987-11-12)
When Quackpot is kicked out of the Tyrannos, he plans to get revenge by pretending to be the Ancients of Reptilon.
45	"We're Off to See the Lizard"	Michael E. Uslan, Felicia Maliani	November 13, 1987 (1987-11-13)
Sara is hit by a tornado from a Tyranno weather machine and wakes up to find herself in a very Oz-like situation.
46	"Seeing Purple"	Susan Ellison	November 16, 1987 (1987-11-16)
The Dinosaucers come down with an illness and the Secret Scouts have to keep the Tyrannos from finding out.
47	"There's No Such Thing as Stego-Claws"	Michael E. Uslan	November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17)
The Dinosaucers plan to go home for Merry Dinosaur Day but the Tyrannos spoil Bonehead's good cheer by telling him Stego-Claws doesn't exist. That night, Bonehead and David join Stego-Claws in trying to keep the Tyrannos from ruining Merry Dinosaur Day.
48	"Applesaucers"	Michael E. Uslan	November 18, 1987 (1987-11-18)
David, Allo, and Dimetro work to save David's grandparent's farm from the Tyrannos.
49	"Reduced for Clarence"	Michael E. Uslan, Carla Conway	November 19, 1987 (1987-11-19)
Ryan, Sara, Allo, and Teryx go to the circus where the Tyrannos are trying to kidnap a stilt-wearing clown named Clarence, whom they believe has a shrink ray.
50	"Attack of the Fur Balls"	Clancy Fort	November 20, 1987 (1987-11-20)
After causing trouble at Lavadome, Ugh and Grunt run away, fall into a Tyranno trap and are taken to the Tar Pits.
51	"Dinosaur Dundy"	Michael E. Uslan	November 23, 1987 (1987-11-23)
Bronto Thunder, Tricero, Sara, and David go to Florida to find some dinosaur eggs in the possession of archeologist Dinosaur Dundy, but they've been stolen by a mutated crocodile.
52	"Those Reptilon Nights"	Bill Fawcett	November 24, 1987 (1987-11-24)
The Maltese Pterodactyl is stolen and Tricero is called back to Reptilon to find it.
53	"The Dinolympics"	Bill Fawcett	November 25, 1987 (1987-11-25)
Allo tries to get the Tyrannos to compete in their form of Olympics as a way of making peace while Sara deals with a stuck-up rival at her own Olympics.
54	"Sara Had a Little Lambeosaurus"	Cherie Wilkerson	November 26, 1987 (1987-11-26)
Dimetro follows Sara to school and befriends her trouble-making chemistry lab partner Glen.
55	"Beauty and the Bonehead"	Brynne Stephens	November 27, 1987 (1987-11-27)
Genghis Rex steals a perfume from the scientist who made it in order to make himself beautiful and take over the world. The Dinosaucers rush to stop him while Bonehead falls in love with the scientist's daughter.
56	"The Museum of Natural Humans"	Michael E. Uslan, Felicia Maliani, Lydia C. Marano	November 30, 1987 (1987-11-30)
The Secret Scouts are abducted by the Tyrannos, who sell them to a museum and it's up to Allo to rescue them.
57	"Saber-Tooth or Consequences"	Michael E. Uslan, Craig Miller, Mark Nelson	December 1, 1987 (1987-12-01)
Sabertooth tiger pirates come to Earth and the Dinosaucers and Tyrannos team up to stop them.
58	"Camp Tyranno"	Michael E. Uslan, Beth Bornstein	December 2, 1987 (1987-12-02)
When the Secret Scouts are away at summer camp, the Tyrannos think they're at a boot camp to prepare them for war. Genghis Rex forms his own boot camp to combat them.
59	"The Babysitter"	Gerry Conway	December 3, 1987 (1987-12-03)
In order to go to the Reptile Fair on Reptilon, Bonehead leaves his little brother Numbskull in the care of Quackpot.
60	"Toy-Ranno Store Wars"	Michael E. Uslan, Jody Lynn Nye	December 4, 1987 (1987-12-04)
The Tyrannos mistake toy commercials as advertisements for weapons and kidnap David to make him tell them how they work.
61	"The T-Bones' Stakes"	Michael E. Uslan	December 7, 1987 (1987-12-07)
The Tyrannos obtain a ray gun that brings dinosaur skeletons to life and the Dinosaucers seem unable to defeat them.
62	"The Scales of Justice"	Michael E. Uslan	December 8, 1987 (1987-12-08)
Sick and tired of always losing to the Dinosaucers, the Tyrannos decide to face them in court.
63	"I Got Those 'Ol Reptilon Blues Again, Mommasaur"	Michael E. Uslan, Todd Johnson	December 9, 1987 (1987-12-09)
The Tyrannos go back to Reptilon to return to their old jobs and Allo, Teryx, and Bronto Thunder follow to see if they really are. But will the three Dinosaucers decide to stay on Reptilon?
64	"I Was a Teenage Human"	Lydia C. Marano, David Wise	December 10, 1987 (1987-12-10)
The Tyrannos need a new energy source and believe that Paul's science fair project is what they're looking for. They turn Styraco into a human to steal it.
65	"The Friend"	Bill Fawcett	December 11, 1987 (1987-12-11)
While on his way for groceries, Stego befriends a lonely boy named Peter. When Stego takes him to Reptilon, the Tyrannos think Peter's toys are prototypes for spaceships and kidnap him.

Development

According to Uslan in a 2019 interview with Syfy, the show was inspired by his son, David, who has an interest in dinosaurs and outerspace.^[1] He then started to brainstorm his ideas of Tyrannos and the Dinosaucers with his son listening to him explain it.^[1] The Secret Scouts were named after members of his family, including his own son.^[1]

Uslan worked on a deal with Andy Hawyard at DiC Entertainment to air the show through syndication with Coca-Cola Telecommunications.^[1]

See also

• Cartoon portal

• Extreme Dinosaurs
• Dino Riders
• Planet of Dinosaurs
• Terra Nova

References

1. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-creators-of-dinosaucers-and-dino-riders-look-back-on-two-very-80s-cartoons
2. Uslan, Michael E. (2011). The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir. Chronicle Books. p. 212. ISBN 978-0811875509. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
3. Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 156. ISBN 978-1538103739.
4. Erickson, Hal (2005). Television cartoon shows: an illustrated encyclopedia, 1949 through 2003. McFarland & Co. p. 253. ISBN 07864-2255-6.
5. Bickmore, Alex. "Dinosaucers". Super Toy Archive. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
6. https://www.j1studios.com/prepare-to-get-jurassic-awesome-cartoons-goes-back-in-time-with-dinosaucers/
7. "STA: Dinosaucers: Action Figures: Brazil's Glassite 8" Figures". www.toyarchive.com. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
8. https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dinosaucers-lion-forge-august-2018/

External links

• Dinosaucers at IMDb