Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train is an American-Canadian-Singaporean children's computer-animated series created by Craig Bartlett, who also created Hey Arnold! and Ready Jet Go!. The series features a curious young Tyrannosaurus rex named Buddy who, together with his adopted Pteranodon family, takes the Dinosaur Train to explore his time period, and have adventures with all kinds of dinosaurs. It is produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with the Info-communications Media Development Authority, Sparky Animation, FableVision, and Snee-Oosh, Inc. and Reel FX and Sea to Sky Entertainment. PBS Kids had ordered 11 more episodes, taking the total number of episodes to 100.
Overview
The show is set in a whimsical prehistoric world of jungles, swamps, active volcanoes and oceans, all teeming with dinosaur and other animal life, and connected by a train line known as the Dinosaur Train. This steam-engine train can be customized for dinosaurs of all kinds: windows accommodate the long-necked sauropods, there's plenty of headroom in the Observation Car for the larger theropods, and the Aquacar is an aquarium for sea-going passengers. The train itself is run by Troodons, as the smartest dinosaurs in this fictional universe. The Dinosaur Train circles the whole world—it even crosses the oceans and inland seas, with stops to visit undersea prehistoric animals. It can travel through the entire Mesozoic Era, the "Age of Dinosaurs", passing through magical Time Tunnels to the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous time periods.The world of Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy the Tyrannosaurus. In the show's main title song, we learn that Buddy was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon. He hatched at the same time as his Pteranodon siblings Tiny, Shiny, and Don. By traveling in the Dinosaur Train around the Mesozoic, supplied with all dinosaur facts by the train's Troodon Conductor, Buddy learns that he is a Tyrannosaurus. As an adopted kid in a mixed-species family, Buddy is curious about the differences between species and vows to learn about all the dinosaurs he can by riding the Dinosaur Train. The dinosaur species featured in the show are actual dinosaurs discovered by paleontologists.
Dinosaur Train is co-produced and animated by Sparky Animation Studios in Singapore, with casting by Vidaspark and voice-overs recorded at Kozmic Sound in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It premiered on Labor Day 2009 and airs daily on PBS Kids, and in various countries around the world. 40 half-hour episodes were ordered by PBS Kids for the 1st season. After that 49 additional episodes were made. Each episode is followed by a live-action segment featuring Dinosaur Train educational consultant and paleontologist Dr. Scott D. Sampson, who appears onscreen to explain the show's dinosaur curriculum in greater detail.
Episodes
Characters
Main
- Phillip Corlett — Buddy Tyrannosaurus
- Sean Thomas — Buddy Tyrannosaurus
- Dayton Wall — Buddy Tyrannosaurus
- Chance Hurstfield — Buddy Tyrannosaurus
- Claire Corlett — Tiny Pteranodon, Polly Polycotylus
- Ian James Corlett — Mr. Conductor, Adam Adocus, Alan Alamosaurus, Elliott Enantiornithine, Morris Stegosaurus, Mr. Argentinosaurus, Mr. Daspletosaurus, Mr. Elasmosaurus, Quentin Qianzhousaurus, Stuart Stygimoloch, Travis Troodon, Triceratops, Troodon Official, Vincent Velociraptor, Teddy Pterodaustro, Frankie Fruitafossor, Troodon Waiter
- Erika-Shaye Gair — Shiny Pteranodon, Annie Tyrannosaurus, Cory Corythosaurus
- Ellen Kennedy — Mrs. Pteranodon, Mrs. Einiosaurus, Mrs. Elasmosaurus, Grandma Pteranodon
- Alexander Matthew Marr — Don Pteranodon, Tank Triceratops
- Laura Marr — Don Pteranodon, Quincy Quetzalcoatlus
- Colin Murdock — Mr. Pteranodon, Announcer, Elliott Enantiornithine, Hank Ankylosaurus, Ralph Einiosaurus, Station Master, Stuart Styracosaurus, Ziggy Zhejiangopterus, Carson Carcharodontosaurus, Grandpa Pteranodon, Gary Goniopholis
Additional voices
- Mark Acheson — Marvin Mosasaurus
- Michael Adamthwaite — Jess Hesperornis, Reggie Raptorex
- Ashleigh Ball — Arnie Argentinosaurus, Crystal Cryolophosaurus, Gilbert Troodon, Lorraine Lambeosaurus, Maiasaura Mom, Millie Maiasaura, Mrs. Therizinosaurus, Oren Ornithomimus, Reba Rhabdodon, Gwendolyn Glyptops
- William Ainscough — Dennis Deinocheirus
- Kathleen Barr — Angela Avisaurus, Dolores Tyrannosaurus, Erma Eoraptor, Fanny Fabrosaurus, Jacqueline Jaxartosaurus, Laura Giganotosaurus, Mrs. Corythosaurus, Mrs. Ornithomimus, Ned Brachiosaurus, Ollie Ornithomimus, Pauline Proganochelys, Peggy Peteinosaurus, Trudy Triceratops, Tuck Triceratops, Velma Velociraptor, Velociraptor Mom, Remy Ramphorhynchus, Effie Effigia, Paulette Polycotylus,
- Craig Bartlett — Spider
- Adam Behr — Kenny Kentrosaurus
- Nicole Bouma — Soren Saurornitholestes
- Jason Bryden — Tommy Ptilodus
- Jim Byrnes — Percy Paramacellodus
- Natasha Calis — Leslie Lesothosaurus, Maisie Mosasaurus
- Adrienne Carter — Kiera Chirostenotes
- Garry Chalk — Marco Megaraptor
- Shannon Chan-Kent — Allie Alamosaurus
- Allison Cohen — Carla Cretoxyrhina
- Dylan Sloane Cowan — Rodney Raptorex
- Michelle Creber — Michelle Maiasaura
- Brenda Crichlow — Denise Diplodocus
- Deb Demille — Deanna Deinosuchus
- Trevor Devall — Boris Tyrannosaurus, Bucky Masiakasaurus, Mr. Deinonychus, Thurston Troodon, Peng Protopteryx
- Michael Dobson – Old Spinosaurus
- Brian Drummond — Alvin Allosaurus, Apollo Apatosaurus, Albert Albanerpeton, Eugene Euoplocephalus, Larry Lambeosaurus, Mr. Quetzalcoatalus, Mr. Therizinosaurus, Quinn Qantassaurus, Sammy the Slug, Ulysses Utahraptor, Zhuang Zigongosaurus, Trevor Triceratops
- Brynna Drummond — Daphne Daspletosaurus
- Mitchell Duffield — Mookie Maiasaura
- Alex Ferris — Paulie Pliosaurus
- Andrew Francis — Patrick Pachycephalosaurus
- Alberto Gishi — Mitch Michelinoceras
- Nico Gishi — Leroy Lambeosaurus, Max Michelinoceras
- Gordon Grice — Derek Deinonychus, Elmer Elasmosaurus
- Olivia Hamilton — Lily Lambeosaurus
- Phil Hayes — Chung Confuciusornis, King Cryolophosaurus
- Maryke Hendrikse — Penelope Protoceratops
- Ryan Hirakida — Dylan Dilophosaurus
- Alessandro Juliani — Martin Amargasaurus
- Diana Kaarina — Tricia Troodon
- James Kirk — Perry Parasaurolophus, Rick Oryctodromeus, Nick Oryctodromeus
- Andrea Libman — Pamela Pachycephalosaurus
- Alan Marriott — Henry Hermit Crab, Herbie Hermit Crab, Iggy Iguanodon, Mayor Kosmoceratops, Deon Dimetrodon, Hap Haplocheirus
- Erin Mathews — Judy Jeholornis, Stacie Styracosaurus, Vera Velociraptor
- Donnie McNeil — Devlin Dilophosaurus
- Jason Michas — Henry Hermit Crab
- Bill Mondy — Jack Einiosaurus
- Peter New — Sydney Sinovenator
- Nicole Oliver — Brenda Brachiosaurus, Mrs. Pliosaurus
- Cedric Payne — Petey Peteinosaurus
- Adrian Petriw — Vlad Volaticotherium
- Joseph Purdy — Mr. Disclaimer
- Kelly Sheridan — Olivia Oviraptor
- Valin Shinyei — Sonny Sauroposeidon
- Rebecca Shoichet — Tricia Troodon, Kiera Chirostenotes, Cassie Castrocauda
- Tabitha St. Germain — Angela Avisaurus, Arlene Archaeopteryx, Cindy Cimolestes, Gabby Gallimimus, Keenan Chirostenotes, Computer Voice, Mikey Microraptor, Minnie Microraptor, Mom Archelon, Mrs. Conductor, Mrs. Deinonychus, Patricia Palaeobatrachus, Rita Raptorex, Sana Sanajeh, Selma Cimolestes, Shirley Stygimoloch, Sonja Styracosaurus, Spiky Stygimoloch, Stella Sea Star, Stephie Styracosaurus, Troodon Mom
- Chantal Strand — Valerie Velociraptor
- Lee Tockar — Crab, Craig Cretoxyrhina
- Kira Tozer — Ella Brachiosaurus
- Chiara Zanni — Shoshana Shonisaurus
Production
Development
In early 2008, after the successful first run of Hey Arnold! on Nickelodeon, Craig Bartlett decided to create another children series, this one set during the era of the dinosaurs, including the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Bartlett conceived the idea for the show, drew the main characters, and wrote a pilot script. Bartlett said he got the idea of the show after he saw one of his kids put a toy dinosaur in a toy train.Episode segments
- Time for a Tiny Ditty – Tiny either tries singing about something she learned on the show or about her favorite dish.
- Buddy has a Hypothesis – Children learn from Buddy and Tiny what a hypothesis means.
- Dr. Scott the Paleontologist – Scott Sampson is a paleontologist who appears on the show to teach children about the dinosaurs which have appeared in each episode, and how dinosaurs compare to present day animals. He received his PhD in zoology and, as of 2019 is the CEO for Science World at TELUS World of Science in Vancouver, BC.
Songs
- "Theme Song" – The opening theme, which is about a mom named Mrs. Pteranodon and her children with a T. Rex, revealed to be written by King in his debut episode.
- "Hungry Hungry Herbivore" – An adult Brachiosaurus shows up to sing a song about how herbivores love to eat green food.
- "I'm a T-Rex" – Buddy sings that he finally realizes that he is T-Rex, and sings about living in the Cretaceous forest.
- "Dinosaurs A-Z" – Mr. Conductor sings the Dinosaur Alphabet that his mother taught him.
- "Cryolophosaurus Crests" – King sings about his crest.
- "My Tiny Place" – Tiny sings about her "Tiny Place", which is actually her hideout in the form of a small hole in a tree. She sometimes shares it with Cindy Cimolestes.
- "Nice To Meet You " – Tiny's song she sings to Leslie to tell her how she can talk to other dinosaurs without getting scared.
- "All Aboard" – The original theme song before the official Dinosaur Train theme song.
- "Tiny Loves Fish" – Tiny sings a song about how she loves fish.
- "I Love Trains" – The Conductor sings about his love for trains.
- "I'll Always Be Your Mom" – Mrs. Pteranodon sings to her kids on how much she loves them.
- "Dinosaur Feet" – Daphne Daspletosaurus and the gang sings about their great big stomping dinosaur feet.
- "Sleep Little Dinosaur" – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Mrs. Pteranodon and Tank Triceratops sing Tank's lullaby that his mom sings to him every night.
- "I Learned a New Way to Improvise" – Shiny sings in a concert with Buddy, Tiny, Don, Cory Corythosaurus and Cory's cousin, Perry.
- "Ecosystem" – Mr. Conductor sings about living in an ecosystem.
- "Get into Nature Song" – Song about the Nature Trackers club and getting into nature.
- "That's Not a Dinosaur" – Tiny and the gang sings about how not every animal in the Mesozoic Era is or is not a dinosaur.
- "No Place Like Our Nest" – The Pteranodon family sings about how their nest is the only home for them.
- "The Biggest Dinosaurs" – Over several episodes the Pteranodon family go on trips to see the biggest sauropods, and this song is specific to those episodes.
- "The Prettiest Pteranodon" – Mr. Pteranodon sing it to his wife while on a date night.
- "Taking the Zepplin Home" – Mr. Conductor, Thurston, Mr. Pteranodon and Larry sing as they fly home to Pteranodon Terrace.
- "What's at the Center of the Earth?" – The Pteranodon Family, Mr. Conductor, and Gilbert sing about the center of the earth as they venture in it.
- "The Dinosaur Train Zeppelin" – The Pteranodon Family and Mr. Conductor sing as they travel in the zeppelin.
- "Laramidia " – All the dinosaurs get together and sing about Laramidia, also known as the Dinosaur Big City. In the first version, the Pteranodon Family and Mr. Conductor sing the song. In the second version, King Cryolophosaurus and Mayor Kosmoceratops sing the song.
Live show