Dino-Riders, the 1987 animated series
Dino-Riders is an animated television series that first aired in 1988. Dino-Riders was primarily a promotional show to launch a new line of Tyco toys. Only fourteen episodes were produced, three of which were produced on VHS for the United States. The show aired in the United States as part of the Marvel Action Universe programming block.
The series focuses on the battle between the heroic Valorians and the evil Rulon Alliance on prehistoric Earth. The Valorians were a superhuman race, while the Rulons comprised several races of humanoids (ants, crocodiles, snakes, and sharks were the most common). Both races came from the future but have been transported back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. Once on Earth, the Valorians made friends with the dinosaurs, while the Rulons brainwashed them.
History
The Valorians were a kind of peaceful humanoid who lived on the planet Valoria until they were overrun by predatory Rulon. A group of Valorians led by Questar attempted to escape the invasion of Rulon by using a spaceship equipped with their "Space and Time Energy Projector" (STEP); however, something went wrong. They were sent back in time and space to planet Earth 65 million years ago, in the age of the dinosaurs. Unbeknownst to them, the Rulon flagship, the Dreadlock, locked with a tractor beam, was also sent back in time when the STEP was activated.
After successfully landing on prehistoric Earth, the Valorians used their Amplified Mental Projector (AMP) necklaces to telepathically communicate with the dinosaurs they encountered and eventually befriended them. On the other hand, the Rulons - led by warlord Krulos - used brainwashing devices known as brain boxes to control dinosaurs for their own needs. The Rulons then launched an attack on the Valorians, who called their dinosaur friends to help them fight back. After finally defeating the Rulons, the Valorians renamed themselves the Dino-Riders.
As for the dinosaur (and other animal) species present, the series is extremely anachronistic, showing late Cretaceous species such as Tyrannosaurus rex along with species from earlier times, including the Permian genus Dimetrodon, which lived 200 million years earlier. , before dinosaurs existed.
It also shows several ice age animals such as the woolly mammoth and the Smilodon, which live alongside the Archaeotherium, which lived during the Eocene 16 million years before the Ice Age. It also shows Neanderthals coexisting with Smilodon and the Megatherium which lived in North and South America, while Neanderthals lived in Eurasia.
Characters
Valorians
questor (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) - The leader of the Valorians who is strong-willed and brave.
Mind-Zei (voiced by Peter Cullen) - An elderly blind warrior with a sixth sense for detecting people around him and who is an expert in hand-to-hand combat. He offers advice to Questar and is also Serena's grandfather.
Yungstar (voiced by Joe Colligan) - Young and eager for action, he is inclined to let pride get in his way. He rides a Deinonychus and flies a Quetzalcoatlus in later episodes.
Serena (voiced by Noelle North) - Able to heal other beings and can sense when someone is in trouble. She is also Mind-Zei's niece.
Turret (voiced by Charlie Adler) - A technician and scientist. Torretta is in charge of the crystal STEP.
Llahd (voiced by Stephen Dorff) - The youngest of the Dino-Riders.
Gunnur (voiced by Peter Cullen) - A hardened war veteran and high-ranking official who often helps train other Dino-Riders.
tag (voiced by Wally Burr) - A mid-level officer who also helps instruct in the training of Dino-Riders. He rides a Pachycephalosaurus.
Ikon (voiced by Cam Clarke) - A statistician as well as a pragmatist. Ikon is one of Questar's best consultants. He has a staff that allows him to answer Questar's questions almost instantly.
Vector (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) - Vector is one of Questar's best advisors. He is a general contractor who has a computerized wrist strap that allows him to evaluate the projects that need to be carried out, such as the extension of the field and the repair of the infrastructure.
Aero (voiced by Cam Clarke) - Yungstar's competitive rival. He flies a Quetzalcoatlus and can handle it better than anyone else.
tark - A senior Dino-Rider official. Questar frequently consulted with Tark on a number of important issues, his years of experience and the vast amount of knowledge about him earned him the respect of his peers.
Ayce - Usually teaches training and familiarization courses with equipment.
Ram - Aries is a young warrior who is often unsure of himself and is always looking for guidance from other Valorians. He mainly practices Diplodocus artillery.
Neutrino - Assists in various training courses. Although much of Neutrino's time is spent training others, Neutrino is more than capable on the battlefield.
The Commandos
Commandos are a special forces military unit within the Dino-Riders.
Astra (voiced by Townsend Coleman) - A hardened war veteran and leader of the Commandos. Former teacher at the University of Valorian and once counted among the students of Questar.
Bomb (voiced by Peter Cullen) - An explosives expert who is used to make clearings or remove obstacles.
Kameelian (voiced by Rob Paulsen) - He specializes in surveillance and reconnaissance. Kameelian is a master of disguise.
Glyde (voiced by Frank Welker) - Aerial reconnaissance and artillery cover. Use a glider to navigate the air.
Faze (voiced by Rob Paulsen) - Artillery expert.
Skirt - Expert in traversing rocky terrain such as mountains.
Cro-Magnon
The Valorians have also allied themselves with a Cro-Magnon tribe. Among the known Cro-Magnons are:
Tsar (voiced by Townsend Coleman) - Leader of a Cro-Magnon clan. Lead his clan against Grom's evil Neanderthals and refuse to succumb to his powers like other tribes before him.
Kub (voiced by Ike Eisenmann) - A young but brave Cro-Magnon who lost his father during a previous Grom attack. He helps the Valorians in their fight with the Rulons since he accompanies them into the past to reunite with the Dino-Riders.
Maya (voiced by Liz Georges) - Maya is a compassionate Cro-Magnon who is the Cro-Magnon equivalent of Serena as she is the healer of the tribe
The Rulons
The Rulons are a race of aliens who are enemies of the Valorians and main antagonists of the series.
Emperor Krulos (voiced by Frank Welker) - The evil leader of the Rulons who rules them in fear. Krulos is a frog-like humanoid creature in armor seeking world domination. He mainly uses a tyrannosaurus when he goes into battle.
Grater (voiced by Frank Welker) - Rasp is a cobra-like creature who is the leader of the Viper group and Krulos' second-in-command. Rasp always tries to usurp Krulos' place while preventing Hammerhead and Antor from taking his status from him.
Hammer head (voiced by Charlie Adler) - Hammerhead is a hammerhead shark-like creature who is the leader of the Sharkmen and one of Krulos' best generals. Hammerhead usually competes with Rasp and Antor for second-in-command status.
Antor (voiced by Peter Cullen) - Antor is an ant-like creature who is the leader of the Antmen and one of Krulos's generals. Antor usually competes with Hammerhead and Rasp for second-in-command status.
Hook (voiced by Cam Clarke) - A crocodile-like creature and one of Krulos's generals. He is completely obedient to Krulos and focuses on serving his master rather than getting involved in the little quarrels his fellow generals engage in.
Skate (voiced by Frank Welker) - Skate is a manta-like creature that is a low-ranking officer of the Rulons.
Locus (voiced by Charlie Adler) - Lokus is a locust-like creature who is a low-ranking officer of the Rulons.
Algar - A creature similar to a crocodile.
Buzz - A creature similar to a locust.
Dedeye - A member of the Viper group.
Demon - An Antman.
Drone - An anthill.
Fang - A member of the Viper group.
Finn - A shark man.
Fire - An Antman.
Gill - A shark man.
Gorr - A creature similar to a crocodile.
Gutz - A creature similar to a crocodile.
kraw - A creature similar to a crocodile.
Mako - A shark man.
pox - A creature similar to a locust.
Rats - A member of the Viper group.
Ray - A manta-like creature.
Sidewinder - A member of the Viper group.
Six-Gill - A shark.
Skwirm - A member of the Viper group.
Sludj - A manta-like creature.
Snarrl - A creature similar to a crocodile.
Squish - A creature similar to a locust.
Sting - An anthill.
termite - An anthill.
Neanderthal
Tsar's Cro-Magnon tribe has been at war with a rogue Neanderthal tribe. Among the known Neanderthals are:
Grom (voiced by Jack Angel) - Grom is the leader of a deadly Neanderthal clan who seeks to control or annihilate all nearby tribes. He has ruled his own tribe for years and has instilled fear in the hearts of many rival Neanderthal tribes. After battling the Dino-Riders, Grom was accidentally brought back to the time of the Dino-Riders and escapes to join the Rulons
Technical data
Gender Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Authors Gerry Conway, Carla Conway
Developed by Kayte Kuch, Larry Parr, Sheryl Scarborough
Regia Ray Lee, Steven Hahn
Music Haim Saban, Shuki Levy, Udi Harpaz
country of origin United States
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 14
Duration 23 min
Production company Marvel Productions, Tyco Toys
Animation: Hanho Heung Up Co., Ltd.
(South Korean animation studio, episodes 1 and 2)
AKOM Productions Ltd.
(South Korean animation studio, episodes 3-13)
Distributor New World Television
Original network First run syndication
Exit date 1 October - 31 December 1988
