Dinosaur Train

Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train
Also known as	Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train
Genre	Children's CGI animated cartoon
Created by	Craig Bartlett
Directed by	Craig Bartlett Terry Izumi
Voices of	Phillip Corlett Claire Corlett Erika-Shaye Gair Alexander Matthew Marr Ian James Corlett Natasha Calis Colin Murdock Ellen Kennedy Sean Thomas Laura Marr
Opening theme	"Dinosaur Train"
Composer(s)	Jim Lang Mike Himelstein Michael Silversher
Country of origin	United States Canada Singapore
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	89[1] (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Craig Bartlett Brian Henson Lisa Henson Halle Stanford
Producer(s)	Sue Bea Montgomery
Running time	28:46
Production company(s)	Media Development Authority Sparky Animation The Jim Henson Company FableVision Snee-Oosh, Inc. (uncredited)
Distributor	The Jim Henson Company PBS
Release
Original network	PBS
Picture format	ATSC
Audio format	Dolby Home Theater
Original release	September 7, 2009 – present
Chronology
Preceded by	Sid the Science Kid
External links
Website

Dinosaur Train is an American/Canadian/Singaporean animated series created by Craig Bartlett, who also created Hey Arnold!. 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 Media Development Authority, Sparky Animation, FableVision, and Snee-Oosh, Inc.

It is the second show by The Jim Henson Company to use CGI animation (the first of which was Sid the Science Kid).

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 have been ordered by PBS Kids so far. Each episode is followed by a live-action segment featuring Dinosaur Train educational consultant and world-renowned paleontologist Dr. Scott D. Sampson, who appears onscreen to explain the show's dinosaur curriculum in greater detail.

Characters

Cast

• Phillip Corlett – Buddy Tyrannosaurus (first voice)
• Sean Thomas – Buddy Tyrannosaurus (second voice)
• Dayton Wall - Buddy Tyrannosaurus (third voice)
• Claire Corlett – Tiny Pteranodon
• Ian James Corlett – Mr. Conductor, Adam Adocus, Alan Alamosaurus, Elliott Enantiornithine (in "Now with Feathers!"), Morris Stegosaurus, Mr. Argentinosaurus, Mr. Daspletosaurus, Mr. Elasmosaurus, 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 (first voice), Tank Triceratops
• Laura Marr – Don Pteranodon (second voice)
• Colin Murdock – Mr. Pteranodon, Announcer, Elliott Enantiornithine, Hank Ankylosaurus, Ralph Einiosaurus, Station Master, Stuart Styracosaurus, Ziggy Zhejiangopterus, Carson Carcharodontosaurus, Grandpa Pteranodon

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
• Kathleen Barr – Angela Avisaurus (in "T. Rex Migration"), 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, Effie Effigia
• Craig Bartlett – Spider
• 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
• 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
• 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 (first voice)
• James Kirk – Perry Parasaurolophus, Rick Oryctodromeus, Nick Oryctodromeus
• Andrea Libman – Pamela Pachycephalosaurus
• Alan Marriott – Henry Hermit Crab, Herbie Hermit Crab, Iggy Iguanodon, Mayor Kosmoceratops
• Erin Mathews – Judy Jeholornis, Stacle 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 (second voice), Kiera Chirostenotes
• 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

Segments

• Time for a Tiny Ditty – Tiny either tries singing about something she learned on the show or about her favorite dish (fish).
• Buddy has a Hypothesis – Children learn from Buddy and Tiny what a hypothesis means.
• Dr. Scott the Paleontologist – He appears on the show to teach children about the dinosaurs which have appeared in each episode, and how dinosaurs compare to present day animals (including humans).^[2] Dr. Scott Sampson is a paleontologist. He received his PhD in zoology from the University of Toronto in 1993 and currently works as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Utah.^[3][4]

Songs

• "Theme Song" – A ballad 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 (judging by his deep voice) 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 (My Name is Tiny)" – 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 (particularly the Dinosaur Train).
• "Dinosaur Feet" – Daphne Daspletosaurus and the gang sings about their great big stomping dinosaur feet.
• "Sleep Little Dinosaur" – The Pteranodon family 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 sings about how not every animal in the Mesozoic Era is 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.

Episodes

Live show

A live show, "Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train Live: Buddy's Big Adventure", began touring the United States and Canada in October 2013 and ended in March 2014.^[5]

References

1. "Henson Moving Forward with "Dinosaur Train" and "The Skumps"". Muppet News Flash. September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
2. Owen, Rob (September 4, 2009). "'Dinosaur Train' combines two popular routes". Post Gazette. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
3. http://www.scottsampson.net/index.php?page=bio Retrieved November 13, 2009.
4. http://www.earth.utah.edu/people/faculty/ssampson Retrieved November 13, 2009.
5. http://www.dinosaurtrainlive.com