Dinosaur Train

***Dinosaur Train*** is an American/Canadian/Singaporean animated series CGl live action created by Craig Bartlett, who also created *Hey Arnold!*. The series features a curious young *Tyrannosaurus rex* named Buddy who, together with sketch 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 CINAR Animation (season 1 only) in association with Wild Brain Productions (seasons 3-4), 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 Action 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 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

Main article: List of Dinosaur Train characters

## Cast

* Phillip Corlett as Buddy Tyrannosaurus
* Sean Thomas as Buddy Tyrannosaurus
* Dayton Wall as Buddy Tyrannosaurus
* Chance Hurstfield as Buddy Tyrannosaurus
* Claire Corlett as Tiny Pteranodon, Polly Polycotylus
* Ian James Corlett as 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 as Shiny Pteranodon, Annie Tyrannosaurus, Cory Corythosaurus
* Ellen Kennedy as Mrs. Pteranodon, Mrs. Einiosaurus, Mrs. Elasmosaurus, Grandma Pteranodon
* Alexander Matthew Marr as Don Pteranodon & Tank Triceratops
* Laura Marr as Don Pteranodon, Tank Triceratops & Quincy Quetzalcoatalus
* Colin Murdock as 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 as Marvin Mosasaurus
* Michael Adamthwaite as Jess Hesperornis, Reggie Raptorex
* Ashleigh Ball as Arnie Argentinosaurus, Crystal Cryolophosaurus, Gilbert Troodon, Lorraine Lambeosaurus, Maiasaura Mom, Millie Maiasaura, Mrs. Therizinosaurus, Oren Ornithomimus, Reba Rhabdodon, Gwendolyn Glyptops
* Kathleen Barr as Angela Avisaurus 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, Remy Ramphorhynchus, Effie Effigia, Paulette Polycotylus,
* Craig Bartlett as Spider
* Nicole Bouma as Soren Saurornitholestes
* Jason Bryden as Tommy Ptilodus
* Jim Byrnes as Percy Paramacellodus
* Natasha Calis as Leslie Lesothosaurus, Maisie Mosasaurus
* Adrienne Carter as Kiera Chirostenotes
* Garry Chalk as Marco Megaraptor
* Shannon Chan-Kent as Allie Alamosaurus
* Allison Cohen as Carla Cretoxyrhina
* Dylan Sloane Cowan as Rodney Raptorex
* Michelle Creber as Michelle Maiasaura
* Brenda Crichlow as Denise Diplodocus
* Deb Demille as Deanna Deinosuchus
* Trevor Devall as Boris Tyrannosaurus, Bucky Masiakasaurus, Mr. Deinonychus, Thurston Troodon, Peng Protopteryx
* Michael Dobson as Old Spinosaurus
* Brian Drummond as 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 as Daphne Daspletosaurus
* Mitchell Duffield as Mookie Maiasaura
* Alex Ferris as Paulie Pliosaurus
* Andrew Francis as Patrick Pachycephalosaurus
* Alberto Gishi as Mitch Michelinoceras
* Nico Gishi as Leroy Lambeosaurus, Max Michelinoceras
* Gordon Grice as Derek Deinonychus, Elmer Elasmosaurus
* Olivia Hamilton as Lily Lambeosaurus
* Phil Hayes as Chung Confuciusornis, King Cryolophosaurus
* Maryke Hendrikse as Penelope Protoceratops
* Ryan Hirakida as Dylan Dilophosaurus
* Alessandro Juliani as Martin Amargasaurus
* Diana Kaarina as Tricia Troodon
* James Kirk as Perry Parasaurolophus, Rick Oryctodromeus, Nick Oryctodromeus
* Andrea Libman as Pamela Pachycephalosaurus
* Alan Marriott as Henry Hermit Crab, Herbie Hermit Crab, Iggy Iguanodon, Mayor Kosmoceratops, Deon Dimetrodon, Hap Haplocheirus
* Erin Mathews as Judy Jeholornis, Stacle Styracosaurus, Vera Velociraptor
* Donnie McNeil as Devlin Dilophosaurus
* Jason Michas as Henry Hermit Crab
* Bill Mondy as Jack Einiosaurus
* Peter New as Sydney Sinovenator
* Nicole Oliver as Brenda Brachiosaurus, Mrs. Pliosaurus
* Cedric Payne as Petey Peteinosaurus
* Adrian Petriw as Vlad Volaticotherium
* Joseph Purdy as Mr. Disclaimer
* Kelly Sheridan as Olivia Oviraptor
* Valin Shinyei as Sonny Sauroposeidon
* Rebecca Shoichet as Tricia Troodon Kiera Chirostenotes, Cassie Castrocauda
* Tabitha St. Germain as Angela Avisaurus, Arlene Archaeopteryx, Cindy Cimolestes, Gabby Gallimimus, Keenan Chirostenotes, Computer 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 as Valerie Velociraptor
* Lee Tockar as Crab, Craig Cretoxyrhina
* Kira Tozer as Ella Brachiosaurus
* Chiara Zanni as 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). 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.

## 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).
* "**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.

## Episodes

Main article: List of Dinosaur Train episodes

 **1** | 40
 **2** | 26
 **3** | 13
 **4** | 10

## Fundings

* Viewers Like You/Thank You (2009-present)
* Vinci (2014)
* Gymboree (2014-2015)
* Chuck E. Cheese's (2014-2015)
* Kiddie Academy (2016-present)
* Homer (2018-2019)
* Abcmouse.com (2019-present)
* Destin-Fort Walton Beach Florida (2020-present)

## Live Action

A live Action, "Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train Live Action: Buddy's Big Adventure", began touring the United States and Canada in October 2021 and ended in March 2021