The utterly extraordinary Prehistoric Planet has returned this week for a second season and, as a palaeontologist, I remain utterly enthralled by the whole thing. You might think I’d be spoiled for choice with the apparently unending parade of movies, video games and documentaries featuring animated dinosaurs, but this programme stands head and shoulders above anything else in terms of the accuracy of its animals and the naturalism they evoke.
The jump from Ray Harryhausen classics such as One Million Years BC in the mid-1960s to Jurassic Park in 1993 was massive. Jurassic Park showed dinosaurs in a new way to vast audiences and ushered in a new wave of interest and representation, most notably in the BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs series in 1999. However, 30 years on, most dinosaurs in mainstream film and TV still follow its look and feel, despite our scientific understanding of dinosaurs and their contemporaries having advanced enormously since then. Prehistoric Planet is as much, if not more, of a leap forward in showing dinosaurs as we think they really were.
The most obvious progression is the number of dinosaurs being correctly shown with feathers and other filamentous coverings. Since the late 1990s, the fact that birds evolved from dinosaurs has become firmly established in palaeontology. Numerous fossils of fully feathered dinosaurs have been discovered, implying that many more bore feathers too. Seeing these animals rendered as they should be is very exciting. The details of the models, from the shape of the pupils, the size of the scales, the design of the colours, patterns and the curve of the claws, all speak to a depth of biological understanding not seen on screen before.
Of course, some details are contentious and others unknowable, but the appearance and, more importantly, actions of the dinosaurs in these series are about as accurate as they could be. Where certain ideas are inevitably somewhat speculative, they are based on our current understanding. For example, in series one we see a herd of triceratops walking into caves to access some rare minerals needed in their diet. This is not something recorded in the fossil record, but we know that some modern animals – including elephants – do it, so it’s perfectly reasonable and likely that some dinosaurs did the same.
For me, the key thing is not that these ancient animals are reproduced 100% accurately, but that they are brought to life realistically. Showing dinosaur mating rituals, parents nurturing their offspring and small animals challenging predators a dozen times their size is new, or very rare – and yet these are behaviours that are completely normal for animals. On top of this, it’s easy to spot various references to real scientific papers on the behaviour, appearance, actions and ecology of dinosaurs and other animals in every episode. There might necessarily be some extrapolation and filling in to account for the gaps in the fossil record, but this compelling television is clearly based on real research.
And Prehistoric Planet doesn’t just show the inevitable gory scenes, such as a fight to the death between a tyrannosaurus and triceratops; it also gives the animals (and viewers) a chance to breathe and take in the view, whether it’s a swamp, desert or ice field (not just another procession of jungles). Dinosaurs, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs and other ancient animals are not monsters or mythical creatures, but were real (if very odd by today’s standards) living, breathing and behaving creatures interacting in thriving ecosystems.
And so it is welcome to see other animals getting their due alongside these great reptiles. The inclusion of frogs, snakes, birds, mammals and ammonites, all set into coherent and realistic environments, makes the programme stand out even more. Although tyrannosaurus, velociraptor and some other household names appear, it’s extremely refreshing to see animals that few people have heard of, from alcione to zalmoxes, as well as numerous animals and landscapes that have never been shown before.
Science usually moves on incrementally, and occasionally in major jumps, but public perceptions tend to lag behind. It takes time for new ideas to become mainstream and then to appear on screen. Prehistoric Planet’s real achievement is not just bringing these animals to life, but doing so at the cutting edge of scientific discovery. It shows the public what palaeontologists believe these animals were really like, not just a slightly polished version of what scriptwriters imagine they were.
As someone who is actively engaged in research into the biology of dinosaurs and pterosaurs, and in outreach and communication to the public about these animals, I find Prehistoric Planet to be a shining example of bringing them to life. The new series should be appreciated not just for its beautiful cinematography and Attenborough’s narration, but as a bleeding-edge representation of the science of the extinct.
Dr David Hone is a reader in zoology at Queen Mary, University of London, specialising in dinosaurs and pterosaurs. He blogs at Archosaur Musings, and presents the Terrible Lizards podcast. His latest book is The Future of Dinosaurs
It seems as though every kid goes through a major dinosaur phase when everything just has to be dino-themed. We’re talking dinosaur snacks, dinosaur jammies, dinosaur toys…you know the drill. If your child can’t get enough of dinosaurs, there are plenty of dinosaur shows online for kids of all ages. The trouble is, how do you know which ones are appropriate for young eyes and ears? And how do you make sure there’s a good balance of educational value, entertainment, strong role models, and positive messages?
Finding an age-appropriate dinosaur show for your preschooler, kindergartener, or big kid isn’t as easy as it sounds, and most parents don’t have the time to preview every single show before they let their child watch. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the options or you’re unsure of what’s right for your child, we’ve created a carefully curated list of online dinosaur shows for all ages. Each show on our list has been hand-selected by Sensical experts and is guaranteed to be fun, entertaining, and safe for your kid.
There are plenty of dinosaur shows for toddlers and preschoolers, but only a few provide high-quality entertainment. Watching high-quality shows will help your child get the most out of their dinosaur screen time. Following are two excellent options you can feel good about — and your preschooler will love.
Cody the Dinosaur is a series of animated shorts for preschoolers. These adorable interactive videos encourage children to help Cody with colors, shapes, and math as they care for a pet dinosaur. With simple illustrations that encourage creativity and movement, each short is the perfect dose of kid-friendly dino fun.
In this show, dinosaurs never went extinct, so they’re still around to jump into action when emergency strikes. Chomp Squad features a heroic crew of dinosaurs and humans who team up to protect, serve, and save their town. Full of positive messages, each five-minute Chomp Squad episode highlights important themes like friendship and problem-solving.
The best dinosaur shows for young elementary age kids engage their imagination and help them develop the values you’ve worked hard to instill, such as honesty, respect, and kindness. They also teach real content about the world, such as history, science, or art. Many dinosaur shows for kindergarteners, 1st and 2nd graders also can help develop emotional and social intelligence, while still being fun and entertaining. We’ve selected two great options for any dinosaur-loving little kid.
The Dinosaur Rap by Barefoot Books is a fun sing-along that gets young kids moving and grooving as they sing and dance to this clever rap song. Kids who love rhythm and rhyme will enjoy seeing several different types of dinosaurs dance, learn about their own physical features and attributes, and follow along in the book, if they have it.
Your little kid will love watching cute dogs Maymo and Penny play with dinos as they go for walks, play with blocks, and read books before nap time. The live-action adventure with dinos and dogs is exciting to watch and also serves as conversation starters for you and your child. Not only are the dinosaurs fun and captivating, but watching the dogs interact with them is also charming and delightful!
Dinosaur shows and videos for kids ages eight to 10 can be excellent sources of education and entertainment. The right ones can take your child on adventures around the world, through space and time, or challenge them to tackle complex problems with their favorite dino characters. Big kids are sure to enjoy these awesome dino-themed series and videos recommended and vetted by Sensical.
Hot Wheels and dinosaurs…what could be better, right? This video features exciting drama and action when a scientist releases his latest dinosaur experiment on Hot Wheels City. As the dino tears through town, your big kid will love watching the Hot Wheels spring into action to protect their city from this ferocious foe. With an age-appropriate level of action and excitement, you can feel confident that the Dino Damage Hot Wheels City adventure will provide entertainment for your kid while also demonstrating important values like teamwork.
Alex & The Kaleidoscope, starring Emmy Award-winning Alex Mitnick, is an interactive show that takes kids on fun and exciting adventures all around the world. Dino Dig is a catchy rock song music video that draws kids into the wonder and exploration of digging for dino fossils. This music video (along with all of the Alex & The Kaleidoscope hits) mixes animated and live-action content to reinforce educational concepts and provide engaging rhythms and melodies that older kids will love.
With so many dinosaur shows and videos out there for kids, it can be difficult to select high-quality ones that you can feel comfortable and confident sharing with your children. If you’re feeling lost, these kid-safe and age-appropriate dinosaur-themed suggestions are a great place to start and it’s never been easier to start watching now (for free!) than with Sensical.
All of the dinosaur videos and shows on Sensical are hand-selected and approved by child development experts, and complement age-appropriate curriculum. And of course, Sensical has something fun and engaging for kids of all ages! Elevate your children’s screen time and sign up for free on Sensical! Once registered, visit the Parent Zone to create individual child profiles, set cross-device time limits for screen time, access personalized learning reports, and more.