Dino-Riders is an American animated television series that first aired in 1988. The cartoon was primarily a promotional show to launch a new Tyco toyline. Only fourteen episodes were produced, three of which were produced on VHS for the United States. The show aired in the U.S. as part of the Marvel Action Universe programming block.
The series focuses on the battle between the Valorians and Rulons on prehistoric Earth. The Valorians were a superhuman race, while the Rulons comprised several types of humanoid animals. Both races came from the future but were transported back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Once on Earth, the Valorians befriended dinosaurs, while the Rulons brainwashed them.
Ownership of the series passed to Disney in 2001 when Disney acquired Fox Kids Worldwide, which also includes Marvel Productions.
Overview The Valorians are a species of peaceful humanoids who live on the planet Valoria until it is invaded by the predatory Rulons. A group of Valorians led by Questar attempt to escape the Rulon invasion using a spaceship equipped with the "Space Time Energy Projector" (S.T.E.P.), which malfunctions and transports them to Earth during the prehistoric era. Unknown to them, the Rulon flagship, the Dreadlock is also sent back through time.
After successfully landing on prehistoric Earth, the Valorians use their AMP ("Amplified Mental Projector") necklaces to communicate with the dinosaurs they encountered and eventually befriend them. On the other hand, the Rulons—led by the warlord Krulos—use brainwashing devices known as brain-boxes to control dinosaurs for their own needs. The Rulons then launch an attack on the Valorians, who call upon their dinosaur friends to assist them in fighting back.
Characters Valorians The Valorians are a race of superhumans from the planet Valoria who were renamed as the Dino-Riders and the main protagonists of the series. Questar (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) is the leader of the Valorians who is strong-willed and courageous. Mind-Zei (voiced by Peter Cullen) is a blind elderly warrior with a sixth sense for detecting people around him. He offers advice to Questar and is also Serena's grandfather. Yungstar (voiced by Joe Colligan) is a young man who is eager for action and is prone to letting pride get in his way. He rides a Deinonychus and flies a Quetzalcoatlus in later episodes. Serena (voiced by Noelle North) is able to heal other beings and can sense when someone is in trouble. She is also the granddaughter of Mind-Zei. Turret (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a technician and scientist. Turret is in charge of the S.T.E.P. crystal. Llahd (voiced by Stephen Dorff) is the youngest of the Dino-Riders. Gunnur (voiced by Peter Cullen) is a hardened war veteran and high-ranking official who trains the other Dino-Riders. Tagg (voiced by Wally Burr) is a mid-level official who also helps instructs in the training of the Dino-Riders. He rides a Pachycephalosaurus. Ikon (voiced by Cam Clarke) is a statistician as well as a pragmatist. Ikon is one of Questar's top advisors. He possesses a staff that allows him to answer Questar's questions almost instantly. Vector (voiced by Dan Gilvezan) is one of Questar's top advisors. He is a general contractor who has a computerized wrist strap that allows him to assess projects. Aero (voiced by Cam Clarke) is a competitive rival of Yungstar. He flies a Quetzalcoatlus and can maneuver it better than anyone. Tark (voiced by Cam Clarke) is a high-ranking Dino-Rider official. Questar would often consult with Tark on a number of important matters, his years of experience, and his vast amount of knowledge has earned him respect from his peers. Ayce usually teaches training and equipment familiarization classes. Aries is a young warrior who is frequently unsure of himself and is always seeking guidance from the other Valorians. He mainly mans the artillery of the Diplodocus. Neutrino assists in various training courses. Although much of Neutrino's time is spent training others, Neutrino is more than capable on the battlefield.
Commandos The Commandos are a special forces military unit within the Dino-Riders.
Astra (voiced by Townsend Coleman) is a hardened war veteran and leader of the Commandos. He was formerly a teacher at the Valorian University and once counted Questar as a student. Bomba (voiced by Peter Cullen) is an explosives expert who is utilized to make clearings or remove obstacles. Kameelian (voiced by Rob Paulsen) specializes in surveillance and reconnaissance, and is a master of disguise. Glyde (voiced by Frank Welker) is an aerial reconnaissance and artillery cover who uses a glider to navigate through the air. Faze (voiced by Rob Paulsen) is an artillery expert. Rok is an expert in crossing rocky terrain such as mountains.
Cro-Magnons The Valorians have also made allies with a tribe of Cro-Magnons after the Commandos were accidentally sent into the Ice Age. Among the known Cro-Magnons are:
Zar (voiced by Townsend Coleman) is the leader of a clan of Cro-Magnons. He leads his clan against the evil Neanderthals of Grom and refuses to succumb to his powers like the other tribes before him. Kub (voiced by Ike Eisenmann) is a young but courageous Cro-Magnon who lost his father during an earlier attack by Grom. He helps the Valorians in their fight with the Rulons ever since going with them to the past to reunite with the Dino-Riders. Maya (voiced by Liz Georges) is a compassionate Cro-Magnon and healer.
Rulons The Rulons are a race of aliens who are the enemies of the Valorians and the main antagonists of the series.
Krulos (voiced by Frank Welker) is the frog-like leader of the Rulons. He mostly uses a Tyrannosaurus when going into battle. Rasp (voiced by Frank Welker) is a snake-like creature who is the leader of the Viper group and Krulos' second-in-command. Rasp always tries to usurp Krulos's place while keeping Hammerhead and Antor from trying to take his status. Hammerhead (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a shark-like creature who is the leader of the Sharkmen and one of Krulos' top generals. Hammerhead usually vies with Rasp and Antor for second-in-command status. Antor (voiced by Peter Cullen) is an ant-like creature who is the leader of the Antmen and one of Krulos' generals. Antor usually vies with Hammerhead and Rasp for second-in-command status. Krok (voiced by Cam Clarke) is a crocodile-like creature and one of Krulos' generals. He is entirely obedient to Krulos and focuses on serving his master rather than getting involved in the petty squabbling in which his fellow generals engage. Skate (voiced by Frank Welker) is a manta ray-like creature who is a low-ranking official of the Rulons. Lokus (voiced by Charlie Adler) is a locust-like creature who is a low-ranking official of the Rulons. Algar: A crocodile-like creature. Buzz: A locust-like creature. Dedeye: A Sharkman. Demon: An Antman. Drone: An Antman. Fang: A member of the Viper Group. Finn: A Sharkman. Fire: An Antman. Gill: A Sharkman. Gorr: A crocodile-like creature. Gutz: A crocodile-like creature. Kraw: A crocodile-like creature. Mako: A Sharkman. Pox: A locust-like creature. Rattlar: A member of the Viper Group. Rayy: A manta ray-like creature. Sidewinder: A member of the Viper Group. Six-Gill: A Sharkman. Skwirm: A member of the Viper Group. Sludj: A manta ray-like creature. Snarrl: A crocodile-like creature. Squish: A locust-like creature. Sting: An Antman. Termite: An Antman.
Neanderthals Zar's tribe of Cro-Magnons have been at war with a rogue tribe of Neanderthals and eventually threatens the Commandos after they were sent to the Ice Age by accident. Among the known Neanderthals are:
Grom (voiced by Jack Angel) is the leader of a deadly clan of Neanderthals who seeks to control or annihilate all neighboring tribes. He has ruled his tribe for years and has struck fear into the hearts of many rival Neanderthal tribes. Following the fight against the Dino-Riders, Grom was accidentally pulled back to the Dino-Riders' time and runs off to join the Rulons. He is the Neanderthal equivalent of Krulos.
Cast Charles Adler – Turret, Hammerhead, Lokus Jack Angel – Grom (in "Ice Age Adventure") S. Scott Bullock Wally Burr – Narrator, Tagg Cam Clarke – Aero, Ikonn, Krok Townsend Coleman – Astra (in "Ice Age Adventure"), Zar (in "Ice Age Adventure") Joe Colligan – Yungstar Peter Cullen – Gunnur, Antor, Mind-Zei, Bomba (in "Ice Age Adventure") Shawn Donahue Stephen Dorff – Llahd Ike Eisenmann – Kub (in "Ice Age Adventure") Liz Georges – Maya (in "Ice Age Adventure") Dan Gilvezan – Questar, Vector Noelle North – Serena Rob Paulsen – Faze, Kameelian Patrick Pinney Frank Welker – Krulos, Rasp, Glyde
Crew Wally Burr – voice director Stephen Hahn – director (eps 1, 14) Ray Lee – supervising director (eps 2–13) Kayte Kuch, Larry Parr, Sheryl Scarborough – story editors
Episodes The Dino-Riders series consisted of a single season of 14 episodes. The first two episodes were produced for release on VHS as standalone specials, the first in 1987 and the second in 1988. Also in 1988, the series transitioned to television, with a further 11 episodes being produced and added to the specials to create a standard season's worth of 13 episodes. Lastly, in 1990, an additional VHS special was produced to promote the new range of "Ice Age" figures, released as "Ice Age Adventure", but with the on-screen title "Dino-Riders in the Ice Age". Below is a list of each episode along with the date it first aired.