"Dinotopia" (2002/I)TV series 2002-2003

Writers:

James Gurney (books)
Raymond Khoury (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

28 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Adventure isn't extinct.

Plot Keywords:

Television Flop | Short Lived | Brother Brother Relationship | Dinosaur | Lost Civilization

Awards:

6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Erik von Detten	...	Karl Scott (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Shiloh Strong	...	David Scott (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Zoltan Papp	...	Martino (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Omid Djalili	...	Zipeau (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sophie Ward	...	Rosemary (9 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lisa Zane	...	Le Sage (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Brandon	...	Frank Scott (7 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jonathan Hyde	...	Mayor Waldo (7 episodes, 2002-2003)
Zoltán Seress	...	Quint (7 episodes, 2002-2003)
Georgina Rylance	...	Marion (5 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sian Brooke	...	Krista (5 episodes, 2002-2003)

Also Known As:

Dinotopia: The Series (USA)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

ABC Productions

Trivia:

In the US, ABC cancelled Dinotopia: The Series on 17 December 2002 after only airing 6 episodes, leaving 7 episodes unaired. All 13 original episodes were released on DVD in January 2004. Complete series aired in Europe in the summer 2003.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Dinotopia" (2002/II)

Interesting attempt, likely doomed

I was glad to see the human story is as prominent as the Scifi/Fantasy element in this continuation of last season's miniseries. The cast has been replaced for the weekly series, apparently to good effect. I especially like Shiloh Strong as David, the more responsible of the two brothers. There's an unreal quality to the effects--though I don't know the degree to which it can be explained by my own knowledge of the processes involved or whether my senses are reacting to direct evidence. Special effects are both better and worse since they have come to depend so heavily on computer-generated images.

If the creative forces behind the series have mapped their strategy carefully, this could become a classic; unfortunately, it has little chance to last beyond its maiden season. An effects-laden show like "Dinotopia" is much more expensive than a typical series, and it's highly unlikely to attract blockbuster ratings which would be necessary to justify the expense.