Discover the Forgotten Miniseries: Dinotopia – A Unique Dinosaur Story overshadowed by Jurassic Park

by Annika January 7, 2025

Like Jaws to shark movies and The Exorcist to possession flicks, any dinosaur-related media will inevitably be compared to 1993’s Jurassic Park. While this makes a lot of sense, with Spielberg’s classic bringing the prehistoric beasts to life in new and exciting ways that previous filmmakers could only dream of (and that future filmmakers would struggle to recreate), it also means that some truly interesting dinosaur stories have been overshadowed by JP‘s legacy. In the past, I’ve recommended some fun dinosaur films that aren’t Jurassic Park, but today I’d like to discuss something a little less cinematic – Hallmark and RTL’s forgotten miniseries adaptation of James Gurney’s Dinotopia.

Discover the Forgotten Miniseries: Dinotopia – A Unique Dinosaur Story overshadowed by Jurassic Park

– Despite the success of Jurassic Park, the Dinotopia miniseries adaptation offers a unique and interesting dinosaur story that has been overshadowed.
– Dinotopia features memorable visuals, well-rounded characters, and a fascinating world filled with dinosaur-human cooperation.
– The miniseries also includes moments of tension and monster attacks, making it appealing to horror fans.

Like the iconic films “Jaws” and “The Exorcist” in their respective genres, “Jurassic Park” has cast a long shadow over dinosaur-related media. However, this has resulted in some lesser-known dinosaur stories being overshadowed by the legacy of Spielberg’s classic. One such example is the forgotten miniseries adaptation of James Gurney’s “Dinotopia,” which might appeal not only to those who enjoy family-oriented productions but also to horror fans.

“Dinotopia” began with Gurney’s collection of Dinotopian artwork, which captivated audiences with its imaginative depiction of a world where humans coexist peacefully with dinosaurs. The popularity of the artwork led to a multimedia franchise and even inspired elements of the “Star Wars” prequels. Eventually, the rights to a live-action adaptation were picked up by Hallmark Entertainment, resulting in a three-episode miniseries directed by Marco Brambilla and written by Simon Moore.

What makes “Dinotopia” worth watching, despite its limitations as a television production, is its ambitious attempt to tell a large-scale story on a smaller budget. The series may not always be visually stunning, but it remains consistently entertaining. It boasts memorable visuals, a comforting atmosphere, and well-rounded characters, with David Thewlis delivering an impressive performance as the scheming Cyrus Crabb. Furthermore, the worldbuilding in “Dinotopia” is truly fascinating, offering insights into a mythical backstory and an idealized division of labor between dinosaurs and humans.

While “Dinotopia” is primarily a family-friendly production, it also contains moments of tension and giant monster attacks that give it a horror-adjacent quality. The presence of carnivorous dinosaurs portrayed as uncontrollable monsters hell-bent on hunting down the protagonists adds a mean-spirited edge to the story. The mini-series doesn’t shy away from showing the brutality of these attacks, and even features a climactic sequence where children are devoured by Pteranodons. Additionally, the use of assets from BBC’s “Walking with Dinosaurs” documentary program adds a level of believability to the prehistoric characters.

In conclusion, while “Dinotopia” may have been overshadowed by the legacy of “Jurassic Park,” it remains a captivating and entertaining miniseries. Its ambitious storytelling, fascinating worldbuilding, and horror-adjacent elements make it worth watching for both fans of family-oriented productions and those seeking a unique dinosaur experience. As we await a potential big-budget reboot of the series, “Dinotopia” serves as a reminder of the curious charms that dinosaur-centric stories can offer.