Mesozoic Mind - MesozoicMind.com

In the 26th century, dinosaurs have returned and people share the planet with them. Mechanic Jack Tenrec keeps vintage Cadillacs running on dinosaur-filled roads while battling poachers.

• Aired: 1993–94, CBS
• Episodes: 13
• Studio: Nelvana
• Based on: Mark Schultz’s comic Xenozoic Tales
• Fun fact: It also became a popular Capcom arcade game in 1993.

A group of California kids find a strange egg at the La Brea Tar Pits, and out hatches Denver: a friendly, guitar-playing, skateboarding dinosaur they have to hide from a greedy concert promoter.

• Aired: 1988, syndication
• Episodes: 50
• Studio: World Events Productions (the company behind Voltron)
• Voice of Denver: Pat Fraley
• Fun fact: The show was recommended by the National Education Association and sold to 120 countries.

A young Brontosaurus named Dink and his friends explore the volcanic valley of Green Meadow, learning a lesson about friendship in every adventure.

• Aired: 1989–90, CBS Saturday mornings
• Episodes: 21 (42 segments)
• Studio: Ruby-Spears
• Created by: Karen Willson and Chris Weber
• Fun fact: Episodes ended with “Factasaurus,” a segment of real dinosaur trivia.

The peaceful Valorians and the evil Rulons are both flung back in time to prehistoric Earth. The Valorians befriend the dinosaurs, while the Rulons control theirs with brain boxes, and both sides strap armor and weapons onto them.

• Aired: 1988, syndication
• Episodes: 14
• Studio: Marvel Productions
• Toy line: Tyco
• Fun fact: Tyco later released a Smithsonian Collection of Dino-Riders dinosaurs.

Five teenagers exposed to a mysterious substance gain the power to turn into dinosaurs, and use it to stop a villain trying to bring back the age of the dinosaurs.

• Aired: 2007–08, CBS
• Episodes: 26
• Studio: DIC Entertainment
• Fun fact: The newest show on this page, airing about 20 years after the rest.

Dinosaur aliens from the planet Reptilon crash-land on Earth and battle the villainous Tyrannos, with help from four human teenagers they call the Secret Scouts.

• Aired: 1987, syndication
• Episodes: 65
• Studio: DIC Entertainment
• Created by: Michael Maliani
• Fun fact: The heroes could “dinovolve” into giant prehistoric versions of themselves.

A prime-time sitcom about the Sinclair family (dad Earl, mom Fran, their three kids and the scene-stealing Baby Sinclair) in the year 60,000,003 B.C., played by full-body puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.

• Aired: 1991–94, ABC
• Episodes: 65
• Produced by: Michael Jacobs Productions and Jim Henson Television
• Catchphrase: “Not the mama!”
• Fun fact: Jim Henson came up with the idea in 1988, but died before the show premiered.

Four dinosaurs preserved for 65 million years wake up in the present day and team up to stop the Raptors, a villainous trio trying to heat up the planet.

• Aired: 1997, syndication
• Episodes: 52
• Studio: DIC Entertainment
• Toy line: Mattel
• Fun fact: The team first appeared in an episode of Street Sharks before getting their own show.

The Porter family’s camping trip turns into an adventure when an earthquake drops them into a land of dinosaurs, where they adopt a baby dinosaur named Tasha and steer clear of a T. rex named Scarface.

• Aired: 1991–92, ABC
• Episodes: 26
• Produced by: Sid and Marty Krofft
• Fun fact: A remake of the Kroffts’ 1974–76 NBC series, famous for its Sleestaks.