Top 10 Classic Animations about Dinosaurs

Long ago, dinosaurs ran, roared, and clawed their way across the Earth. Yes, they were very animated. It makes sense, then, that some of the most popular animated films feature these ancient animals. Below are 10 highlights from dinosaur animation history.

1. “Gertie the Dinosaur” (1914)

Filmmaker Winsor McCay created Gertie, perhaps the first animated character with a real personality. She did tricks for her human master and cried when he yelled at her. Audiences were blown away.

2. “Digimon: The Movie” (2000)

Digimon monsters, which include dinosaurs, make up a Japanese franchise with video games and other items. That product line inspired this movie, which consists of three short films. They follow these monsters as they grow, fight, and take over the world’s computer systems.

3. “Speckles the Tarbosaurus” (2012)

In this suspenseful Korean film, young Spotty loses his family to One-Eye, a vicious Tyrannosaur. He then befriends Blue Eyes, a fellow Tarbosaurus. They eventually marry and have babies. But can Spotty survive a rematch with One-Eye?

4. “The Prince of Dinosaurs” (2000)

It’s an enchanting Italian movie about a human prince named Rakhal. He lives in a magical land, and five of his best friends are adorable dinosaurs. They must seek out an elderly archaeologist to decipher an ancient scroll. Along the way, there’s a princess to rescue!

5. “Mountain of Dinosaurs” (1967)

Only 10 minutes long, this Russian film provides a theory for why the dinosaurs went extinct. Their eggs became so thick that babies couldn’t hatch. This sad film actually has a daring political message. It says that the Soviet system suffocated its people.

6. “Denver, the Last Dinosaur” (1988)

This French television cartoon is centered on a group of teenagers in California who find a dinosaur in the La Brea Tar Pits. They name him Denver. Many episodes show the kids trying to save poor Denver from businesspeople and scientists seeking to exploit him.

7. “Muka Muka Paradise” (1993-94)

This Japanese TV show was based on a manga comic series. Uiba Shikatani is its young heroine. Her father, the owner of a pet shop, gives her an egg one day. A dinosaur hatches, and it speaks only one phrase: “Muka muka.” Uiba and Muka Muka soon embark on exciting adventures, including trips back in time to the dinosaurs’ golden age.

8. “Dinosaur” (2000)

This Disney film combines real-life backgrounds and computer-generated characters. The visual results are striking, especially the meteor shower early in the movie. The story concerns an Iguanodon and his adopted lemur family, all of whom travel a great distance for a place to settle.

9. “The Land Before Time” (1988)

From producers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, this movie spawned a herd of sequels. It’s about cute young dinosaurs seeking a verdant land called the Great Valley. Along the way, they must contend with tar pits, carnivores, and arguments among themselves.

10. “We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story” (1993)

Also from Steven Spielberg’s production company, this humorous tale sees aliens transport dinosaurs to modern-day New York. Their wacky adventures take them to Central Park, a circus, a museum, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

After watching some of these titles, you might buy a realistic animated animatronic dinosaur from My Dinosaurs for your home or workplace. It’ll make you feel like you’re starring in your own dinosaur epic!

In short, these animations are dramatic and unforgettable — just like real dinosaurs!