Dinosaurs
Good, with a catch
Ages 10–13First shown 1991
Dinosaurs follows the life of a family of dinosaurs, living in a modern world. They have TV's, fridges, microwaves, and every modern convenience. The Dinosaurs are an animatronics stone-age working-class family created by Jim Henson for Disney. Incredibly overweight, even for a dinosaur, Earl Sinclair is married to Fran and tries/fails to support 14-year-old valley girl Charlene, 16-year-old Robbie (whose crest eventually turns into a Mohawk and gets dyed purple), widowed, cranky Grandma Ethel, and terrible-twos Baby, the true master of the house. Sharp social commentary is featured surprisingly often; Earl is a tree-pusher for the Wesayso Development Corp., which regularly implements schemes to screw their workers even more and destroy the world for marginal profit increment. Chilled but live prey are kept in the refrigerator and are helpful when you can't find the milk, and caveman Humans make occasional appearances as wild animals and pets.
Our verdict
- Good influence 3/5
- Parent appeal 5/5
- Well made 5/5
Grating audio
Reviewers highlight Dinosaurs as a technically ambitious and intellectually sharp series that uses a family of prehistoric creatures to satirize modern corporate culture and social issues. While the groundbreaking animatronics and sophisticated writing are highly praised, some find the slapstick violence and the baby character's repetitive catchphrases to be grating. It is generally seen as a unique show that offers a rare level of depth and humor for older children and adults alike.
Why these scores
Good influence
Does it show behaviour you'd be happy to see copied?
3out of 5
The series is a mix of high-minded satire and low-brow physical comedy. While many reviews praise it for addressing sophisticated themes like environmentalism, civil rights, and gender equality, others point to recurring slapstick violence—particularly a baby hitting its father with a frying pan—and the father's own misogynistic or entitled behavior. While some viewers find the show's treatment of women and social issues to be regressive, others argue these elements are intentional parodies of the nuclear family dynamic.
Parent appeal
Will you enjoy watching it with them?
5out of 5
This show is widely regarded as being designed for adults as much as for children, with sharp political satire and commentary on corporate greed that may go over younger viewers' heads. Almost all discussions highlight its layers of wit and relevant social critiques, though a small minority of viewers find the format tedious or unpleasant. Overall, it is frequently cited as a 'forward-thinking' sitcom that parents will find genuinely engaging.
Well made
Are the writing, animation and sound made with care?
5out of 5
The production is highly praised for its groundbreaking use of full-bodied animatronic puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which earned the show an Emmy for Art Direction. While a few reviewers noticed the occasional reuse of background puppets or felt the sitcom-style plotting was derivative, the majority agree the voice acting and technical ambition were exceptional for the time. The orchestral score and expressive puppetry are singled out as particular highlights.
Watch-outs
Overstimulating: not enough data
We haven't found enough independent sources to say yet.
Toy-led: not enough data
We haven't found enough independent sources to say yet.
Grating audio
There is a consistent pattern of reviews describing the baby character's voice and repetitive catchphrases as extremely irritating. Multiple sources mention that these vocal tics and specific songs become unbearable during repeated viewing or when watched in sequence.
Where to watch
Stream for free
- Not that we know of
Stream with a subscription
Rent or buy
DVD and Blu-ray
Streaming availability from Watchmode.
Last updated 18 October 2026.