Dinosaur Toy Guide

This page provides an introduction to the main manufacture of dinosaur toys available in the United States. Specifically, I focus on toy figures or replicas are are intended to be realistic. Omitted are cheap poor quality no-brand toys from China, action figures with multiple movable parts, and collectible resin sculptures that are much more expensive than toys and typically require assembly and painting. For each company, I indicate the company's nationality (headquarters; but be aware that pretty much all of them manufacture the toys in China), and the current number of prehistoric figures that they sell (this includes not only dinosaurs but all other prehistoric animals such as marine reptiles and mammals). All of these companies also make a variety of modern animals.

• United States (Florida)
• Safari's standard figures have improved greatly in recent years (much more realistic and accurate, less cartoony); Safari has a strong emphasis on education
• 66 standard figures (not counting babies or plants), plus various toobs and fossil replicas
• Until 2015 Safari also manufactured and sold the separately managed Carnegie Museum line, now discontinued
• Diversity: Excellent, with many unusual non-dinosaurs including prehistoric fish, pterosaurs, etc.
• Accuracy: Figures released in recent years are generally accurate and realistic; Safari has recently started using bases for some bipedal animals to maintain accuracy and stability.
• Quality: Sculpting quality very high; paint jobs are variable
• Scale: Not made to a common scale, although larger animals are usually made into a somewhat larger figure

• England
• A relatively new company (formerly known as Procon). Figures come in two size ranges: standard figures are similar in size to Safari, while the Deluxe are larger.
• 161 figures (not counting babies, corpses, fossil replicas and prehistoric plants)
• Diversity: Very good. The vast majority are dinosaurs but with recent increases in pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and mammals. The large number of figures means many unique species not made by other companies
• Accuracy: variable. Older figures (from late 2000s) are cartoony, inaccurate toys with exaggerated features, but scientific accuracy has improved greatly in recent years (but still somewhat uneven).
• Quality: Variable sculpt quality, but improving overall; up until recently have been less detailed than Safari or Papo. Paint schemes sometimes unattractive and repetitive, but have improved as well.
• Other Considerations: some figures of bipedal dinosaurs have significant balance issues. Some tubes of small versions of their larger models have also been released.
• No common scale (the deluxe series is falsely claimed to be 1/40 scale but the figures are not, in fact, to scale, but made to a similar size)

• Germany
• Although formerly associated with a museum (the Replicasaurus line), this has been discontinued and Schleich now focuses on the general toy market rather than collectors.
• 25 figures (plus some mini versions)
• Diversity: Fairly low; with mostly familiar species of dinosaurs currently being produced, but some interesting variety in the last few years.
• Accuracy: Variable, but often poor. They are geared toward children with bright colors and exaggerated features; most are not worth getting, though there are signs of recent improvement.
• Quality: Recent figures seem have decent detail and paint, but those with movable jaws are marred by obvious, ugly joints and seams
• Scale: None of their current models are made to a common scale
• Other considerations: Aggressive marketing toward major retailers means that these are often the only dinosaurs available in chain stores such as ToysRUS and Walmart

• France
• Their models are were often based on popular sources such as the Jurassic Park movies instead of scientific research
• 39 figures (plus some mini versions)
• Diversity: low; mostly popular, familiar species
• Accuracy: Some are inaccurate, since they are based on popular (and sometimes dated) representations, but some recent models are quite accurate
• Quality: Texture details, active poses and general sculpt and paint quality are generally excellent, but there are signs of declining quality, particularly in paint.
• Scale: Although not to an official scale, many of the larger dinosaur species are roughly in scale with one another (about 1/30)

• Germany
• A former museum-sponsored line that is being discontinued
• 10 figures
• Diversity: low; a handful of common species. A few exclusives provide some unusual European species but are only available in select German museums).
• Accuracy: Variable, and generally not great, with a few exceptions
• Quality: Until recently had very low quality paint that would easily wear off (the recent switch in manufacturing from Germany to China may have improved this)
• Scale: Most claimed to be made to a constant scale (1/30), but accuracy of scale is questionable
• Other Considerations: No longer readily available in the U.S.A.

• Japan
• Formerly part of Kinto. Although dinosaurs are very popular with collectors in Japan, the Favorite line is the only one regularly imported to the United States (but can still be hard to find)
• 17 figures plus some limited editions and invertebrates, not all of which are available in the U.S.
• Diversity: fairly low; their main figure line is mostly popular dinosaurs, but recent additions of mini figures, as well as prehistoric mammals, fish, and invertebrates are increasing that diversity.
• Accuracy: Very accurate figures sculpted by a master sculptor
• Quality: Excellent detail, but one or two have trouble standing even with a base. Occasional ugly color choices
• Scale: Not made to a common scale

• Canada
• A set of 18 figures sponsored by the Boston Museum of Science (BMS) were sold between 1994 and 1998 and then discontinued. The line (without BMS sponsorship) was briefly reestablished in 2014 as the Battat Terra series.
• 11 current figures (and unlikely to be developed further). Includes a mix of new figures and re-releases (repaints) of some of the original 18 BMS figures.
• Diversity: Currently low and includes only dinosaurs. A few unusual species among the new figures.
• Accuracy: renowned for their accuracy, most of the 1990s figures are still among the most accurate available
• Quality: Good (though the original line had some issues due to soft plastic and mediocre paint jobs)
• Scale: Officially made to common scale of 1/40
• Other considerations: Currently available only at Target stores

• Italy
• A fairly recent arrival (2012). The company also makes skeletal models, educational toys, and action figures
• 96 figures; mostly dinosaurs with some prehistoric mammals and marine reptiles
• Diversity: High, with a good mix of familiar and unusual dinosaurs and mammals (some never made as toys before)
• Accuracy: Despite claims of being "Paleontologist Approved," their accuracy is quite poor: most have cartoony, exaggerated features, poor proportions, and inconsistent limb positions, feathering, etc.
• Quality: fairly poor sculpt quality low on detail and the paint jobs are terrible (very gaudy and ugly)
• Scale: Not made to a common scale (but scales are given for each figure)
• Other: Nearly all of the bipedal species are on bases, allowing for (in principle) more accurate poses. All come packaged with educational and informative information cards

• China
• The newest company, focussed on combining science with art
• 58 figures; various lines include standard size solid PVC toys, large hollow models, high-quality resin models and mini figures
• Diversity: High, with an emphasis on Chinese species, so includes many species not previously seen in toy market
• Accuracy: Excellent, with modern, up-to-date sculpts.
• Quality: quite good to excellent, with good details and attractive paint jobs
• Scale: A line of higher-quality figures with bases is 1/35 scale, but other figures are mixed
• Other: Available via Amazon or AliExpress

• China
• Another new company with limited availability in the US
• 8 figures including standard size solid PVC toys and a few higher-quality resin models plus some fossil replicas
• Diversity: Few species so far but most are unusual; there was an ambitious list of proposed species announced, but no new releases recently
• Accuracy: Excellent, with modern, up-to-date sculpts.
• Quality: Very good, but some with exaggerated textures
• Scale: No standard scale
• Other: Only available from China via AliExpress

• Invicta (British Museum of Natural History): discontinued; 22 detailed but unpainted models (painted models were briefly offered in early 2000s) that were the first to be made to a common scale (1/45); dated by today's standards (most date to the 1970s and 1980s)
• Shapeways: a 3D printing company that prints and sells (unpainted) models designed by digital artists; several 3D dinosaur modellers make their designs available. More expensive and fragile than typical toys
• Kaiyodo, Yujin, Takara-Tomy and other Japanese companies manufacture detailed dinosaur miniatures (generally not intended as toys; some must be assembled) that are sold only in Japan.
• COG Dinosaur Horizons: A short-lived attempt to make small figures that had to be assembled (similar to but lower quality than some Kaiyodo figures) for the American and European market
• Toyway: had two separate, short-lived dinosaur lines: the first associated with the British Museum (to replace the Invicta line), but not very good; the second were based on the original Walking With Dinosaurs TV series
• Mojo Fun: Resemble early Collecta models (started by former Collecta employees): cartoony and not especially accurate; their prehistoric line may not be maintained.
• Playvision: Out of production. Included now highly sought-after sets of prehistoric mammals, dinosaurs, prehistoric marine reptiles, and prehistoric amphibians