Dinobot (BW)/toys

All Dinobot toys have honor!

Toys

Beast Wars

 

Left: Wasn't he in Jurassic Park? (Hasbro version)
Right: Let's hide the legs in beast mode by making them bright translucent orange! (Second Takara version)

• Dinobot (Deluxe Class, 1996)
  • Takara ID number: C-4
  • Takara release date: July 1997
  • Accessories: "Cyber-slash tail weapon", sword

• Known designers: Takio Ejima (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Part of the first wave of Beast Wars product, Dinobot transforms into what his bio claims is a "vicious Velociraptor". His tail detaches and separates to form a gear-powered, spinning blade "cyber-slash tail weapon", while the central "tail bone" separates to be used as a sword. The entire assembly can store in robot mode by flipping down the tail-mount and pegging the blade's base to the peg on his lower back. Like all early Deluxe-and-up Beast Wars toys, he has a "mutant mask", halves of a dino-skull that flip up to cover his more robotic head. Thankfully these pieces are not pinned in, and can be easily removed for better clearance and show-accuracy.

The original Dinobots shipped on cards with "rocky"-shaped bubbles. Later (and more numerous) assortments moved to a smooth, rounded bubble, leading the first packaging type to become sought-after collectibles on the secondary market. The second packaging variant also saw a slight difference in the toy's tooling, leaving a blank square cut out of his abdomen mold for a rubsign in preparation for his 1997 redeco.

Takara's initial release of the toy was identical to the Hasbro version (save packaging, of course). In January 1998, Takara redecoed many of the Beast Wars toys and re-released them in slightly more show-like tones; Dinobot's distressingly pinkish skin was changed to tan, his orange robot eyes became red, his flat blue face became metallic blue, his orange dinosaur eyes became white, and his helmet was painted in metallic gold. This version also features the blank square for a rubsign.

• More information on Dinobot at TFU.info

• Deluxe Beast Assortment (Dinobot and Tigatron) (two-pack, 1996)
  • Accessories: "Cyber-slash tail weapon", sword

Sold exclusively at BJ's Wholesale Club, Dinobot was released alongside Tigatron in a two-pack card.

Both toys are identical to their individual releases.

• More infromation on Shmax.com

I prefer to package my toys the old-fashioned way... BRUTALLY!!!

• Kyōbō no Taiketsu: Dinobot VS Tarans (VS pack, 1997)
  • ID number: VS-4
  • Accessories: "Cyber-slash tail weapon", sword

In Japan, Dinobot was available both as an individual and in a "Ferocious Showdown" (凶暴の対決 Kyōbō no Taiketsu) two-pack with "Tarans". Both toys in this set were identical to their individual, nigh-identical-to-the-Hasbro-versions releases.

Both the original toy and Takara's later "more show-like" redeco of Dinobot was released via this VS set.^[1]

• Gold Dinobot (Multi-pack "Lucky Draw", 1998)
  • Accessories: "Cyber-slash tail weapon", sword

In 1998, TV Magazine offered a gold chrome Dinobot as a prize. Where he was part of a set of other gold Beast Wars toys of the 5 main Maximals characters.

• More information at Soundwaves Oblivion

Transforms from Velociraptor to wolfman.

• Dinobot (Happy Meal Transmetal, 1998)
  • McNumber: 6

Part of the second McDonald's Beast Wars Happy Meal promotion, Transmetal Dinobot transforms into a robotic Velociraptor. To tie in with the chrome plastic gimmick of the retail Transmetal toys, parts of his beast mode are cast in glittery metallic plastic. Like the other McDonald's toys from this assortment, he shares nothing in common with his previous body other than alternate mode choice.

This toy was later repurposed by IDW's Beast Wars Sourcebook to represent an initial prototype of Dinobot's evil clone, Dinobot II.

• More information on Transmetal Dinobot at TFU.info

Eww...perhaps using the power sander to buff his scales wasn't a good idea.

• Dinobot (Fox Kids Deluxe, 1999)
  • Accessories: "Cyber-slash tail weapon", sword

Part of the first wave of "Fox Kids" redecoes (so called because of the callout on the package to the Fox Kids programming block where the cartoon had recently moved), this version of Dinobot is more dark brown than the original, with red stripes instead of the original's brown, with a red robot mode face and green eyes. This toy uses the retooled mold with the shoulder ratchets and the (unused) "energon chip" space that were created for Beast Wars Grimlock.

Hasbro solicitations named this toy "Live Wire Dinobot",^[2] but the name never made it to final packaging.

• More information on Fox Kids Dinobot at TFU.info

Beast Wars 10th Anniversary

He disagrees with everything that T. rex says, but you know they're best friends.

• Dinobot (Beast Wars 10th Anniversary, 2006)
  • Accessories: "Energo-drill" sword, spinning blade tail weapon, Transmutate left arm

• Known designers: Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

This release is yet another redeco of the original Dinobot toy. Though the Beast Wars 10th Anniversary line's aim was "show-accuracy", the resulting Dinobot toy confused some fans, with its dark brown base color, odd placement of blue, and, mostly, the metallic green on his bone-like decorations. Like the other 10th Anniversary toys, he has a faction symbol tampoed on his body; in Dinobot's case, there's a Maximal logo on the left side of his robot chest. Like Fox Kids! Dinobot, this toy has the Energon Chip indent and shoulder ratchets that were added for Beast Wars Grimlock.

Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Dinobot came with the left arm to the "build-a-bot" figure Transmutate, plus a DVD containing the obvious Dinobot-themed episode, "Code of Hero".

Unfortunately, Dinobot is highly susceptible to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Just about any part of this Dinobot is made of metallic plastics that collectively hit their expiration dates around 2013, making him highly fragile. The neck, helmet halves, shoulder ratchets, and hip joints are usually the first to snap.

• More information on 10th Anniversary Dinobot at TFU.info

Timelines

Can you dig it?

• Dawn of Future's Past (Multi-pack Deluxe, 2006)
  • Accessories: Golden Disk Key

• Known designers: Joe Moore (concept artist)^[3]

Part of the five-toy BotCon 2006 exclusive boxed set (along with Cheetor, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, and Rhinox), Timelines "Darksyde Dinobot" is a redeco of the Cybertron Longrack mold, itself a retool of Armada Hoist. Dinobot uses almost all of Longrack's new-mold parts save for the head; Hoist's head had originally been based on Dinobot's in the first place!^[4] He transforms into a Cybertronic excavator. Inserting a Cyber Key or Golden Disk Key into his shoulder assembly unlocks a shovel-punch attack activated by pressing on the plunger mechanism above the key port. Like Longrack, he does not come with a Mini-Con partner. The color scheme is partially based on his 10th Anniversary toy.

The original version of this mold was also used to make Universe Ransack.

• Designer commentary on Darksyde Dinobot from Joe Moore on Twitter
• More information on Darksyde Dinobot at TFU.info

Beast Wars Telemocha Series

At last, I CAN TALK!

• Dinobot (Deluxe, 2006)
  • ID number: TM-05
  • Accessories: Dino Sabel, Cyber Shield

Celebrating Japan's 10th anniversary of Beast Wars (one year later than the West), the Beast Wars Telemocha version of Dinobot is yet another (and final?) redeco of the venerable tooling, including the shoulder ratcheting added to the previous Hasbro versions. While definitely more accurate to the CGI model than the Hasbro 10th Anniversary version from the previous year, most of its color-scheme decisions favor the robot mode, such as bronze/gold shoulder joints. The result of this is a less consistently colored beast mode than the Hasbro version. It is the first (and only) version of the mold to place deco on the "mutant mask" halves.

Though there are some colors dropped between the transition from CGI model to toy, Telemocha Dinobot does currently hold the prize for the sheer number of paint applications used on this mold, and by a large margin. Perhaps most significant to many fans, however, is that this version of Dinobot has a mouth, if only in the form of a paint operation.

This release of Dinobot came with a DVD containing the Beast Wars episode... "A Terrifying New Weapon!", the Japanese dub of "The Probe" and not "Code of Hero".

• More information on Telemocha Dinobot at TFU.info

Universe (2008)

Just in time for the original mold to be practically cheese by now.

• Dinobot (Deluxe, 2009)
  • Series: Beast Wars Series
  • Accessories: Tail/missile launcher, missile/sword

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro), Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy), Marcelo Matere (concept artist)

Universe Dinobot transforms into a brown and amber Jurassic Park-style Velociraptor with a robot mode styled heavily after the Beast Wars CGI model, including a face with a nose and mouth. His transformation has been altered to produce more human-like proportions, with his robot legs now becoming the raptor legs and the arms hiding mostly inside the torso. He also sports a fully show accurate robot head which can be raised to a 45 degree angle as well as turn. On his chest is a panel that can swap between a Maximal symbol, a Predacon symbol and a blank third panel (for the beast mode head). His show-accurate double opposable thumbs can be swapped out for "proper" fists. His tail still detaches and splits to become a weapon, but no longer rotates. Instead, it fires a missile shaped like his sword from the cartoon, which can be held as a sword by either the regular fist or claw hands. The tail can also clip onto his back for storage.

This toy was also later repurposed as Beast Wars Shattered Glass Dinobot.

• More information on Universe Dinobot at TFU.info

Henkei! Henkei!

"Then I'll be brief! Oh, happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust and let me die."

• Dinobot (Deluxe, 2009-03-12)
  • ID number: C-16
  • Accessories: Tail/missile launcher, missile/sword

The Henkei! Henkei! release of Dinobot is in more traditional colors than the Hasbro version, decoed in brown with several tan stripes, plus blue and golden detailing. Clear red plastic replaces the clear orange found on the Universe version. Like all Henkei! Henkei! releases he features vacuum metallized parts, particularly his missile/sword.

Device Label

Sorry, you've been replaced.

• Dinobot (Device Label, 2009)

Dinobot would have transformed from a working USB laser mouse into a brown and gold mechanoid raptor, but an early BigBadToyStore solicitation for him was almost immediately supplanted by a solicitation for "Dinosaurer" (Trypticon), once better information was had.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Masterpiece

What a piece of work is Dinobot!
How noble in reason! How infinite in... currency.

• Dinobot (Beast Wars) (2018-07-28)
  • ID number: MP-41
  • Accessories: Cyber Shield, Dino Sabel, 4 robot faces, beam effect, Golden Disk, disk stand, disk adapter, base adapter (beast mode), base adapter (robot mode), base A, base B, base arm

• Known designers: Yuki Ohshima (concept artist)

Masterpiece Dinobot transforms from a show-accurate Velociraptor to a show-accurate robot. It scales correctly with the other Masterpiece Beast Wars figures. Unlike Primal or Cheetor, Dinobot features printed details and a coat of chip-resistant paint, making him a lot more durable.

Dinobot also comes with many accessories: first, his two trademark weapons—his tail weapon with working spinning gimmick and the Golden Disk. The Disk is fully detailed, complete with the "The Sounds of Earth" label sculpted on it. Dinobot also comes with 4 different faces for the robot (serious, smirking, smiling and growling); the latter one has clear eyes that can glow via an LED inside his head; a switch will allow the eyes to light up both in red and green. To complement the latter option, the figure also comes with an extra piece that represents Dinobot's eye beams. The light-up feature is fueled by two LR44 batteries (not included). The raptor head can also emote, but needs no extra pieces: a panel on top of the head can be flipped to replace the regular eyes with a second, narrower pair. A final accessory, a stand is formed by a 2-piece base that can be united in multiple directions, the regular arm and 3 extra attachments: one is to hook the Golden Disk onto the base, one is for Dinobot's robot mode and the last one is a cradle to place Dinobot's raptor mode on the stand. Much like the new Masterpiece Movie Series figures, Dinobot's robot mode mouth can open and close.

Due to a design flaw on the initial release, moving Dinobot's robot shoulders through their normal outward range of motion carries a risk of breaking off a small ridge inside the ratchet joint due to an overly strong spring. Lubricating the joints with grease or dish soap can prevent the issue, and it was rectified on later releases with a weaker spring and slightly thicker ridge within the ratchet.

Some Dinobot figures drain the battery power unusually fast, with some owners reporting that batteries died less than two days after installation and with minimal use.

War for Cybertron: Kingdom

Rattrap's "Dino-Butt" insult seems to have taken on a new meaning 25 years later.

• Dinobot (Voyager Class, 2021)
  • Hasbro ID number: WFC-K16
  • TakaraTomy ID number: KD-08
  • TakaraTomy release date: June 26, 2021
  • Accessories: "Cyber slash tail weapon"^[5], sword, Golden Disk card

• Known designers: Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy), Ken Christiansen (concept artist)

Released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Beast Wars, War for Cybertron: Kingdom Dinobot is a Voyager Class-sized mold that transforms from a cartoon-accurate robot into a Jurassic Park-accurate Velociraptor in 28 steps. His hands have a 5 mm port that can hold both his weapons and can close to hold objects (for example: the Golden Disks associated with the Titan Class Ark). He also has 5mm ports under his heels and one under his back-kibble. His tail can detach and split into two components: his Cyber Slash tail weapon, and his signature sword. The sword's tip is molded with the same texture as Dinobot's skin, presumably to better blend in as the tail tip in beast mode. Due to the Cyber Slash weapon connection, the sword cannot be held by other Transformers toys with traditional 5mm port hands. The Cyber Slash weapon can store in robot mode by attaching to the same port as beast mode. Much like most of the toyline, Dinobot comes with one of four possible holographic Golden Disk cards for his wave, which reveals a possible destiny of a key character, Dinobot being one of them. Dinobot's packaging labels him as a Predacon instead of a Maximal, though the toy itself has no faction symbols.

The toy was announced using photos of the actual toy with no alterations, while his packaging's stock renders feature some different colors and are missing some transformation seamlines.

Unfortunately, the nylon plastic used to mold Dinobot's forearms has been reported to yellow over time, giving them a green-ish tint.

Dinobot was later retooled as Kingdom Maximal Grimlock.

Buzzworthy Bumblebee

And I say, "Dinobot, you are bad guy, but this does not mean you are bad guy."

• Heroic Maximal Dinobot (Voyager Class, 2022)

• Series: Legacy
• Accessories: Cyber-slash tail weapon, sword

Part of the cross-franchise Buzzworthy Bumblebee subline, "Heroic Maximal Dinobot" is a 1996 toy-inspired redeco of the above Kingdom figure with Maximal Grimlock's head sculpt. While the figure was given the "Heroic Maximal" prefix, his instruction manual features a Predacon symbol before his name, likely in reference to the faction-changing nature of the character in most of his fictional appearances (this neat little nod has also been done for other figures in the past, such as Studio Series Sentinel Prime).

Like the above Kingdom figure, the nylon plastic used for various parts of Dinobot's body is prone to rapid yellowing, including while still in unopened packages.

As with other figures in its line, Heroic Maximal Dinobot was exclusive to Target in the United States.

Beast Wars Again

• Gyakushin no Taiketsu (January 27, 2024)
  • ID number: BWVS-06
  • Accessories: Cyber slash tail weapon, sword

• Known designers: Hisashi Yuki (TakaraTomy), Hidetsugu Yoshioka (packaging artist)

Released as part of the Beast Wars Again line, the "Treacherous Showdown" (逆心の対決) set contains Dinobot and and Tarans. Dinobot is a redeco of Kingdom Dinobot in more cartoon-accurate colors. He comes with an unpainted Voyager Golden Disk reused from the Masterpiece release.

Merchandise

Beast Wars puzzle

• Beast Wars Transformers 200 piece puzzle (puzzle, 1996)

A 200-piece puzzle from Milton Bradley featured art of Dinobot and Razorbeast fighting Waspinator and Tarantulas. It was very chrome-foil-y! [1]

Kabaya

Hope you like putting stickers over molded detail!

• Dinobot (candy toy model kit, 1997)

Part of the second wave of Kabaya model kits (which included Cheetor, Rattrap, and Terrorsaur), Dinobot is a peg-together model kit. The parts come on pink and yellow sprues, plus there are stickers, instructions for assembly, and a stick of terrible gum. Transformation involves removing the tail, robot legs, and robot arms, and pegging them elsewhere as needed.

Eat it, other Hall of Fame nominees! But don't eat the candy. Or raw chicken.

• Dinobot (candy toy, 1997)

A tiny plastic Dinobot figurine molded onto an irregularly-shaped stand was released by Kabaya. Labeled toy 6 of 6, the other characters in his wave were Cheetor, Rattrap, Megatron, Optimus Primal, and Rhinox. They were also available in smokey translucent plastic? [2] As always, terrible candy is included.

• Dinobot (candy toy, 1997)

A tiny superdeformed Dinobot was also available from Kabaya. It's way too adorable. [3]

Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game

• Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game (1997)

Dinobot was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars card game.

First 4 Figures

Legs are for the weak.

• Dinobot (2006 unreleased)

• Known designers: Ryan Bailey (sculptor)^{[citation needed]}

First revealed in 2006 at both the UK^[6] and New York Toy Fairs,^[7] this was to be a 7-inch tall resin bust of Dinobot released as part of a Beast Wars tenth anniversary series by model company First 4 Figures. Dinobot is depicted from waist upwards and mounted on a Maximal-themed pedestal, and is sculpted to be accurate to his Beast Wars cartoon design, including his sword.

Mini busts in the planned Beast Wars line were designed to reflect the scale of the characters as seen in the cartoon, and each was set to be limited to 1,996 pieces, in a nod to the franchise's year of origin.^[8] Dinobot was among the first intended to be released (likely the second, given the presence of finalised stock images but absence of a full product listing) in July 2006, though after a series of delays, he and the rest of the Beast Wars bust line were cancelled, with First 4 Figures citing a challenging marketplace and lack of retailer interest.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Prime 1 Studio

• Megatron (2017)
  • ID Number: PMTFBW-02 / 02EX (exclusive)

Prime 1 Studio Premium Masterline Megatron is a highly detailed statue of Megatron's robot mode posing over the bits of a destroyed Dinobot.

ReAction

• Dinobot (2023)
  • Accessories: Sword, cyber-slash tail weapon

Released in the seventh wave of Super7's line of multi-property 3.75-inch "retro" action figures, ReAction Dinobot is a non-converting figure based on his Mainframe character model, with 5 points of articulation (swivel neck, shoulders, hips).

Dinobot comes packaged on a small cardback that mixes the design of the original Beast Wars packaging with some nostalgic elements resembling Kenner's Star Wars action figures from the late 1970s to early '80s.

Notes

• Dinobot's original toy was designed to supplant a failed lion Transformer counterpart to Cheetor that ended up being, understandably, too similar to Cheetor. A dinosaur's entry into the Maximals was justified by pointing out that the Dinobots had been good guys in Generation 1.^[9]

An abandoned deco?

• In the first Beast Wars toy commercials, Dinobot had a slightly different deco than the final toy. He was browner, rather than pinker, and had thicker stripes.
• Some fans are inclined to yank off Dinobot's mutant mask pieces, since he doesn't have them on the television show, they get in the way during transformation, and they're easily removable. Ten years later, Hasbro thought so, too, in their stock photography for Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Dinobot.
• Unlike many pairs of Beast Wars redecoes, Dinobot and Grimlock were both drawn with the same regular head in their Hasbro packaging art, rather than one having the mutant mask on for a distinctive contrast.
• An actual (i.e. non-McDonald's affiliated) Transmetal Dinobot apparently made it to concept art stages, but not much further. Several elements of the design were recycled for Transmetal Terrorsaur.
• Dinobot's toy curiously has six toes on each foot. Since his legs form his robot mode arms, not only does this mean he's left with two thumbs, but also a tiny, barely noticeable finger molded near his wrist. The double thumbs got carried over onto his animation model, yet his in-show beast mode appears to only have three toes. Between all this, it has to be said that real-life raptors had no more than four toes on each of their feet.

Gallery

• 

  Beast Wars Dinobot control art

• 

  Transmetal Dinobot concept art

References