Dink, the Little Dinosaur
By KJ Dell Antonia,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Some scares in animated dino friends' adventures.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Based on 1 parent review
The fox is on the way home and I will need you and to go to the fox movie and see if we need anything
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What's the Story?
DINK, THE LITTLE DINOSAUR follows the adventures of a young herbivore (voiced by R.J. Williams) and his friends -- including Amber (Anndi McAfee) and timid Scat (Frank Welker). They spend their days in the jungle, annoying the older dinosaurs and merrily trying to avoid being eaten by the "hunter" dinosaurs.
Is It Any Good?
Dink and his friends are cute and easy to identify with as they struggle with questions involving bravery and friendship. Their trusted elder, a tortoise named Crusty (also Welker), is reassuringly wise. But the adult dinosaurs can seem frighteningly real and don't really mentor the young, being too concerned with the ongoing battle between herbivores and omnivores (hunters and gatherers, here). When a hunter menaces one of the young dinosaurs, things get scary, but they're lightened by the young dinosaurs' response -- usually something along the lines of "Gee, I hope I don't get eaten!"
The lessons -- about friendship and teamwork and, occasionally, ecology -- are heavy handed but don't interfere too much with the adventures. Most young kids will enjoy Dink, and young dino fans will be thrilled to find another outlet for their obsession.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's messages. Kids: Can you tell what point the show is trying to make? Which do you like better -- stories with obvious messages or ones that teach you something without you even realizing it? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 16, 1989
- Cast: Anndi McAfee, Frank Welker, R.J. Williams
- Network: Boomerang
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Dinosaurs, Friendship
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: August 30, 2022
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