Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween cartoon offers action but little substance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
A science class field trip takes an unexpected turn for five teens, Fiona, Buzz, Caruso, Rodger, and Max, who accidentally encounter a primordial goo that alters their DNA and causes them to transform into dinosaurs. They soon learn that their science teacher, Ms. Moynihan, and local businessman Victor Veloci are actually distant descendants of two ancient Velociraptors who survived the dinosaurs' extinction millions of years ago. Through time, the lone surviving species have evolved and adapted, leaving them unrecognizable as anything but the humans they appear to be. Veloci has developed a solution that can change any living being's DNA, reverting it back to a prehistoric version of itself, and intends to return the world to the Mesozoic era -- the height of the dinosaurs' heyday. DINO SQUAD follows the adventures of the dinosaur-morphing teens as they work against the nefarious plot to return all living things to prehistoric form.
Is It Any Good?
Dino Squad is sure to be a popular choice among tween boys thanks to its combination of fantasy and action. And aside from some physical altercations among fierce-looking dinosaurs (there's no blood or death), there's really little for parents to worry about. That said, the show comes up short on the positive as well, making few attempts to teach any lessons aside from the recurring theme of the importance of teamwork. The most young viewers can hope to learn -- if they don't already know it, of course -- is how to recognize and identify the various dinosaur species.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about cartoon violence. How is watching animated battles different from seeing live-action fighting? Are fantasy clashes less upsetting than more realistic ones? Why or why not?
Kids: What do you know about how dinosaurs became extinct? What species of dinosaurs can you identify? How do the different types compare in size, strength, defenses, diet, etc.?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 3, 2007
- Cast : Ben Beck , Ian Eli Lee
- Network : CBS
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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