We finally now have our first clip from the upcoming season of ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’!
Titled “Mosasaurus Ocean Chase”, this 4-minute clip picks up not long after we last saw our intrepid campers as they attempt to drive the boat back to the mainland. Somehow, Darius is already in the ocean as a Mosasaurus is heading toward him.
To make matters worse, his leg is caught in a rope and some seaweed (without any context, it is hard to imagine how this happened). Kenji dives in for the rescue as the Mosasaurus continues to swim in their direction. Tensions rise, until finally they both make it back to the boat before being gobbled up by the massive prehistoric reptile.
Unfortunately, the Mosasaur isn’t finished with them. It proceeds to violently thrash itself against the boat, jostling the campers all over the deck.
A body of land is seen not far ahead of them, as the Mosasaur thrusts itself into the air before landing with a crash and a splash against the boat… and the clip fades to black.
This clip was pretty exciting and well-executed for the show and does definitively answer the question as to why they clearly don’t make it to the mainland as intended. While it is a shame we didn’t get a real look at the mysterious new island that they end up on, we are only a week away from the release of the fourth season at this point: December 3rd on Netflix.
Does this clip excite you for the new season, or are you going to just watch the ‘Dominion’ prologue again, instead? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
The first full trailer for SEASON FOUR of Jurassic WorldCamp Cretaceous is here! The new season will feature guest stars Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Haley Joel Osment and run for 11 all-new episodes, exclusively on Netflix December 3. In case you missed it, watch below:
The trailer begins similarly to previous Camp Cretaceous trailers in that we see the campers seemingly escaping to freedom on a commandeered boat. It’s not long, however, before they are attacked by Jurassic World’s escaped Mosasaurus. Their boat is torn to pieces and they wash up on what, according to show-runner Scott Kreamer, is “an island previously unseen in the Jurassic canon.” The campers discover the sort of technology hinted at in the first teaser for season four: some sort of hyper-realistic portrayal of different biomes such as a desert and a possible snowy environment. The campers are also shown in a dense forest environment encountering a T. rex and too many drones to count.
Large vehicles and the anticipated ‘robot dog’ are seen moving across a snowy environment, but then breaking through the wall of the aforementioned projection technology. In a truly wild turn, the campers encounter a sabertooth tiger, of all things, in a dark desert environment. As things get hectic in this trailer, we see Kenji in peril in the desert, the Kentrosaurus in the snowy environment, the ‘robot dog’ sinking to its possible demise, Darius sprinting through the jungle, and the Kentrosaurus facing off with a T. rex. An “Escape Is Only The Beginning” tagline plays out over these chaotic moments.
The climax of the trailer features one thing fans have been waiting for: the return of the Spinosaurus. The campers come face to face with the beast in the new island’s desert environment as Brooklynn quips, “That’s new…”, before it roars and charges after them. The Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous title card flashes for a moment before a fun stinger scene at the end. The campers are seen hiding in a jungle environment with a mysterious facility in front of them. Sammy declares that “Something tells her they shouldn’t go in there,” to which Kenji responds, “…which means we’re obviously going in there.” Brooklynn gestures them all forward with a “Come on!”, and the trailer ends.
There is a lot to unpack and digest here: Brand new environments, sabertooth tigers, drones, robot dogs, and the fearsome Spinosaurus. Interestingly enough, show-runner Scott Kreamer has hinted that “…there’s a good chance that it might be the exact same Spinosaurus,” which raises even more questions. Kreamer revealed many insights about this new trailer and the upcoming season in a new interview & trailer breakdown with Entertainment Weekly, which you can read here.
Be sure to watch our trailer breakdown video where we analyse it shot-by-shot!
“You mean there are two islands with dinosaurs on them?!”
The first teaser for season four of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous has arrived, and it brings both answers and more speculation. It reveals the next season’s release date of December 3rd and hints: “A New Island Awaits…”
The fourteen second teaser visually approaches a dark island filled with dense jungle, but a visual glitch teases a stark, desert locale – which is definitely not Isla Sorna. In the music, the ‘raptor motif’ from the original Jurassic Park score makes an appearance and swells into an epic version of the signature Jurassic Park theme. The inclusion of the ‘raptor motif’ is interesting, as Isla Sorna is certainly known for its raptors.
The fast approaching December 3rd date is very exciting, but what could this teaser mean for season four’s story locations? Could the dense jungle we see be Isla Sorna, and the desert an external InGen facility or something else entirely? Will more than one island be visited by Darius, Yaz, Kenji, Brooklynn, Sammy, and Ben in season four? We’ll have to watch and find out!
Be sure to watch our analysis of this new short teaser trailer here:
What do you think about this teaser and the new locations that await? Let us know in the comments, and check out our video on the possible locations of Camp Cretaceous season four below!
The third season of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous made its debut on Netflix in May of this year, continuing the story of six campers stranded on the ill-fated Isla Nublar. The season opens 6 months after the campers were left behind after the fall of Jurassic World, eventually aligning with Fallen Kingdom’s opening moments. After numerous trials and tribulations for the gregarious gang, the season closed with the kids finally sailing away from Isla Nublar…
But the number one question has been what comes next – and when?
We’ve known a 4th season is coming: Jurassic World Director Colin Trevorrow has said his favorite moments from the show will take place in it — not to mention last we saw of the campers they were unaware of something else lurking in the lower cabins of the yacht they’re now adrift upon. For our speculation on what the season will entail, I strongly suggest checking out the video below where we outline the evidence pointing to the return of Isla Sorna:
As for the release date of Camp Cretaceous Season 4, we’ve been long reporting that it would be a longer wait than normal to better align with the ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ debut. Since early this year we had been hearing Season 4 would release this December, with the fifth season dropping after Dominion in July of 2022 – and newly revealed tie-in books for the fourth season support this.
Given the January 4th, 2022 release date for the books, we suspect the season will release December 24th or 17th, 2021. For some added context, every season of Camp Cretaceous has landed on Netflix on a Friday, and each season had multiple tie-in books that would release roughly 4 – 10 days later. If Season 4 adheres to the same schedule, December 24th is the most probable date.
We go into more detail about all of this in our YouTube video, including what the ‘Rescue Mission’ title may mean – so check it out!
When you take past marketing schedules for Camp Cretaceous into consideration, this means the first trailer will most likely hit in October. However, given the longer time between seasons we’re still hopeful to see something this month – perhaps on September 18th, the one year anniversary of the Camp Cretaceous premiere!
Are you looking forward to the fourth season of Camp Cretaceous, and what do you hope to see happen? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest news!
It’s a veggiesaurus! Produce brand Fresh Del Monte has teamed up with DreamWorks’ “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” to bring fans of the Netflix series an adventure game!
Throughout September and October of this year, consumers can purchase select Fresh Del Monte produce items to access an all-new Dinosaur Challenge game. Players scan and play using different product QR codes on produce tags to unlock special skills and boosters to help escape the game’s island. Users can also unlock augmented reality (AR) content and social media filters for a limited time by obtaining badges and medals through the game. Participating Fresh Del Monte produce items include: Del Monte Gold® Pineapple, Honeyglow® Pineapple, Del Monte® Bananas, and Various Del Monte® Fresh Cut containers.
“At Fresh Del Monte, we seek strategic brand partnerships to help encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables,” said Pablo Rivero, Vice President Marketing North America, Fresh Del Monte. “Therefore, we could not be more excited to partner with the Jurassic World franchise to bring these fun products and adventures to families in the United States and Canada. We look forward to getting more fruits and vegetables in kids’ hands and hope this is the first of many future partnerships with DreamWorks and Universal.”
Once you sign up for the Dinosaur Challenge, you set up your profile and start playing (no fruit purchase or scanning is necessary to play)! You play as Darius and collect fruit and other items while trying to escape a raptor that’s chasing you. Use the up and down arrows to jump, climb, and slide your way past obstacles on the island and avoid being caught by the raptor. By scanning QR codes on the produce tags, you will gain inventory items that will help you with game play, including extra lives and switching the player character.
To further sweeten the deal, consumers in the United States and Canada* can enter for a chance to win a trip to experience Universal Orlando Resort’s three amazing theme parks in Orlando, Florida. Winners will win a four-day, three-night trip with hotel, theme park tickets for winner plus three guests, and ground transportation between airport and hotel. Full terms and conditions can be found by visiting www.DinosaurChallenge.com.
Channel your inner veggiesaurus, grab some Del Monte fruit, and start playing! Who knows, you may even win a trip to Universal Studios! Let us know how far you get and your high scores in the comments!
Five new Jurassic LEGO sets have been released for the world to construct and enjoy. The sets feature new moments with dinosaurs and characters from bothJurassic Worldand Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.
This set includes mini-figures of Camp Cretaceous‘ Darius and Jurassic World‘s Owen Grady, a baby triceratops, and a fantastic T. rex fossil display in a setting that resembles a natural history museum. Other items included are a fossil diagram, museum equipment, and a dinosaur egg.
This set features mini-figures of Camp Cretaceous‘ Kenji and Sammy being pursued by a Carnotaurus in a vehicle that directly resembles those used by camp counselors in Camp Cretaceous. Close behind in a Jurassic World helicopter is a mini-figure of Owen Grady, seemingly launching a non-lethal round at the Carnotaurus.
This set includes mini-figures of Camp Cretaceous‘ Darius and Yaz and Jurassic World‘s Owen Grady, a Jurassic World “guard”, a Baby Velociraptor, and a full size Baryonyx whose coloring resembles that of Grim from Camp Cretaceous. Darius, Owen, and the Guard are being menaced by the Baryonyx on a boat marked “28” in the Jurassic World colors next to the staple T. rex logo. Yaz is in pursuit on a small boat with the Baby Velociraptor and what seem to be multiple dinosaur eggs.
This set features mini-figures of Camp Cretaceous‘ Ben and Brooklynn and Jurassic World‘s Claire Dearing, a Baby Ankylosaurus, and a Stygimoloch. Claire is driving a vehicle that resembles those used in Camp Cretaceous behind the escaping Stygimoloch while Brooklynn prepares to fire a tranquilizer at the dino. Ben, however, is doing his own thing with his baby ankylosaur pal near a very cool tree-slide construction.
This set is branded under LEGO’s Duplo brand, which is generally targeted toward younger builders. It includes more stylized versions of the T. rex and Triceratops, a stylized version of Jurassic World‘s Owen Grady on his motorcycle, and the iconic Jurassic World gates.
These sets are exciting for Jurassic builders and collectors of all ages – and while they’re not based upon any specific scenes, we expect even more LEGO with Camp Cretaceous Season 4 due out in December, and Jurassic World Dominion in June 2022!
What do you think about the characters, dinosaurs, and moments showcased in these new sets? Let us know below!
All are available for purchase now on the LEGO, Amazon, and Target websites!
Update: Producer Frank Marshall has taken to Twitter to confirm a trailer is indeed coming soon! No word yet if it will be tied to ‘F9’, or perhaps drop on June 11th – read on to get our detailed breakdown of what we expect, and when!
The road to the upcoming 6th installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ has been long, with many expected twists and turns, being pushed back from 2021 to 2022 due to the ongoing pandemic. This has left a drought of Jurassic news, outside of the ongoing animated series ‘Camp Cretaceous’, and anticipation is running high to learn more about the upcoming sequel.
This of course leads to the big question: when will we see the first trailer for ‘Dominion’? Speculation has run rampant, and while there are many logical milestones, nothing has been certain due to the way the entire film industry has been shaken up from Covid19. Thankfully, the wait won’t be long.
We have been hearing the trailer is targeting this Summer, which is something our friends at NeoJurassic podcast had also reported. In fact, we originally heard it was looking to release in August – however, that information dates back to prior to the release of Season 2 of ‘Camp Cretaceous’.
So if not August, when is the trailer due to hit? While we don’t have an exact confirmation, we’re fairly confident it will be released this June alongside ‘Fast & Furious 9’.
The first ‘Dominion’ trailer will likely skew towards the teaser variety, only giving a glimpse of what’s to come without showing off too many new elements. We’re big fans of well made trailers – something we feel Jurassic World has previously missed the boat on with their spoiler-laden output. We’re hopeful that ‘Jurassic World 3’ curbs that trend, taking inspiration from more curated teaser experiences like ‘Cloverfield’, or trailers like ‘The Force Awakens’.
Conversely, perhaps a one-off experience, akin to ‘Battle at Big Rock’ will serve as the film’s first tease. The end of ‘BaBR’ set the tone with numerous dinosaur encounters on mainland, and we’ve since been awaiting a followup on the concept, which is filled with opportunity for content prior to Dominions release. This could serve as more curated teaser, and speaking to Hollywood Reporter director Colin Trevorrow revealed that something related to Dominion is indeed coming soon:
“It’s going to be sooner than you think. I can’t talk about it just yet. We’ve got something fun planned, and it has everything to do with getting people back into the movie theaters.”
– Colin Trevorrow
‘Fast & Furious 9’ is hitting US theaters this June 25th, a timely release roughly a year out from Dominions June 10th, 2022 date. Outside of Jurassic, the Fast & Furious series is Universal’s largest theatrical performer, and we’re sure that the studio is keen to supercharge its theatrical run this summer with as many incentives as possible, and ‘Dominion’ marketing is certainly one way to do so.
Taking that concept further, perhaps Universal aims to release ‘Big Rock’ style one-offs marketing the sequel with all their appropriate upcoming theatrical tentpoles. This could serve as a proper blitz to really revitalize theaters, all while hyping up ‘Dominion’ without actually showcasing scenes or spoilers from the films. Movies like ‘Old’ (July 23rd) and ‘Halloween Kills’ (October 15th) may also be spots to watch – that said, we feel confident that whatever is planned, ‘F9’ sits at the center of it.
Releasing the trailer in June makes a lot of sense for other reasons: we learned a long while back that ‘Jurassic World: Evolution 2’ was in development, and planned to release near Dominion. The game heavily features elements from the new film such as the new varied environments, companies and facilities, characters, and of course, dinosaurs. While Dominion’s delay did push Evolutions plans back, we’re hearing it’s likely the game will have a debut trailer at Gamescom in August.
We’re not sure how ‘Dominion’ will be supported after the trailer drops, as the proper story-centric marketing push isn’t expected to kick off until closer to February 2022 alongside a larger trailer we assume will be timed with the SuperBowl. However, that leaves the curious omission of November & December 2021, a time period typically reserved for the first trailer of new Jurassic films. Perhaps instead of a trailer at that time, a behind the scenes video will hit teasing what’s to come, building anticipation for the larger marketing push planned soon after?
It’s also possible that the November/December 2021 timeslot may be passed up by ‘Dominion’ marketing, as we’re expecting a 4th season of Netflix’s ‘Camp Cretaceous’ around that time. While ‘JWCC’ is standalone, Colin Trevorrow has repeatedly teased it has larger ties to ‘Dominion’, so it may serve a similar role in pushing audiences to look forward to the upcoming sequel. Considering how much the film industry has been struggling to find its footing again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe building a momentous push to build anticipation, spread awareness, and drive audiences to want to return to theaters with ‘Dominion’ is key. Quite frankly, this film is one of the few currently capable of such, perhaps more-so than Disney’s upcoming Marvel offerings.
With ‘Star Wars’ taking some time away from the theatrical space, Jurassic is at an even better position to expand its brand awareness and loyalty over the coming year. We’re quite hopeful this budding opportunity is taken full advantage of, and releasing a teaser this June points that way. We truly believe in the theatrical experience of cinemas, and hope to see a large push to make sure that experience – something films like Jurassic require – does not go extinct.
What do you hope to see from the first Jurassic World Dominion trailer? Sound off in the comments below, and stay tuned for all the latest news!
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched Season 3 of ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ yet, do yourself a favor and get on it! In this writer’s opinion it is the best, and darkest, season of the show yet!
Season 3 of ‘Camp Cretaceous’ has a lot going on: island escape attempts, fun callbacks at the Visitor Center of ‘Jurassic Park’, and the scary scene-stealing poisonous hybrid Scorpious Rex (also known as E750). The kids that were left behind during Isla Nublar’s second breakout, thanks to the Indominus Rex, spent 6 months on the island before finally getting off the shores. Presumably they are off the island for good, but who knows where they will end up or return to?
Right before their departure, the kids have an unfortunate clash with the same team that was sent by Eli Mills (a rather untrustworthy man who would eventually steal dinosaurs out from under Benjamin Lockwood’s nose and sell them in an auction) to retrieve genetic information from the Indominus Rex so Dr. Henry Wu can create a new hybrid: the Indoraptor. This connects the series directly, not just to ‘Jurassic World’, but to its first sequel ‘Fallen Kingdom’.
Entertainment Weekly shared a conversation they had with showrunner Scott Kreamer and executive producer Colin Trevorrow (co-writer & director of ‘Jurassic World’), where Trevorrow explains:
“They’re on this island and, at a certain point, it seems as if they’ve been there for this indeterminate amount of time. To make clear, first of all, what the timeline was at the beginning of ‘Fallen Kingdom’ — it was about six months after the fall of ‘Jurassic World’ — for kids who’ve grown up on it, it’s cool to allow them to connect to these touchstones in the story and recognize that the story we’re telling is part of the larger story. It’s not just some cartoon show for kids…”
‘Camp Cretaceous’ reveals that a lot more was going on at the island during the incredible opening sequence of ‘Fallen Kingdom’. After the kids are forced back ashore by part of the same team sent by Mills, about half of them are rushed on board a helicopter until our lady T-rex charges in and chomps on an unsuspecting mercenary. The helicopter takes off prematurely due to the attack, leaving behind the other half of the kids to fend for themselves. This sends the helpless kids on a chase through the jungle, until the T-rex is distracted by the same helicopter we see in ‘Fallen Kingdom’ near the Mosasaur Lagoon. We watch from the perspective of the kids as the event plays out, with their reaction to the Mosasaur chomping on the guy at the last moment mimicking how many had felt when they saw it on theater screens in 2018.
It doesn’t stop there. Entertainment Weekly’s article continues with additional anecdotes regarding Dr. Wu’s return to the island with a group of mercenaries and more. However, the most interesting details are about how this series ties into what lies ahead for ‘Dominion’, the second upcoming ‘Jurassic World’ sequel. Trevorrow explains:
“There are connections that we’re making for sure […] When you see ‘Dominion’, it will be clear that it takes place on the same timeline and in the same world as our show.”
This admission certainly makes ‘Camp Cretaceous’ much more of an important show than many may have guessed. While some can argue until the skies are gray that it is only “soft canon”, this is still an incredibly entertaining way to tie in new elements of the same story that we would have never gotten otherwise.
Trevorrow continues further, expressing just how mapped out the story for ‘Camp Cretaceous’ is:
“We do have a beginning, middle, and an end for it […] I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to think that we don’t have a plan. We do, and there is an ending in sight.”
Given that ‘Dominion’ has already finished filming, and the story for this television series is already set, it would appear that there will certainly be many more connections ahead that will blend the stories of the film and the show into one (hopefully) coherent whole. Everyone here at Jurassic Outpost are certainly looking forward to it.
Are you excited for more ‘Camp Cretaceous’? Do you like how the show continues to connect to the films? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for more!
Spoiler warning: If you’ve not seen Season 3 of Camp Cretaceous, this article goes into detail about numerous story elements. So if you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it. Seriously, it’s the best season yet.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we have some exciting new reveals from Matel’s Jurassic World toy line that will be hitting stores this Summer! The third Season of Camp Cretaceous made its debut on Friday, following the story of six teenage campers stranded on Isla Nublar after the demise of the park. As they struggle to survive and find a way to escape the dino-infested island, they encounter numerous species of dinosaurs during thrilling sequences.
With the third season of the Jurassic Netflix series, Mattel has brought even more dinosaurs from the show to life. Take a look at the all-new toys, and then learn more about the terrifying hybrid Scorpios Rex from showrunner Scott Kreamer below!
JURASSIC WORLD OCEAN PROTECTOR MOSASAURUS™
SRP: $34.99 | 4Y+
Be a part of the thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World Ocean Protector Mosasaurus, the colossal swimming dinosaur which makes a big splash as a fan favorite in the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise.
This Mosasaurus action figure is inspired by the movie and comes in a massive size that will thrill fans at 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) high and 17 inches (43.2 cm) wide.
Realistic sculpting, moveable joints and articulation help this colossal creature come to life, including a wide-opening jaw.
The figure is made from 1 pound (454 g) of ocean-bound plastic; plastic that is sourced within 31 miles (50 km) of waterways in areas lacking formal waste collection systems.
The third season of Camp Cretaceous takes part roughly six-months after the fall of Jurassic World, which means the Mosasaurus is hungrier than ever, and will soon escape into the ocean (as seen during the opening of Fallen Kingdom – which also takes place about 6 months after Jurassic World). This of course leads to some must-see moments with the prehistoric marine reptile, making the aquatic terror a must-have toy for fans of the show and collectors alike.
However, this huge Mosasaur toy is more than just a series tie-in: it’s part of a new eco-friendly initiative Mattel has been launching on multiple fronts. The Mosasaurus toy is created from 1-pound of “Ocean-Bound” plastic, truly living up to its “Ocean Protector” title.
We’re excited to see Mattel finding news ways to reduce their ecological footprint and become more ‘green’, and hope to see more items boast similar programs in the future.
JURASSIC WORLD: CAMP CRETACEOUS SLASH ‘N BATTLE SCORPIOS REX
SRP: $24.99 | 4Y+
Get ready for more thrills and adventure with Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous! The all-new hybrid dinosaur revealed in season 3 (which premiered globally on May 21 on Netflix), Scorpios Rex, is extremely fast, dangerous and unpredictable—and unleashes terror with its poisonous quills.
Kids can relive all the action from the popular animated series with this larger-sized Slash ‘N Battle Scorpios Rex action figure featuring a dynamic claw slashing feature, a chomp and roar, plus a mighty tail whip attack.
To start the claw slashing action, push the button for a full-on arm extending slash and grab attack. Push the other button to activate a big chomp and roar, and pull the Scorpios Rex’s tail back to activate the spring-loaded motion for a surprise tail whip attack, too.
After months of speculation, the mysterious “E750” has been revealed: the Scorpios Rex. This hybrid dinosaur might be the scariest creature to appear in the larger Jurassic-universe, and is truly an abomination in the best possible ways. This was one of Dr. Wu’s earliest attempts at creating a hybrid, before the Indominus Rex and Indoraptor – it was deemed a failure and ordered to be destroyed by Simon Masrani. However, Dr. Wu decided to cryo-freeze the dangerous dino, which unfortunately thawed out in Season 2, pitting it against the campers in Season 3.
To learn more about the ‘S. rex’ we talked to showrunner Scott Kreamer to shed some light on this exciting new addition to Jurassic World lore:
“Predating the Indominus Rex and Indoraptor, the Scorpios Rex (or “E-750 project”) was Dr. Wu’s first foray into creating a hybrid dinosaur. As in many first attempts at creation, mistakes were made. We started hypothesizing in the writers’ room that the Indominus Rex couldn’t have possibly been Wu’s first shot at making a hybrid, which got us to thinking about what came before, and why was it unsuccessful.”
Scott went on to explain how the Scorpios not only filled a role within the backstory of hybrid dinosaurs, but also presented an opportunity to push the story of the campers forward in exciting new ways:
“At this point in the story, the campers have learned to survive amongst the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar. Not to the point of complacency, but still, they know the lay of the land. We wanted to shake things up and have them face something new and overwhelming, something that not even Darius’s dino knowledge, Sammy’s big animal expertise, nor their experiences on the island could possibly prepare them for.”
If you’ve seen the new season, you know how true that is. The Scorpios Rex is a bizarrely terrifying animal which feels unnatural and unpredictable. It’s not only a new challenge for the campers to face, it’s a new experience for the viewers, pushing into territory that the films had not yet ventured.
The Scorpios truly is the franchises first monster, perhaps reminding some fans of the scrapped attempts at dino-human hybrids which Jurassic Park 4 once considered. In fact, in some moments the Scorpios almost feels reminiscent of that now infamous art by Carlos Huante. To dig deeper into the DNA and design philosophy behind the proto-indominus, Scott went on to say the following:
“Since the Scorpios was the first step in creating the Indominus and Indoraptor, we definitely hoped fans would notice the family resemblance of the trio. Sort of like when you see those drawings detailing the evolution of man, we wanted to be able to visually see the evolution from the chaotic failed medical experiment that is the Scorpios, all the way to the sleek killer that is the Indoraptor.
We have taken great pains in the series to portray the dinosaurs as animals, not monsters. In the case of the Scorpios Rex, we wanted a monster. Aaron Hammersley and I had some initial thoughts, and then our design team took it and ran, playing a lot with proportions: the overly long arms, the thinner than usual torso, the poisonous quills. In addition, we tasked our animation team with making the Scorpios’s movements feel off, almost zombie-like, as if it wasn’t totally in control of its body and limbs. Top that off with some top-notch (and horrifying) sound design and amazing effects & lighting, and we had ourselves a monster.
Given that the Scorpios was Dr. Wu’s first shot at creating a hybrid dinosaur, we figured he’d throw the kitchen sink at it, genetically-speaking. Along with his go-to tree frog DNA and Scorpion fish DNA, the Scorpios also shares genetic make-up with (amongst others) T rex, velociraptor and carnotaurus.”
The Scorpios Rex may not be beautiful, but it is certainly stunning to look at, and is a deadly addition to Jurassic World. As someone who prefers to keep dinosaurs as animals, and the Jurassic films as dinosaur movies, I’m surprised to admit how much I enjoyed the Scorpios in season 3. From the design to its erratic behavior, it just clicked for me – and it felt just grounded enough, especially when juxtaposed against the other dinosaurs which seemed to look and act more like real animals than ever before in the modern-era of the franchise.
I wouldn’t want to see hybrids go any further into monster territory, but I feel the Scorpios found the perfect balance and really created a unique presence on screen. With that in mind, I can’t wait to get my hands on the latest toy from Mattel, which is due to hit shelves soon.
Are you a fan of the Scorpios Rex, and will you pick up its toy counterpart? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for more!
The park is closed, all the dinosaurs are running free and wild, and Isla Nublar’s fragile living system is losing all stability, falling into anarchy. Meanwhile, 6 teenage campers have been left behind on the island after missing the evacuation, struggling for survival for months. All the while, a new sinister threat creeps ever nearer.
After a decidedly divisive sophomore season that made some questionable tonal choices all while not pushing the story very far, we were anxiously looking forward to seeing what THIS season had in store. Would it be more akin the debut season, more in line with the reality of the feature films, or would it further embrace its animated freedom, and shake the shackles of sensibility and continuity, pushing for over-the-top, and quirky moments?
Releasing on May 21st, we’ve had a chance to watch the much anticipated third season of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous! Here is our season 3 REVIEW:
Season 3 begins with a high-stakes escape attempt, after many previous failed attempts, that as you can imagine, also goes awry. Frustrated, the campers find themselves scouring the island once again for ways to finally escape Isla Nublar. This leads them to many exciting locations, both old and new. As they explore the island deeper they not only push their own story of escape forward, but uncover many new mysteries along the way – some of which are very much tied to the mysterious new dinosaur codenamed “E750”, which plays a big role in keeping the campers on their toes.
Best of all, some of the story promises larger reaching implications for the franchise in some very interesting ways.
It seems that with every season comes an improvement in animation, and season 3 is no stranger to that. The dinosaurs continue to look, act, and animate more and more like their big screen counterparts, and the lighting and shading on the characters and environments continues to evolve. The set pieces are thrilling yet logical, pushing the bounds of imagination and fun without breaking away from what we’ve come to expect from the films. From swooping hang glider chases to callbacks to The Lost World, the environments and dinosaurs are constantly creating adventure for the campers and the viewers alike.
Speaking of dinosaurs, the trailer teased the all-new Monolophosaurus, a species that has fast become one of our all-time favorites in both design and behavior. They really dig into a naturalistic yet primal behavior for the species, feeling incredibly fresh for Jurassic, yet entirely at home. We would love to see the Monolophosaurus appear in Dominion, and we imagine it is going to be a big hit from its fun scenes within the season.
Then, of course, there is the mysterious E750, which also feels more fresh than you may expect, has some decidedly terrifying scenes, and fun animation that really helps it stand out from past dinosaurs and hybrids. But that’s not all! The season brings back the Dimorphodons from Jurassic World, the Gallimimus, an adorable baby Brachiosaur, and the all-new herbivorous Ouranosaurus which will bring joy to fans of expanded Jurassic media like Operation Genesis. The season is a dino-lovers dream, and the sequences are thrilling, fun, and fresh, without delving into the occasional ‘jumping the shark’ embellishments like season 2.
The characters expand their relationships and understanding of the dinosaurs in this season, while those very concepts are challenged by the presence of the E750. Bumpy continues to be a fun addition to the show, and does not lack her playful personality, yet feels more plausible and grounded than her previous season 2 depiction. She provides not only a sense of security for Ben and the campers, but also a real connection to the dinosaurs for the audience.
The season is filled with growth and tension, and not just the dinosaur kind. Compelling characters are key to Jurassic, even when their stories are not always intertwined with the larger franchise as a whole.
Darius, Brooklyn, Ben, Yaz, Sammi, and Keni’s bond as a group continues to grow, however not without its challenges, as relationships between the group are tested, as are their survival skills. Their development marks an improvement over the second season, where it seemed much of the growth the characters made in season one was backtracked upon so that the characters could more fit their archetypal roles, often played for laughs over logic. While there is no shortage of playfulness in this season, we see real human growth, as the camper’s relationships evolve in compelling ways, while their trauma – from both off the island and on it – drive many of their decisions.
The campers are given some great scenes, with Ben and Darius sharing some truly compelling moments together. Darius still holds on to a sense of blame from dropping Ben during the monorail attack in the first season, while Ben must learn how to once again be a team player from his traumatic estrangement depicted in season 2. This all leads to some interesting dynamics that play out very authentically.
Kenji, Brooklyn, Yaz and Sammy also share some great development, pushing the story further while evolving them as individuals. Further speaking of pushing the story forward, Dr Wu features in the season in some fun ways, as you’ve seen from the trailers. We found that while his appearance may be limited, we’re finally given some insight into who he is as a person, what his motivations may be, and perhaps even how that could be applied to future Jurassic stories – such as Dominion.
While season two omitted a number of story beats setup in the first, the third seems to get the series “back on track” – so to speak – but does lack any form of storytelling outside of Isla Nublar itself. For example: Dave and Roxy were forced off the island in the first season after knowing full well the kids were still out there. Would these two camp counsellors just accept that all of the children perished – or would they still be fighting for their rescue? There is a missed opportunity here, and one we hope is revisited in future seasons! While this season does begin to tie closer to the stories of films, it would benefit from branching storylines and perhaps adult characters to help tie to the live-action universe in impactful and fresh ways.
Another storyline that was glossed over in the second season is Mantah Corp. Originally setup in season one as the potential “baddies”, they were virtually unmentioned in the second season, and this season does not make up for it. The bioengineering company is given a few small mentions, but feels more like a MacGuffin for Sammy, and ultimately leaves a lot to be desired. We really thought the organization would play a much larger role, especially after their intriguing and threatening setup in season one.
Season 3 however does benefit from an extension of the episode count, using the added storytime to the fullest extent. The two additional episodes are some of the best the series has offered so far, with high tensions across a perfectly executed finale. Overall it makes the story finally feel bigger and further aligns itself with the Jurassic World trilogy of movies.
The third season returns to the roots established in season one, the tone is believable, the stakes are high, and the writing is consistent, albeit perhaps held back by a cast consisting only of kids. The latest season doesn’t lean into the cartoon tropes that season 2 introduced, and instead allows the show to better re-appeal to fans of all ages. While perhaps not living up to the tv animation standards established by Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Wars Clone Wars, and Rebels, Camp Cretaceous has a lot to offer in a franchise full of frights and adventure. This season shows that the show itself has the potential to become a first-class animated show, like the aforementioned outside examples – hopefully sooner rather than later. Camp Cretaceous has certainly proven itself – which should justify a higher budget allowing for larger set pieces, visual variety, and more expansive impactful storytelling.
Camp Cretaceous Season 3 is a true joyride that flies by, and easily stands as the best of the three. From nostalgic moments, to well-crafted set pieces, compelling character drama, and an engaging story, this was our favorite season yet, and we cannot wait to see how the story evolves and where it goes next.
