Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 3 Review: Something Has Evolved

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.

New Footage and Images from Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 3!

Season 3 of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous is only a mere 7 days away, and anticipations are running high to see where the story goes next. The misadventures of the 6 campers stranded on Isla Nublar are sure to take an interesting turn, as the mysterious new Dino cooked up by Dr. Wu, “E750”, will makes its debut.

While not too much is know about the season outside of what the teaser and trailer have revealed, we now have a few more glimpses of the adventure to come thanks to the following clips and images.

First up, enjoy this extended sequence straight from the first episode of Season 3, featuring the animated debut of the fearsome flying reptiles known as Dimorphodon’s, and a perilous hang-gliding set piece:

It’s quite fun to see the Dimorphodons return, after their absence in 2018’s Fallen Kingdom. Not to mention the (re)confirmation that Jurassic World’s animals are clearly not all-female, and are breeding in the wild on Isla Nublar – which will surely be an interesting problem in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion, with the dinosaurs now free on mainland.

Next up, we have a series of images shared by DreamWorks themselves, showcasing scenes from the trailers, and some all-new moments. From Bumpy the ankylosaurus, to what appears to be sequence including the ever enigmatic Dr. Wu, these pictures set the picture for a diverse season, promising an expansive story.

Fair warning, it’s possible some of those pictures may be late episode spoilers. For our breakdown of the images within, check out our video here:

Finally, and perhaps the most exciting for fans of Jurassic Park, is a new look at ‘E750’ shared by DreamWorks on social media. In what appears to be a clear callback to the Velociraptors in the kitchen sequence from the first film, we see the new lab-made-dino looking through a window of a door, which looks almost identical to Visitor Centers kitchen of the first park…

Whether or not this is that location remains to be seen, but the similarities are striking, and we can’t wait to see more of this season. We’re sure it will be a hit!

With just one week until Camp Cretaceous Season 3 comes out, be sure to stay tuned Jurassic Outpost for even more coverage. We’ll be sure to post a review of the season once we’ve seen it and can share, and will have much more to come!

Let us know what you’re most excited for in the comments below, and as a final sign-off, if you need a refresher on what happened in Season 2, check out our recap below!

Check Out This Camp Cretaceous RAPTOR SQUAD 4-Pack Featured in ‘Beyond The Gates’ Episode 3!

We’re now three months into the all-new collectors focused web-series Beyond The Gates where we reveal exciting, brand new Jurassic products! Last month we were excited to debut a new Legacy Collection set – the Dennis Nedry Getaway Pack!

This month we’re excited to launch the third episode and debut the Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Raptor Squad 4-Pack:

Along with speaking to Mattel toy designer Rafael Bencosme, we also spoke with NBCUniversal’s Design Manager Erick Solorzano. The two dig into the details of the set and we go hands-on with the Raptor Squad.

Relive the excitement of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous with Blue, Charlie, Delta and Echo! Each dinosaur has realistic sculpting and authentic decoration for realistic play! Take home the excitement of the Camp Cretaceous with this Raptor Squad 4-pack!

We’re thrilled to be able to debut more exciting Jurassic items in Beyond The Gates and the next episode will focus on a long-awaited Jurassic Park set, exclusive to the Legacy Collection! Stay tuned for more!

‘A New Threat Has Evolved’ – Camp Cretaceous Season 3 Trailer Drops!

We last visited Isla Nublar in January when the second season of Camp Cretaceous launched on Netflix, and we will be returning to the island in just under a month when the third season is released.

There is much anticipation for this season, which so far has teased an all-new hybrid under the name of E750, and now the full trailer has dropped, showcasing Dr. Wu’s creation in all it’s glory. Check it out below:

Along with our first real look at the E750 hybrid, the trailer shows us that we will be visiting many new locations across the island, including venturing into remnants of the original Jurassic Park – something that we have wanted to see since the show began!

Be sure to check out our breakdown video where we analyse the numerous details contained within the trailer:

The poster was also released showing the terrified campers looking up at the newly evolved threat, the E750, which casts its shadow back down on them. Check out that poster, and a handful of other images from the season, in the gallery below!

Are you excited to return to Isla Nublar this May, for the third season of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous? Did you like the second season?

Be sure to let us know what you’re hoping to see in season 3, down below in the comments!

New ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ Season Three Teaser and Poster – Comes May 21!

You’ll be heading back to Isla Nublar sooner than you thought – all 10 episodes of season three of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will hit Netflix on May 21!

Along with this announcement came a brand new poster and teaser trailer, giving us our first look at the new mystery dino: E750. Check out our breakdown of both below:

We got our first glimpse at this creature’s location towards the end of season two, and now our first close-up look at the creature itself:

“A sinister threat emerges on Isla Nublar” and we can’t wait for it! The poster shows where the creature was once housed, and the damage it did to escape:

You can check out the full gallery below showing screenshots from the teaser itself:

How excited are you for the upcoming season of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous? Will you be watching all 10 episodes on May 21st? Leave a comment down below to join the discussion!

Introducing ‘Jurassic World Beyond the Gates’ – Live Now on Target.com!

Something is coming, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you! Jack De La Mare and I have been hard at work on an exciting partnership with Jurassic World and Target to bring you Beyond the Gates – a new collectors focused web-series where we will be revealing all new Jurassic products, while digging into the DNA that brought the items to life. 

Not too long ago Universal began discussions about this unique collaboration, and we hit the ground running to help design a show format that we hope excites you as much as it does us, from the fans for the fans. Our friends at Universal, Mattel, and Target shared our excitement and helped support us every step along the way as we began to play in this expansive Jurassic toybox, creating this little show. 

We were given the keys, and a chance to not only to take the Jeep and drive – but to custom design it from the ground up. We worked with a handful of talented artists – including  Lukas Vagt, Matt Henderson and Caleb Burnett – to support hatching the series, and evolve Beyond The Gates from concept to reality. This collaborative process has been a dream, and every party involved has been crucial in bringing this vision to life. 

Today (February 17th) the first episode of Beyond the Gates made its debut exclusively on Target.com, with subsequent episodes to follow the third week of every month. Every episode feature your first look at all-new, upcoming Jurassic World reveals – and upon their reveal, they will become available for pre-order directly at Target.com. 

Universal and ourselves not only want to use Beyond the Gates to share exclusive official content, but also to better inform the fans and collectors what is coming, when it will be available, while giving them a reliable way to secure those items for their collection before those opportunities go extinct. On top of that, we wanted to use this opportunity to let you hear directly from the masterminds who helped design the toys while taking a look at the development and evolution of the items via concept art,  prototypes, and more! 

The first episode of Beyond the Gates is here, and features a look at two long anticipated Amber Collection dinosaurs from the original Jurassic  Park trilogy, accompanied by the expertise of Mattel’s own Chandra Hicks.

Watch now at Target.com!

If you’ve seen episode 1, and are looking for our ‘After Show‘ — stay tuned! We’ve hit the ground running on this project, and that one is coming in hot. As for what to expect, we’ll take a longer look at the Amber Collection reveals, hear more from Mattel’s Chandra Hicks, while showing off more concept art and early looks at the development of these toys!

We wanted to thank Universal Pictures for being so accommodating and entrusting us to help create this fan-focused show. We have so much more to come, and can’t wait  to show you more of what waits BEYOND THE GATES.

‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ Season 2 Coming January 22 – New Trailer!

Adapt. Evolve. Survive. Everything’s at stake in the new ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ season 2 trailer, which will drop on Netflix on January 22nd!

Last season ended with the Camp Cretaceous kids trying to escape the island, only to reach the dock and find out they had been left behind. In the season 2 trailer, we see Darius, Yaz, Brooklynn, Kenji, and Sammy working together to figure out how to survive on an island inhabited by dinosaurs. The group heads for Main Street to find a phone, only to find the T.rex has set up her new lair there! This season promises more human-dinosaur interactions (some filled with danger) including compys, brachiosaurus, T.rex, baryonyx, ceratosaurus, sinoceratops, parasaurolophus, ankylosaurus, and many more! The trailer doesn’t feature, possibly everyone’s favorite character, Bumpy, who we last saw approaching an unconscious Ben who was separated from the rest of the campers last season.

What challenges will the campers face in season 2? Will Ben and Bumpy reunite with the rest of the group? Who else is on the island?

Let us know your theories and thoughts in the comments!

‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’ Season Two Teaser – Comes 2021!

Baryonyx, Ceratosaurs, and Tyrannosaurs – oh my! The trailer for Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 2 is here, and it is not shy about bringing new dinosaur species to the table.

Making its debut ahead of the New York Comic Con panel later today, the trailer is available on YouTube below:

As we predicted in our recent season two video, we will be seeing the original T. rex on Main Street, and we can see that the campers do indeed head back there, and spend some time in T. rex Kingdom.

A Baryonyx was also revealed in the teaser, and this ties to the recent Mattel toy reveals showing three individual Baryonyx – Grim, Limbo, and Chaos.

The gang may have survived the initial Indominus Rex attack, but they now have a lot more to contend with in the deep jungles of Isla Nublar. With the security systems down and the fences broken, dinosaurs are now free.

One of the species making an appearance will be the Ceratosaurus who first made her appearance in everybody’s favourite Jurassic Park 3.

Be sure to check out our full gallery of screenshots below and stay tuned for more information as it drops!

Let us know what you thought of the teaser and will you be watching season two of Camp Cretaceous when it releases in 2021?

Fresh Updates on Jurassic World: Dominion Production and The Original Trio Back Together Again!

If recent information on the production of Jurassic World Dominion is to believed, then everything behind the scenes appears to be going surprisingly smoothly despite the additional COVID-related restrictions on the production.

A recent article from The Hollywood Reporter has explored how Hollywood has been adapting to shooting in the middle of the pandemic – and, as a part of the article, the Universal Pictures team debuted two brand-new set photographs from the production.

The first photograph, which appears to be from filming at Pinewood Studios, shows a massive, snowy mountain and frozen lake which has been constructed for the actors to perform in front of. Interestingly, the scale of this location is quite surprising as we would usually see an environment like this rendered in post-production, so we do wonder if there is more to the way this environment will be used in the upcoming production.

The second photograph, which appears to be from the second-unit in Malta, shows a dark and dingy looking environment filled with an assortment of shady-looking characters. Whilst we don’t get much more insight into the context of these photographs, we do get some insight into how production has been going, thanks to a statement from producer Patrick Crowley:

“When you get up and running, you realize that you need to go over and talk to that crew person and say, ‘Buddy, put the mask up over your nose.’ Or you find the three guys who are just 18 inches away from each other talking about what a great time they had last weekend, and you have to break it up,” says the movie’s producer Patrick Crowley.

“We have people who are hired to do nothing but go, ‘You need to get 2 meters away from him,’ because you know that the success of the show and the likelihood of them continuing to have jobs in the industry is dependent on that.” The film’s cast and crew are not only staying in a nearby hotel bought out by the studio in an effort to maintain a quarantine bubble, they’re also tested three times a week. To date, the production has processed a whopping 27,000 COVID-19 tests over the course of the shoot (the hotel staff is tested, too). At roughly $100 a pop, that’s close to $3 million on testing alone. “Universal never blinked,” says Crowley. “They said, ‘You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.’ “

A recent photograph of the original trio, donning appropriate masks for National Register to Vote day, also has fans excited for the upcoming sequel. Indeed, this is the first time we have seen these three actors together for some time – providing an exciting glimpse into what we can expect when Jurassic World Dominion debuts in 2021.

The excitement has been further enhanced by a recent statement from Colin Trevorrow, in an interview with Syfy.

“I think people may be underestimating the size and importance of Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum’s characters in this movie,” the filmmaker told SYFY WIRE during a digital junket for Netflix’s new animated series, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. “It is very much an ensemble and that element, the ability to take these beloved characters from almost 30 years now, and understand how they interact with each other in the context of a world that we’ve really never seen before and have not been able to witness until now. It’s very exciting for me. I’m having the time of my life.”

It is safe to say that we are right in the depths of production on the next sequel – and I think we are all excited to continue to hear even more about production ahead of the first trailer for the new film.

What do you all think? Are you excited? Sound off in the comments below, and stay tuned for more Jurassic news as soon as we get it!

New York Comic Con announces Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous panel in October

The long awaited animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will finally be released tomorrow, September 18th, on Netflix. The new series from Universal Pictures, Amblin and DreamWorks Animation takes viewers to the other side of Isla Nublar during the events of the fourth film Jurassic World.

After you check out the new series, you can go into the writer’s room with a special panel from New York Comic Con. The event will take place October 8-11 and the panel will be released on the New York Comic Con YouTube channel.

Join executive producers Colin Trevorrow and Scott Kreamer, consulting producer Zack Stentz, story editor Josie Campbell, and staff writers Sheela Shrivinas, Rick Williams and Bethany Johnson as they take you inside the writers’ room of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.

Make sure to check out our review of the series and hear all our opinions and thoughts. And listen in to our latest podcast where we break the show down episode by episode:

Also please let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!