DINOSAUR TRAIN “CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC” SPECIAL Debuting on PBS Kids on Aug. 18th, Before Arriving on DVD on Aug. 26th (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a screener copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

DINOSAUR TRAIN “CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC” SPECIAL

DEBUTS ON PBS KIDS AND ON DVD IN AUGUST

Pre-order on DVD from Amazon now for only $9.99.

Families join favorite DINOSAUR TRAIN characters as they go for the gold in an all new one-hour special airing August 18 and available on DVD August 26

While the end of summer means the end of many great shows for the season, it also means the welcoming in of television specials and new episodes from some of your other favorite shows. And, on August 18th, fans of PBS Kids' animated series, "Dinosaur Train," will want to tune and watch the new 1-hour special, "Classic in the Jurassic."  This all new special will air first on PBS Kids on the 18th and then becomes available to own on DVD on August 26th. 

I love when kids' television shows like this air a special and then quickly release it onto DVD.  While we always make a point to record these specials for the girls to watch over and over again whenever they want, it is nice to be able to pick up an extra copy to leave in the car and send over to Nana and Papa's house.  :-)  And, after having a chance to preview this upcoming Dinosaur Train special with my girls, I have to say that this is one DVD you will want to make a point to pick up to add to your child's growing Dinosaur Train DVD collection.

The new DVD will feature all 7 full-length episodes that make up this upcoming 1 hr. special on PBS Kids.  Fans of the show will be treated to an Olympic style tournament where the Pteranodon family and other dinosaurs team up to complete in different contests.  My girls couldn't get enough of these episodes.  I loved watching them cheer on the different dinosaur teams as they competed, while learning about the different Mesozoic periods, dinosaurs, and more.  

I have been a fan of this show ever since I stumbled upon it a few years ago looking for something to watch with Savannah.  I loved that it teaches little ones about life science, natural history and dinosaurs in an easy to understand and fun way.  Even though boys are usually the ones who like dinosaurs, thanks to this animated The Jim Henson Company series, girls are, too!  I love hearing my girls taught talk about the different dinosaurs, while trying to pronounce their long names.  I am hoping that by sparking their interest in paleontology and natural history now, when they get older and are learning about it in school, they will look back and remember this show, and be just as excited as they are now watching it, as they learn more about, and will finally be able to pronounce the big words. :-)

In addition to watching this special with the girls, I have also downloaded the new DINOSAUR TRAIN Classic in the Jurassic Jr. App on our iPad for them to enjoy.  Below is more about the upcoming Dinosaur Train special, "Classic in the Jurassic."  

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"On Monday, August 18, PBS KIDS premieres “Classic in the Jurassic,” an all-new one hour special from The Jim Henson Company’s hit series DINOSAUR TRAIN. In the special, kids travel through time with the Pteranodon family to an Olympic-type competition in which dinosaur teams representing three Mesozoic time periods compete in contests. Following the special, new episodes of DINOSAUR TRAIN air on PBS KIDS throughout the week. Clips and full segments from “Classic in the Jurassic” will be available on pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video App, and on Roku and Apple TV starting on August 18. And on August 26, “Classic in the Jurassic” will be available on DVD through PBS Distribution.

Courtesy of TM and © The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.

“DINOSAUR TRAIN takes families on engaging learning adventures, furthering PBS KIDS’ commitment to using the power of media to encourage children’s curiosity and exploration,” said Linda Simensky, Vice President, Children’s Programming, PBS. “In ‘Classic in the Jurassic,’ kids will board the DINOSAUR TRAIN with Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don for an Olympic-size adventure as they participate in friendly competition. While dashing to the finish line, they will experience the excitement of the games and learn key natural science concepts along the way.”

Courtesy of TM and © The Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.

Families can take “Classic in the Jurassic” adventures mobile with the DINOSAUR TRAIN Classic in the Jurassic Jr. App, AVAILABLE NOW on iPad.   

In the app, kids play through three math-based games focused on sorting, using a pan balance and counting to help Gilbert get Troodon Town ready for the big event.

Episode Listings & Descriptions

Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic – 

premieres Monday, August 18

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: TURTLE & THEROPOD RACE - The Pteranodon family travels to the 'Classic in the Jurassic', an Olympics type competition in which dinosaur teams representing the three Mesozoic time periods will compete in various contests. Today's competition is a race between turtle and theropod teams. When the fast theropods get tangled up at the finish line, the race comes down to the slow moving turtles. It's an exciting race as the turtles are neck and neck! Who will win the race?

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: AIR OBSTACLE RACE - At the 'Classic in the Jurassic,' it's a race between pterosaurs who have to fly between hanging vines, swoop through a canyon, push through a wind tunnel, slalom over and under branches, then carry food from a pond as they race to the finish line! Teddy Pterodaustro finishes first and shows everyone how he filters plankton through his teeth to prove that he did indeed get food from the pond! Teddy is declared the winner!

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: AIR, WATER & LAND - At the 'Classic in the Jurassic,' today's "Air, Water and Land" contest is a three-part competition pitting teams consisting of a pterosaur and a crocodile from each Time Period against one another. The competition's three "legs" are flying, swimming and a lap around a track. Team Cretaceous pulls ahead until the wild card of the race is revealed: Team Triassic's croc Effie Effegia who shocks the crowd when she sprints on two legs and wins the race!

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: ULTIMATE FACE-OFF - The `Classic in the Jurassic' games are back, and this time, it's the Ultimate Smackdown. Mr. Conductor explains the "wrestling" matchups from the three Time Periods feature carnivores vs. herbivores and the best choreographed and most entertaining show wins!  Tank and Buddy are thrilled - what a face-off! Once the judges tally the results, Team Cretaceous is declared the winner, and the fans love it!

“Classic in the Jurassic: Turtle and Theropod Race/Hungry, Hungry Carnivores” (#308) – premieres Tuesday, August 19

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: TURTLE & THEROPOD RACE - The Pteranodon family travels to the 'Classic in the Jurassic', an Olympics type competition in which dinosaur teams representing the three Mesozoic time periods will compete in various contests. Today's competition is a race between turtle and theropod teams. When the fast theropods all get tangled up at the finish line, the race comes down to the slow moving turtles. It's an exciting race as the turtles are neck and neck! Who will win the race?

HUNGRY, HUNGRY CARNIVORES - Buddy, Tiny and Mrs. Pteranodon are eating lunch and even though they've just eaten a big fish meal, Buddy is still hungry, so Mrs. Pteranodon takes the kids on the Dinosaur Train so Buddy can eat some carrion. While dining, Laura Giganotosaurus tells Buddy the best meal she ever ate was prepared by her cousin, Chef Carson Carcharodontosaurus. They all travel to meet Chef C and eat his famous carrion dishes. They even bring back a snack for Mr. Conductor!

“Classic in the Jurassic: Air Obstacle Race/King and Crystal Live!” (#309) – 

premieres Tuesday, August 19

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: AIR OBSTACLE RACE - At the 'Classic in the Jurassic,' it's a race between pterosaurs who have to fly between hanging vines, swoop through a canyon, push through a wind tunnel, slalom over and under branches, then carry food from a pond as they race to the finish line! Teddy Pterodaustro finishes first and shows everyone how he filters plankton through his teeth to prove that he did indeed get food from the pond! Teddy is declared the winner!

KING & CRYSTAL LIVE! - Buddy, Tiny and Mom are riding the Dinosaur Train where Crystal Cryolophosaurus is on her way to visit King Cryolophosaurus and invites our family along. King and Crystal's heartfelt reunion is marred when Crystal tries to convince a reluctant King to take his fantastic new song 'Top Carnivore' out on the road to share with his Mesozoic fans. But King doesn't like leaving home and Tiny has a great idea – King and Crystal can perform a live concert in Gondwana! The concert is a huge success, and Crystal decides to stay there with King instead of going back out on the road.

“Classic in the Jurassic: Air, Water and Land/Desert Day and Night” (#310) – 

premieres Wednesday, August 20

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: AIR, WATER & LAND - At the 'Classic in the Jurassic,' today's "Air, Water and Land" contest is a three-part competition pitting teams consisting of a pterosaur and a crocodile from each Time Period against one another. The competition's three "legs" are flying, swimming and a lap around a track. Team Cretaceous pulls ahead until the wild card of the race is revealed: Team Triassic's croc Effie Effegia who shocks the crowd when she sprints on two legs and wins the race!

DESERT DAY & NIGHT - The Pteranodon kids think that the desert must be hot all the time, but learn from Mr. Pteranodon that there might be more variety in the desert than they imagined. Upon disembarking from the Dinosaur Train, the Pteranodon kids quickly learn that their assumption that desert life was hot all the time and relatively uninhabited was incorrect. They find the desert hopping and crawling with life as creatures emerge all over, mostly underground, where they hide from the blazing sun. Nighttime in the desert is very cold and a different world than daytime!

“Classic in the Jurassic: Ultimate Face-Off/Back in Time” (#311) – premieres Thursday, August 21

CLASSIC IN THE JURASSIC: ULTIMATE FACE-OFF - The `Classic in the Jurassic' games are back, and this time, it's the Ultimate Smackdown. Mr. Conductor explains the "wrestling" matchups from the three Time Periods feature carnivores vs. herbivores and the best choreographed and most entertaining show wins!  Tank and Buddy are thrilled - what a face-off! Once the judges tally the results, Team Cretaceous is declared the winner, and the fans love it!

BACK IN TIME - Buddy and Tiny start wondering aloud whether the Triassic was the beginning of time, and if there was anything before the Age of Dinosaurs. So Mr. Conductor walks through a Pedestrian Time Tunnel to get to the Permian Time Period, where they meet Deon Dimetrodon, who has never met a dinosaur or pterosaur before. Buddy and Tiny are amazed to learn that there are neither in the Permian! Deon is delighted to experience the Mesozioc Era. He walks through the Pedestrian Time Tunnel with our group, and is blown away by the vegetation and the variety and size of dinosaurs. Another lifelong friendship is forged!"

DVD Information

Title: “Dinosaur Train: Classic in the Jurassic”

Run Time: Approx. 100 Minutes

SRP: $9.99

DVD Street Date: August 26, 2014

“Classic in the Jurassic” DVD Adventures Include:

• “Classic in the Jurassic: Turtle and Theropod Race”
• “Hungry, Hungry Carnivores”
• “Classic in the Jurassic: Air Obstacle Race”
• “King & Crystal Live!”
• “Classic in the Jurassic: Air, Water and Land”
• “Desert Day and Night”
• “Classic in the Jurassic: Ultimate Face-off”
• “Back in Time”

DVD Special Features: Interactive game, coloring pages, activities, and information for parents

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About PBS KIDS PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer- and mobile-device-based browsers. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.orgor follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy® nominated “Sid the Science Kid,” “Dinosaur Train,” and “Pajanimals” as well as the new series “Doozers,” a CG animated preschool series. Features include “The Dark Crystal,” “Labyrinth,” “MirrorMask,” and the upcoming “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” and television productions include “Fraggle Rock” and the sci-fi cult series “Farscape.”

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities.  Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company’s Henson Alternative brand is currently touring “Puppet-Up! - Uncensored,” a live puppet improvisational show. 

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Disclosure:  I was sent a screener copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.