This uncommon Dolichorhynchops toy, launched along side the documentary movie Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Journey (2007), is a particular little determine. Though a variety of plastic marine reptile figures had been developed by Wild Republic to tie in with the movie, and even made all of it the best way to the prototype and packaging stage, they had been in the end cancelled on the final minute. So this distinctive mannequin, which was solely given away as a promotional film tie-in for Jack within the Field eating places, is the one plastic determine linked to Sea Monsters (2007), and provides us some concept what may have been! I specify “plastic” as a result of a variety of plush toys and puzzles by Wild Republic did go into manufacturing. Simply no figures.
I used to be working as a curator on the ThinkTank: Birmingham Science Museum when Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Journey was launched. Fortunately for me, the ThinkTank was instantly linked to a large display screen theatre, which was exhibiting the film, so I bought to see it on the massive display screen a couple of occasions. I’ll admit the theatre could have gotten a little bit dusty the primary time the plesiosaurs appeared. The movie follows a younger feminine Dolichorhynchops nicknamed ‘Dolly’ on its journey. So, this determine represents her.
After all, as a result of we had been exhibiting the movie, the museum store additionally bought the Wild Republic merchandise linked to the movie. That’s how I got here into possession of the plush model of the Dolichorhynchops as effectively, a toy I wouldn’t have acquired if I hadn’t been actually strolling previous it each day. Plush toys aren’t actually my factor, however the plush ‘Dolly’ makes for a hanging dimension comparability alongside to the tiny Jack within the Field determine.
Due to its restricted distribution (USA solely?), the Jack within the Field toy could be very tough to search out. I acquired mine in 2008 from a fellow Dino Toy Discussion board member, who managed to get maintain of some and nonetheless had a free one to spare on the time. There have been numerous different promotional merchandise within the Jack within the Field line, however they had been largely paper-based merchandise together with stickers, posters, and a top chart. The one determine was the ‘Dolly’.
Anatomically the determine is superb, significantly for such a small toy, and particularly for a quick meals giveaway. It’s instantly apparent this can be a polycotylid plesiosaur, with its lengthy slim snout, torpedo-shaped physique, quick neck and tail, and swish excessive aspect-ratio flippers. The eyes and nostrils are within the right positions. Ten years after the discharge of Sea Monsters, a brand new polycotylid was described from Mexico with gentle tissues preserved. This confirmed that the animal, Mauriciosaurus, had a chunky physique with a beefy tail. This implies that each one polycotylids, and possibly even all plesiosaurs, had been ‘fatter’ than beforehand supposed. So, if the Sea Monsters ‘Dolly’ had been made at the moment it may need been given a chunkier, much less delicate design.
I even have a replica of the ebook that accompanied the movie: Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Creatures of the Deep (2007), by Mike Everhart. There’s an fascinating unfold within the ebook exhibiting the design course of for the Dolichorhynchops, and it’s helpful as a result of it reveals how devoted the toy is to the on-screen depiction.
The colouration can also be true to the film, with gray on prime, a white underside, and a few white streaks on the flank. The massive eyes are marked with black dots. There’s a giant rectangular slot on the stomach of the determine. That is designed to suit right into a peg on a tall, narrow-based, monochrome blue plastic show stand, which got here with the determine. I don’t have the show stand, however I can inform from photographs that it was embossed with the movie brand and a picture of a mosasaur. With out the stand, the determine is a bit entrance heavy so it slumps forwards. There may be some yellowing within the plastic of my determine the place the limbs meet the physique.
There are some markings on the underside. First, a warning throughout the 2 entrance flippers “Not for youngsters”… “beneath 3 years previous.” After which the corporate particulars on the hind flippers. One flipper reads “NGHT, Inc”, which, I consider, is the corporate that disseminates Nationwide Geographic’s visible media. I presume “NG” stands for Nationwide Geographic, nevertheless it may not, and I couldn’t for the lifetime of me work out what “HT” stands for. The ebook can also be copyright to the identical title. The opposite hind flipper reads “Mfg [=Manufactured] for JACK IN THE BOX eating places”.
The toy has no factors of articulation and the plastic is difficult and brittle. There are some seams the place it appears to be like like totally different sections have clicked collectively. And it’s also small, simply 7.5 cm lengthy with a 6.5 cm ‘wingspan’. In all these facets it’s paying homage to Kaiyodo Dinotales, and shows properly alongside them.
It is a pretty mannequin and one in every of my favorite plesiosaurs in my assortment, nevertheless it’s a difficult one to pay money for nowadays.
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