# Dinotopia (2002)

> Two feuding half-brothers stranded after a plane crash discover a hidden island of pacifist humans and talking dinosaurs on the verge of disaster.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/63981

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 3
- Episode runtime: 86 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: family, fantasy, adventure
- Created by: James Gurney
- Network: ABC
- Cast: David Thewlis, Katie Carr, Jim Carter, Alice Krige, Wentworth Miller, Tyron Leitso, Geraldine Chaplin, Hannah Yelland
- TMDB rating: 6.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0233044/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: whimsical, wondrous, hopeful, gentle, anxious

## What critics say

Reviewers and audiences found the miniseries a mixed family fantasy, with its lush island world appealing to younger viewers but its storytelling uneven.

## Synopsis

Dinotopia (2002) is a American two-night miniseries created by James Gurney for ABC, adapting the fantasy world of his illustrated universe into a three-episode family adventure. David Thewlis plays Cyrus Crabb, a figure caught up in the story of two opposing half-brothers, David Scott (Wentworth Miller) and Karl Scott (Tyron Leitso), who survive a plane crash and wash up on an unknown island. Their rivalry is the emotional engine: each must navigate a strange land where enlightened pacifist humans and intelligent talking dinosaurs have built a utopian medieval society. Jim Carter and Alice Krige appear among the principal cast of the island community, while Katie Carr and Geraldine Chaplin round out the ensemble. The story moves through wonder and gentle discovery, with each episode revealing more of the hidden world's customs, landscapes and creatures. Yet a sense of looming danger hangs over the idyllic setting, giving the adventure a hopeful but anxious edge. Set in a timeless invented world, the production has the sweeping, painterly feel of a fantasy storybook. Fans of Land of the Lost, Lost and The Chronicles of Narnia will find resonance in its blend of family adventure, sibling reconciliation and a magical land apart from ordinary life.

## Shows like Dinotopia

- [The Langoliers (1995)](https://ember.film/tv/16856)
- [The Fantastic Journey (1977)](https://ember.film/tv/10469)
- [The 10th Kingdom (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/37176)
- [Lost (2004)](https://ember.film/tv/4385)
- [The Odyssey (1992)](https://ember.film/tv/10350)
- [Terra Nova (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/30145)
- [Madagascar (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/34655)
- [Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993)](https://ember.film/tv/15617)
- [Land of the Giants (1968)](https://ember.film/tv/3183)
- [Planet Dinosaur (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/37150)

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