First, there was Dino Dan. Then Trek’s Adventures. Now, TVO has got a new dinosaur-themed kid’s series in Dino Dana. Debuting with two episodes on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET before moving to its regular timeslot on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dino Dana is from Sinking Ship, the same folks who have partnered with TVO for Annedroids, Dino Dan and Odd Squad.
Where Trek’s Adventures picked up with Dan’s younger brother, who can also see, learn and educate about the ancient beasts, nine-year-old Dana heads off on 16 new adventures. Wednesday’s premiere storyline, directed by creator J. J. Johnson, is “Dino Field Guides,” and sets up the rest of the series. A chance encounter at the library causes Dana (Michela Luci) to begin her adventure; she runs into Trek Henderson (Trek Buccino) who presents her with his and Dan’s field guide. Turns out there are still experiments that need finishing and Trek invites Dana to have at them as the newest palaeontologist in training. Of course, once the fabled guide is in her possession, Dana can see and interact with dinosaurs all around her—beginning with her favourite, the Troodon—and the journey kick-starts in earnest.
Michela Luci is great as Dana, an enthusiastic girl with a voracious appetite for anything dino-related. And Dana’s knapsack is to die for: a carry-all that can transform to look like any dinosaur Dana desires. Saara Chaudry is the perfect foil, playing Dana’s eye-rolling, mp3 consuming older sister Saara who is often drawn into her sibling’s undertakings. Nicola Correla-Damude plays mom while Amish Patel is dad on Dino Dana.
The stunning CGI we’ve come to expect from Dino Dan is in full effect here, offering plenty of education in an entertaining package.
Dino Dana debuts Wednesday, May 24, at 5 p.m. ET before moving to its regular timeslot on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. ET on TVO.
Image courtesy of TVO.
