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The Call of the Wild Corythosaurus

Good

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 3

Stimulating

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The Call of the Wild Corythosaurus

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This program is stimulating. It actively demands attention and can feel intense. For the recommended age, this may be on the more intense side. The pacing is fast. Images follow each other quickly, leaving little time to pause and take in what is happening. The sound is soft and supportive. The visuals are busy, with a lot of movement and frequent changes.

The episode follows one clear thread: the family meets the crested Corythosaurus and sets out to understand how the herd calls to one another. Events build in a logical order, with the train journey linking each step from question to discovery, so a child can follow what is happening and why. Cause and effect is easy to track, since a call rings out and the herd answers, and Buddy's prediction leads to a test and a result. The main caveat is that the volume of new facts and named species asks a fair amount of a three year old to hold in mind at once.

The mood stays warm and curious from start to finish. The Pteranodon family is supportive and respectful, the Conductor is friendly, and the dinosaurs they meet are welcoming rather than threatening, so there is no villain and very little tension to unsettle a young child. When small surprises come up they are settled gently and reassuringly soon after. Emotions shift gradually and predictably, which keeps the whole episode feeling safe for the recommended age.

Buddy and Tiny drive the curiosity themselves, asking questions and wanting to find out how Corythosaurus make their sounds. The episode models a simple version of the scientific method: Buddy puts forward a hypothesis, the family observes and tests it, and they reach a conclusion together, so a child sees thinking made visible rather than answers handed over. Their reasoning links cause to effect in a way a young viewer can follow. The adults and the train do steer the adventure along, which leaves part of the discovery guided rather than fully worked out alone.

Dialogue is clear and well formed, with complete sentences and words used correctly and consistently. Speech leads the soundtrack and the voices are easy to understand, and most new terms are introduced through what the characters see and do. The language serves a purpose, describing, explaining and predicting rather than filling time with empty exclamations. The one stretch for a three year old is the scientific vocabulary, with words like 'hypothesis' and long species names such as 'Corythosaurus' sitting above everyday toddler speech.

The subject matter sits a step away from a young child's daily life: talking dinosaurs and a time-travelling train are imagined, so most of what happens cannot be copied at home with familiar objects. The habits the episode models do carry over, since asking questions, observing closely and predicting what will happen are real skills a child can use. The family and friendship dynamics are recognizable, with a parent, siblings and new acquaintances behaving in familiar ways. A closing visit from a real paleontologist out in the field, talking about real Corythosaurus, anchors the imagined story to genuine science.

More information

Diversity is built into the premise of this series: dinosaurs of many species share one world, and the lead family raises an adopted young T-Rex named Buddy alongside his Pteranodon siblings, a clear picture of belonging across difference. Boys and girls take turns being curious and leading the way, so no single character type owns the initiative or the knowledge. The clearest limit sits on the human side, where the real-world dinosaur facts come from a single male presenter and no other people add variety. Overall the picture leans positive, with breadth coming mainly through the dinosaur characters rather than through visible human diversity.

Dinosaur Train invites children into a fully imagined world of talking dinosaurs riding a time-traveling train across prehistoric eras, so little of it mirrors a child's everyday life. What it does well is keep that world consistent and free of any villain: the story is driven by curiosity as Tiny and her family set out to hear the Corythosaurus call, not by conflict with a bad guy, and a live-action paleontologist named Dr. Scott ties the adventures back to real dinosaur facts. For the youngest in this age range, the fantasy runs a little heavier than the mostly-realistic mix this age leans toward, though the calm tone keeps it within reach.

This works comfortably as co-viewing for a parent in the room. The animated journeys with Buddy and his Pteranodon family carry a clear story, and the live-action Dr. Scott segments fold in real dinosaur facts that give an adult something to absorb. The production is clean and the sound is easy on the ears, with only the catchy train theme and excited young voices as mild repeat offenders. It stays firmly child-pitched, so a parent gets steady, pleasant background rather than humor aimed at them.

Themes

Dinosaurs

Central

Animated dinosaurs fill nearly every scene, from the Pteranodon family to a large herd of crested Corythosaurus.

Communication

Central

The episode centres on a herd of Corythosaurus calling to one another using their fan-shaped crests.

Science

Recurring

A real paleontologist appears in a closing live-action segment beside a Corythosaurus drawing to explain facts about the species.

Family

A parent Pteranodon travels with the young dinosaurs throughout the trip.

Nature

The journey passes through forests, rivers and open plains shown as natural prehistoric habitats.

Friendship

The family approaches and greets the Corythosaurus they meet rather than avoiding them.

Train rides & transport

The family travels on the Dinosaur Train to find the Corythosaurus herd, with the train framing the journey.

Activities

Exploring

The family moves through forests and plains to observe the dinosaurs in their habitat.

Train travel

The family boards and rides the Dinosaur Train between locations.

Science

A closing live-action segment shows a paleontologist discussing real Corythosaurus.

Making sounds

The Corythosaurus are shown producing calls through their crested heads.

Emotions

Curiosity

The children repeatedly turn toward and move closer to the dinosaurs they encounter.

Excitement

Characters are shown with open, smiling expressions during the lively herd scenes.

Calm

Quiet train-ride moments show the family relaxed and looking out of the windows.

Behaviour

Curiosity

The young dinosaurs lean in and gather around to watch the Corythosaurus closely.

Observing

The family stops to watch and listen to the herd before drawing a conclusion.

Making predictions

Buddy, the young Tyrannosaurus rex, works out an explanation for how the calls happen and then checks it.

Greeting

The family approaches new dinosaurs in a friendly way rather than with fear.

Social lessons

Family

A parent guides and travels with the young dinosaurs throughout the trip.

Making friends

The family meets and greets a herd of unfamiliar dinosaurs along the way.

Learning together

The family observes the herd and works out the answer as a group.

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus rex raised by a Pteranodon family, travels on the Dinosaur Train to find a herd of crested Corythosaurus. The family watches and listens as the dinosaurs call to one another, and Buddy forms an idea about how they communicate before testing it with his sister Tiny. The animated story ends with the family back on the train, and a real paleontologist, Dr. Scott, closes the episode out in the field talking about real Corythosaurus. Along the way the characters name dinosaur species and describe how the crested heads help the animals make their sounds.

Season 1

8 episodes

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Valley of the Stygimolochs

recommended age co-watching from 3

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus Rex, and his Pteranodon sister Tiny ride the Dinosaur Train with their mother to the Valley of the Stygimolochs. There they meet a family of dome-headed Stygimolochs and learn how these dinosaurs look and behave, with Buddy forming a guess and checking it against what he sees. The animated adventure moves between train rides and exploring the valley on foot. It closes with Dr. Scott, a real paleontologist, who connects the episode to actual dinosaur science.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Tiny Loves Fish

recommended age co-watching from 3

In this episode of Dinosaur Train, Tiny the Pteranodon declares how much she loves fish, so Mom and the children board the train and travel to the water to go fishing. Along the way they dive for fish and meet other creatures that eat them, learning how different animals catch their food. The story plays out across a river canyon and open water in the prehistoric world. It closes with a live-action paleontologist explaining real facts about Pteranodons before the credits roll.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

The Call of the Wild Corythosaurus

recommended age co-watching from 3

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus rex raised by a Pteranodon family, travels on the Dinosaur Train to find a herd of crested Corythosaurus. The family watches and listens as the dinosaurs call to one another, and Buddy forms an idea about how they communicate before testing it with his sister Tiny. The animated story ends with the family back on the train, and a real paleontologist, Dr. Scott, closes the episode out in the field talking about real Corythosaurus. Along the way the characters name dinosaur species and describe how the crested heads help the animals make their sounds.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Triceratops for Lunch

recommended age co-watching from 3

The Conductor invites viewers aboard the dinosaur train to find out what Triceratops eat. Mom Pteranodon and her children prepare lunch for guests, Trudy Triceratops and her son Tank, and discover that Tank is a herbivore who eats only plants, not fish. The family rides to the big pond, where the children compare beaks and teeth and Buddy realises he is not a herbivore and will keep trying new foods. A live-action paleontologist and a herbivore song round out the episode before the closing theme.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Beating the Heat

recommended age co-watching from 3

The Pteranodon mother and her children, including the young T. Rex Buddy, ride the Dinosaur Train and spend a hot day in a prehistoric prairie. There they meet a large green Stegosaurus and work out how its back plates help it cope with the heat. A live-action segment with a paleontologist, Dr. Scott, compares the Stegosaurus to an elephant and shares real facts about the animal. The episode returns to the family before closing.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Flowers For Mom

recommended age co-watching from 3

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus rex adopted into a Pteranodon family, and his brothers and sisters decide to surprise their mother with flowers. They board the Dinosaur Train and travel to different prehistoric places to search for the right blooms, learning along the way where and when flowers grow. They gather a bunch and bring it home to Mom. A real-life paleontologist then closes the episode with a short talk about flowers and plants.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

One Smart Dinosaur

recommended age co-watching from 3

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus raised by a Pteranodon family, sets out with his mother and siblings to learn more about dinosaurs. They ride the Dinosaur Train through prehistoric forests and rivers, where the conductor walks them through a dinosaur alphabet and the young dinosaurs take part in running and racing activities. A live-action segment with a paleontologist then links the story to real dinosaur science. The episode ends back in the world of the train after the family has learned something new.

Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train

Petey the Peteinosaurus

recommended age co-watching from 3

Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus raised by a Pteranodon family, rides the Dinosaur Train with his mother and siblings to meet Petey, a small early flying reptile called a Peteinosaurus. They watch and compare how different flying reptiles flap and glide, and the children ask questions to understand Petey's world. A live-action segment with a real paleontologist then shows actual animals and explains how pterosaurs flew. The episode closes back with the family after the visit, followed by a song and full credits.

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From this series Dinosaur Train

By age 3 years

By platform Netflix PBS Kids

By theme Adventure Animals Curiosity Family Friendship How things work Making friends Music Nature Problem solving Professions Siblings Train rides & transport

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