The Discovery
An internal pitch trailer for a canceled animated television project titled Escape from Jurassic Park has resurfaced online. Shared on X by Jurassic Library, the newly uncovered material includes internal Kenner documents and a letter dated June 18th, 1993. These documents connect the proposed cartoon directly to Kenner’s second line of Jurassic Park action figures, offering a rare look at how Universal intended to expand its prehistoric franchise following Steven Spielberg’s 1993 feature film.
What Was Revealed
Development of the project was overseen by veteran animator Will Meugniot, with character and dinosaur designs created by William Stout. The pitched series was intended as an adult, prime-time show combining traditional animation, computer-generated imagery, and a graphic-novel aesthetic. The trailer also showcased a revamped logo that substituted the familiar Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton with a living dinosaur.
The proposed storyline expanded upon the events of the original movie through several key plot elements:
- John Hammond attempts to reclaim Isla Nublar in order to open Jurassic Park to the public.
- Rival genetics corporation BioSyn schemes to steal dinosaur eggs to construct a competing attraction in South America.
- The heroic Dino Trackers team, featuring Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm, works to protect prehistoric creatures.
- The mercenary Dino Raiders act as enemies, capturing dinosaurs to sell for profit.
- A planned episode titled "Brachiosaurs on Broadway" opened with a jogger spotting 20 Brachiosaurus eating treetops in Central Park before motorcycle poachers arrived.
Why It Matters
The concept demonstrated an ambitious effort to merge dinosaur conservation narrative themes with action-figure marketing and high-end animation. However, director Steven Spielberg never gave the go-ahead for the show. According to Stout, Spielberg had grown weary of the extensive merchandising surrounding the blockbuster, causing the animated project to be scrapped before reaching television screens.
Source: t rex brachiosaurus paleontology - BingNews · Published October 31, 2026 · Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash
