The Dino-Riders Protoceratops with Kanon is a 1/24 scale dinosaur action figure set manufactured by Tyco Toys and released worldwide in 1989.
Released a year after the initial cartoon and action figures were released in 1988, the Protoceratops is designed to be ridden into battle by individual Dino-Riders. Smaller, with simple features and a basic set of armaments, it also provided a more value-priced action figure, about 1/3 of the size of the massive battery powered walking super-carriers such as the Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus, Diplodocus, T-Rex, etc.
Tyco's marketing
Authentic 1:24th scale Protoceratops is the Dino-Riders’ armored personnel carrier. Heroic Kanon rides into battle with Nite-Glow viewing port and blazing side guns.
- Tyco 1990 Toy Fair Catalog
Features:
The Protoceratops shipped with the following features:
- Museum Quality Dinosaur Replica (see Smithsonian photo)
- Dinosaur harness with armor shield and "Nite-Glow viewing screen"
- Twin Laser Proton Guns
- Heroic Kanon figurine fully poseable with weapons and accessories
- Parts listing, comic book, and incredible artwork front and back of the box
Smithsonian versions
As is commonly known, towards the end of the run when Tyco had decided to finish off production of the toy (potentially due to poor receiption of the new Ice Age figures), they were approached by the Smithsonian who were interested in utilising Tyco's Dino-Riders resources and expertise to produce their own collection of limited run dinosaur figures.
From what I've read and seen myself, they're all essentially the same except for the removal of battery compartments from walking models, and coloring which tried to be more realistic.
Availability and Collectability
Protoceratops has good availability online for individual dinosaurs, hero figure Kanon, and accessories, though like all Dino-Riders its more difficult and expensive to come across boxed sets of any type - for this you'll need to be patient.
As for collectability, the Protoceratops is not particularly special when it comes to Dino-Riders figures, however there will be plenty of 80s kids out there who remember this figure from their youth and who wouldn't mind seeing it again, never mind collectors looking for a full set.
