In 1994 Kenner released the first ever toy of Carnotaurus under their Jurassic Park line. Although now one of the most popular theropods, Carnotaurus had only been described 9 years prior to the release of the Kenner toy. That would have been a decent turnaround from scientific description to toy for that era. That Carnotaurus was of course, the Demon Carnotaurus, one of the most elusive and sought after Jurassic Park toys of the modern age. With its oversized teeth and inaccurately long arms it is a rather goofy looking toy that only really appeals to nostalgics and Kenner completionists. Goofiness aside, part of what makes it appealing is its paint job, a lovely contrasting combination of black and red with piercing green eyes. A befitting color palette for a devil-horned dinosaur with the Demon moniker.
Due to its rarity and goofy appearance I never bothered to track down the Demon. I don’t have any nostalgia for it either. Although I saw it in stores as a kid no adult in my life would have bought it for me. Although I had a large collection of dinosaur toys, and a few Jurassic Park ones, it was decided that at ten years of age I was too old to get more dinosaurs. I obviously didn’t have any say in the matter. As an adult collector I found Mattel’s Carnotaurus offerings to be sufficient, and superior to Kenner’s, further negating the need to seek it out. Mattel’s Action Attack Carnotaurus was one of the first Mattel Jurassic World toys I purchased, and the Hammond Collection Carnotaurus was supposed to be my last Carnotaurus toy from Mattel (it wasn’t).
Today we’re looking at Mattel’s homage to the Demon Carnotaurus, the Jurassic World Reimagined Roarin’ Real Feel Carnotaurus. Released in 2024 it is the first figure in the Jurassic World Reimagined line. A Real Feel Indominus is due out later this year. This figure is might actually be Mattel’s second Demon homage. They released a black and orange Carnotaurus with green eyes as part of the Owen Escape Pack alongside the release of Jurassic World: Dominion. It definitely has a similarity, at the very least. I was tempted by that figure but didn’t want the rest of the set. I’m glad I skipped it!
The Roarin’ Real Feel Carnotaurus, as the name suggests, has rubber skin like the Kenner toys of old. The only part of the toy that’s plastic are its legs, likely to help it stand. Articulation is extremely limited, with only the arms, legs, and ankles able to rotate. The mouth cannot close even though the figure does produce sounds. A button hidden under the rubber and over the hips produces several different roars when pushed. The scan tag is hidden behind a flap on the left leg, mimicking in appearance the removeable skin pieces on the Kenner toys. The figure stands about 7” (17.78 cm) tall at the hips and measures 17” (43.18 cm) long. Carnotaurus measured about 26.2’ (8 meters) in length which puts the toy at 1/18 in scale.
The head is detailed with sunken fenestra on the face and sagging folds of skin around the eyes. Scale detail is minimal on the face, and minimal overall. This is perhaps due to using soft rubber instead of plastic. Some large scales are sculpted along the rear portion of the mouth and back edge of the skull. Grooves are sculpted into the palate and tongue and the teeth are small and pointed. They’re also the rubbery inserts that Mattel has been favoring, so paint application on them isn’t an issue. They’re a far cry from those of the original Demon!
The fleshy neck is sculpted with thick folds of skin along the side and scale detail over the dorsal surface. There’s scale detail on the underside of the neck and body too, but it’s very slight and hard to see. Likewise, it’s hard to see details on the back thanks to the thick application of red paint.
Thick folds of skin are sculpted around the arms which are appropriately small here, like those on the Action Attack Carnotaurus rather than those on the Hammond Collection version with its articulated elbows. Rows of osteoderms run from the nape to the tail. The legs are long, lean, and muscular with folds of skin on the knees and ankles and scutes running down the toes. The feet are proportionally inoffensive, and the figure is quite stable.
The figure is jet black with a bright red back that transitions to stripes and blotches along the sides. There aren’t too many corners cut with the paint job either, with paint application included on the legs and painted toe claws. Only the arms are solid black and that’s fine. The red paint does stop about halfway down the tail, and I would have liked to have seen it continue down to the tip.
The teeth and toenails are creamy white, and the inside of the mouth is pink and glossy. The eyes are bright green with black pupils. The horns are left unpainted but that’s also the case with the original Demon Carnotaurus. The paintjob is one of the main reasons to want this figure and I’m happy to report that it looks excellent. The red paint is a bit thick and gloppy in places but it’s nothing to take serious issue with. This Carnotaurus will standout on even the most crowded of shelves.
The Mattel Roarin’ Real Feel Carnotaurus is a lovely homage to a fan favorite toy that largely surpasses it. It’s a must have for Kenner admirers and collectors. I had no interest in acquiring another Mattel Carnotaurus after getting the Hammond Collection version but I’m an absolute sucker for these throwback toys. Even when they pay tribute to a toy that I never had they have a retro vibe that I find immensely appealing. Highly recommended! This figure is currently available at Target in the United States for about $34.99.
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