Distribution:
Hasbro, 1997 (Series I)
Hasbro, 1997-1998 (Series II)

Introduction

In 1997 Steven Spielberg's second Jurassic Park film was released theatrically, and with this came Kenner's second line of Jurassic Park toys, The Lost World series. The original action figures had made toy industry headlines, proving to be revolutionary for their time. But with this new toyline, had Kenner managed to improve upon an already winning formula? Could this new Jurassic Park toyline surpass the originals in overall quality?

While the questions are open to debate, we at JPLegacy believe yes, on a few levels. Despite the fact that the toys were almost identical to the original line in craftsmanship, the few small improvements Kenner had thrown in made these slightly better. Examples of these upgrades include greater likeness to the movies' actors, more finely detailed dinosaurs, and more realistically proportioned weapons and figures.

One might argue this toyline was never considered as classic as the first, but nonetheless it was probably just as successful, if not more so. There is good reason for this, too. Released under Kenner's Lost World series was the Bull T. rex, which continues to be one of the most sought after dinosaur figures. Also included were unreleased toys from 1994's original toyline, like the Scutosaurus and Estemmenosuchus. These were a Wal-Mart exclusive.

Figures

In all, ten new figures were released for the Lost World toyline. Seven of these came from series I, and the rest from series II. The figures were also divided into two teams; the 'Dino Trackers', and the 'Evil Hunters'. This hunters and gatherers concept made the toyline more faithful to the motion picture.

Unfortunately, none of the figures wore the clothes you'd see in the film, but this was one small complaint. Other than the articles of clothing, the renderings were terrific. Two versions of Dr. Ian Malcolm, Eddie Carr, Nick Van Owen, and Roland Tembo were produced. The second releases are updated models, and resembled the real-life actors reasonably more.

Dinosaurs

Twenty-two new dinosaur toys were created for the Lost World toyline. Twenty of these were released during series I, and the remaining two came with the second series. As stated before, unreleased dinosaurs from the first Jurassic Park toyline also showed up. A handful of these were just repaints of previous figures, but these were painted skillfully, with great care to detail, and nice color. This proved to be enough for them to sell very well.

The largest dinosaur toy in all the combined Jurassic Park lines was the Lost World's Bull T. rex. This toy was so big that one of its abilities enabled it to swallow other toys, which could later be retrieved through a slit in its belly. Other features included numerous electronic sounds. A common misconception concerning the Bull T. rex implies that the Chaos Effect Thrasher is only repainting. This is not true. Although both toys at first glance appear identical, a more thorough inspection reveals a few substantial differences.

The dinosaurs head was completely remodeled, and that is where most of these modifications are situated. For instance, the jaws and teeth are quite larger in proportion to body size, amongst others. The skin has also been retextured for the better, and of course, repainted. This would technically qualify this dinosaur as a completely new toy, not another rehash.

Many other dinosaurs came in multiple variations. This should not be mistaken for painting dissimilarities, which are intrinsic in nature. An example of said variants includes, but is not limited to, the Pachycephalosaurs. The majority of these toys came with their action button plainly visible, but in its variant the button was hidden under a layer of skin.

Vehicles and Playsets

Eight vehicles were released for The Lost World toyline, including the Mobile Command Center. This is the largest Jurassic Park toy ever made. Interestingly enough, Kenner had planned to release another huge playset. According to preproduction artwork, this toy would have been larger than the Command Compound. The exact reason for its cancellation isn't known, but its sheer size may have played an important factor.

One of the finest Lost World playsets is the 'Dino Damaged Medical Center.' Included in this set was a wounded Allosaurus. Its entire leg, and ribs, could be removed to expose vital organs, muscle and arteries. Every part of the model was very detailed, and included were various surgical instruments.

Prototypes

The Lost World series has quite a few known prototypes. One of these is the Groundtracker. Pictures of this vehicle can be found on the Lost World DVD. Photos of other unreleased Lost World toys such as the Capture Truck and InGen building can also be found on the DVD. A Humvee was also going to be released, but was scrapped for unknown reasons. It is known entirely through concept art.

Prototypes of Dr. Ian Malcolm, Roland Tembo, Ajay Sidhu, and Carter, are a handful of the known figures. As for dinosaurs the list is many, but includes the Velociraptor, Pachycephalosaurus, Spinosaurus, Chasmosaurus, Triceratops, and Junior T. rex. Please note that since these toys were never released, and that many prototypes were never sold to the public, it is impossible to provide a complete list. This involves all of the Jurassic Park toylines, not only the Lost World series.