Dinosaur and Prehistoric Life Stuffed Models That Are More Than Just “Cute”
Its cute, stylized form captures the huge mouth and flipper-like limbs of a Mosasaurus plush. This “cute prehistoric life” model is designed to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
MosasaurusMosasaurus
Classification: Reptilia/Squamata/Mosasauridae
Size: Total length 12.5–18 meters
Period: Late Cretaceous
One of the largest members of the Mosasauridae, it was a marine reptile characterized by a crocodile-like head, a streamlined barrel-shaped body, and limbs evolved into flippers.
Its head had a double-jointed jaw that allowed it to open its mouth very wide, and it is thought to have swallowed captured prey whole. Recent research on the close relative Platecarpus has also suggested that it may have had a shark-like crescent-shaped tail fin.
Interview with Supervisor Hirokazu Tokugawa
- Five new dinosaurs and prehistoric animals have joined Favorite’s Stuffed Model plush series. To begin, could you share your overall impression of the new additions?
- Each of these five species has different features to express as a plush toy, so the design work brought challenges that differed from those of the first five. This release also adds two prehistoric animals that are not dinosaurs: Mosasaurus and Pteranodon. Together with the original five, the ten models broaden the range of the collection and, I think, make it feel even more distinctly Favorite.
- As with the previous release, you supervised a wide range of work, from the initial illustrations to the expression of each dinosaur’s and prehistoric animal’s distinctive features. Could you tell us about the key points and highlights of each species?
- Mosasaurus has a relatively simple body shape, so I gave it a dynamic pose with a curved body. The Stuffed Model uses a resilient material that allows it to stand upright, making this kind of pose possible.
- As with the previous release, the colors are subdued so the models fit naturally into everyday spaces. Were there any images or motifs that inspired the color choices for each dinosaur?
- Because Mosasaurus was a marine animal, I chose blue to evoke the sea. Some research suggests that mosasaurs may have had darker backs and lighter undersides, so I used a color scheme that reflects this possibility.
- Finally, do you have a message for people who will be choosing a Stuffed Model?
- I thought the experience of developing the first release might make the second go more smoothly, but it proved unexpectedly challenging. I was reminded of the huge variety of dinosaur and prehistoric animal forms, and how difficult they can be to adapt into plush designs. Even so, the process was just as enjoyable as before. I hope everyone finds a favorite among these five new models.
Supervisor Profile
Hirokazu Tokugawa
paleoartist／prehistoric lifereconstruction model artist
A dinosaur reconstruction model artist who creates works that combine academic research with the appeal of three-dimensional art, he is also a leading specialist in prehistoric life reconstruction models.