Dinosaur Stuffed Models that are more than just “cute”
Its cute, stylized form captures the rows of spikes and hammer-shaped tail of an Ankylosaurus plush. This “cute dinosaur” is designed to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
AnkylosaurusAnkylosaurus
Classification: Ornithischia/Ankylosauria/Ankylosauridae
Size: Total length 11 meters
Period: End of the Cretaceous
Ankylosaurus was one of the largest and most representative ankylosaurs. Its back, from the neck to the tail, was covered with numerous bony plates and spikes. Its skull was thick and sturdy, with triangular horns projecting from the back of the head. A hard, hammer-shaped bony club at the end of its tail is thought to have helped defend against attacks by carnivorous dinosaurs. Ankylosaurs had very small, weak teeth and are thought to have swallowed soft leaves whole, digesting them internally.
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?
- Because it has so many spikes and other protruding parts, I thought it would be difficult to turn into a plush toy. I was surprised that the first prototype closely followed my design. Perhaps the production team’s sensibilities matched my design well.
- 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?
- Since the rows of spikes are this dinosaur’s defining feature, I wanted them to stand out in brown, so I chose a lighter gray for the body to complement them.
- 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.