It’s been a mere 27 years since Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park hit our cinema screens, giving birth to a major new franchise that just keeps on giving in both wonder and awe in the dino-tastic series. It’s a wonder it’s taken this long to get an animated series, but thanks to Netflix, Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow audiences can now see this world from the eyes of the modern-day teenager in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous.
Set against the timeline of the blockbuster film Jurassic World, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous follows a group of six teenagers trapped at a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar. When the events of the film unfold and dinosaurs are unleashed across the island, each kid realizes their very survival rests on the shoulders of themselves and their fellow campers.
Giving this series a whole new perspective of taking it out of the heads of adults and injecting the view of teenagers has kept the story fresh by including the emotion and anxieties our young audiences feel on a daily basis. It also never shies away from the real-life horrors and darker moments we, as humans, go through.
“As my time as a custodian of this, I didn’t create Jurassic Park but I feel very fortunate to tend to its garden for a minute”. Said Colin Trevorrow “It felt very clear from the minute the idea came to the table that seeing all of this from the eyes of a child and the fears and the anxieties we connect with childhood to be able to take that root into the experience felt like the right thing”. He added.
Paul-Mikel Williams who voices the lead character Darius added “It’s not filtered towards a younger audience and how it has so many morals from what kids can learn but still has that action aspect so it doesn’t seem too childish or too youthful. It explains friendship, teamwork all of those things you need to know as a kid but it also explains some of the other stuff you may be going through as a kid like losing a parent or family member”.
The one thing this series uses so well is the continuity between the film and its animated storyline and the producers and writers were meticulous in getting that detail right.
“Basically we had maps all over the writer’s room and we were watching Jurassic World on a daily basis for any clues of where our characters could be that didn’t break the cannon or the continuity of the film,” said executive producer and writer Scott Kreamer. “Little clues like if the Andomis is here, where can we be? And where can we intersect with events just before or just after what we see in the film but not be someplace where it would mess up the continuity”.
From the cast’s point of view, staying true to what audiences love best about this franchise was a daunting aspect, especially coming in as new cast members.
Glen Powell who voices “Camp Leader,” Dave said “When you take a beloved piece of IP or material or something that we all have a sort of a strong emotional connection to, it’s more often in Hollywood that it gets screwed up than its done right. Obviously having Steven Spielberg, Colin [Trevorrow] Frank [Marshall], these guys, the amazing brains behind it to help guide and make sure we don’t screw up what I consider to be holy ground in a cinematic world. I’m just really glad we didn’t ruin it”.
“When we’re doing it, we’re doing it to these very basic line drawings, and so we were all really amazed to see how it turned out. It’s a massive honour” Said Jameela Jamil who voices the character of Roxie.
Already, the talk of a second season is skipping off peoples lips, what becomes of Darius and his fellow campmates? And will the new baby Yoda of the Jurassic World, baby Bumpy be back for more of the ah!!! Factor?
“I want to say there is going to be more than just dinosaurs, I feel like they are going to dive into the lore of everything that we missed during the “gaping hope” of Jurassic World to Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. There are going to be a lot of things said that people didn’t think were going to be said. It’s going to be one heck of a ride” commented Paul.
“We all loved Bumpy before it went out there and to see the adoration and the baby Yoda like love that Bumpy is getting incredible gratifying. If we went for it Bumpy is one of our gang so I would imagine we would see more of Bumpy” said Kreamer “She’s one of my favourites, I think it’s a beautifully animated creature. Just from the ground up it’s just so well done “added Trevorrow.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous is now available to stream on Netflix.
