Much has been said about the lack of feathered dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises, but this lack of detail has an easy explanation that renders these criticisms moot. Recent advancements in paleontology have surfaced proclaiming that dinosaurs were, in fact, supposed to be covered in feathers and not scales like in the films. Nevertheless, the decision to give the dinosaurs armor-looking scales was not only something intentional but the correct decision by John Hammond’s team of scientists.
When Steven Spielberg captured the magic of dinosaurs in his 1993 classic, Jurassic Park, the dinosaurs appeared to have scales, which made them look amphibious or reptilian. During the first act of the film, the scientists explain that they had to fill in several missing pieces of the dinosaur’s DNA. Their appearance is further explained when the scientists reveal that they had to use frog DNA to finish filling in the dinosaur’s genetic code in order to bring the prehistoric creatures to life, which explains their amphibious appearance.
The impact Jurassic Park had on the public’s perception of dinosaurs is unparalleled. Therefore, it’s understandable that criticism emerged against the filmmakers for not portraying dinosaurs correctly. However, at the time, the public’s perception of dinosaurs was built on outdated information. Audiences used to think that dinosaurs were giant reptiles, not feathered birds, so of course, the film’s scientists created dinosaurs to match the idea the public had about their appearances. Instead of trying to create the most scientifically accurate depiction of dinosaurs, it had to be a balance between that and the view most people held of them, which explains their scales and lack of feathers.
Jurassic Park Still Got Dinosaurs Right For Its Time
Moreover, recent updates in paleontology don’t disprove the authenticity of the Jurassic Park franchise because the original designs were never meant to be 100% true depictions of the prehistoric creatures. Rather, the movie aimed to capture the audience’s collective imagination and sense of wonder with their remarkable advancements in genetics and the grandeur of the amusement park. If the Jurassic Park scientists tried to create the most historically accurate dinosaurs, it might have turned the public off from visiting the park because of how odd or fake the dinosaurs might have appeared.
As the 30-year anniversary of Jurassic Park approaches, the film’s legacy is untouched. Despite the fact that the movie’s dinosaurs don’t have feathers like contemporary scientists proclaim, their lack of scientific accuracy doesn’t negatively impact the story at all. Rather, the final Jurassic World movie serves as a powerful testament to how far technology, filmmaking, science, and the public’s appreciation of dinosaurs have come since its release.
Want more Jurassic World Dominion articles? Check out our essential content below…
- Jurassic World Dominion Ending Explained (In Detail)
- Jurassic World Dominion Cast & Character Guide
- Jurassic Park & World Complete Timeline Explained
- Everything We Know About Jurassic World 4
- Is Jurassic World Dominion Really The Worst Jurassic Movie?
- BioSyn’s Complete Villain History In Jurassic Park & World Explained
- All Dinosaurs In Jurassic World Dominion
