‘Armorsaurs’ Cast Talks Dinosaurs, Destiny and Disney+ Ahead of Premiere – INTERVIEW

Inside Armorsaurs, the cast and producer talk dinosaurs, family, and global collaboration behind the Disney+ adventure series.

The dinosaurs are back, and this time they are armored, bonded to teen pilots, and ready to defend the planet.

Armorsaurs premieres Feb. 18 on Disney+, bringing 13 action-packed episodes to families looking for a new all-ages adventure. Ahead of the launch, Nerdtropolis sat down with stars Jailen Bates (“Liam”), Jacob Makabi (“T.J.”), Derrick Kwak (“Joon”), Avianna Mynhier (“Paloma”), Sade Louise (“Prisca”), Andrew Russell (“Dr. Chandler”), producer Kevin Yi and director David Feiss to talk dinosaurs, destiny and what it means to become heroes for a new generation.

Developed by MGA Entertainment and distributed by CAKE Entertainment, the series reimagines the 2021 South Korean hit Armored Saurus, originally developed by Daewon Media. The new version blends live action with large-scale visual effects and global collaboration across Korea, Australia, and the United States. It also features “Eyes” by K-pop group Tomorrow X Together (TXT), which plays during the end credits and in two episodes.

The premise feels tailor-made for fans of creature-driven adventure. Millions of years ago, an alien race removed the dinosaurs from Earth. Now they have returned, and five teens with a rare genetic marker must bond with armored dinosaurs through the Armorsaurs Initiative Program. Together, they stand as humanity’s last line of defense.

A Surprise Worth Armoring Up For

For some of the young cast, the audition process came wrapped in secrecy.

“At first, it was a little under wraps,” Avianna Mynhier said. “The project title that I had wasn’t the actual name of the show. So there was some mystery involved.” She explained that it was not until her callback that she saw pieces of the show, including the now-iconic armor-up sequences. “Obviously, if you’ve seen the armor-up sequences, I was wowed. So it was a very pleasant surprise.”

Derrick Kwak had a slightly different journey. “When I came in, I kind of knew what I was coming into,” he said. He immediately connected to Joon’s identity. “I got to represent this Korean American who does taekwondo in this dinosaur world. So I was super excited to join.”

Jacob Makabi also saw himself in T.J. “Me being a Persian American and having that character play in, it was really cool,” he said. That authenticity carries into the chemistry of the team, which feels natural on screen.

Honoring the Original While Building Bigger

Producer Kevin Yi joined the project after seeing a trailer for the new adaptation. “As soon as I saw that, I was like, I’m in,” he said. “This hits all of the things that I grew up with. It’s a throwback in the best possible way.”

Yi had previously seen viral clips of the original Korean series’ armoring sequences. Once he realized the connection, he understood the opportunity. He worked closely with the original creators and Studio EON to preserve what fans loved while expanding the scope.

“The Korean animation industry has been behind so many iconic global animated projects,” Yi said. He described the collaboration as an art form, especially in knowing when to push technology and when to take creative shortcuts. The result is a show that blends practical performances with large-scale CGI that grows more ambitious as the season progresses.

When asked about watching the first completed episode, Yi laughed. “It was a sense of relief and a sense of dread at the same time,” he said. “It took so much work to get that first episode done. Then you sit there and think, we have to do this 12 more times. And the episodes get bigger and bigger as we go.” Still, he said he felt immense pride seeing it all come together.

Dinosaurs, Drama, and Real Family Moments

Beyond alien invasions and armored beasts, the cast stressed that the show’s emotional core is what makes it relatable.

Makabi pointed to the theme of chosen family. “We’re all such a close-knit group, and that’s how we are in real life too,” he said. That bond translates to the screen, making the pilots feel like more than just teammates.

Mynhier highlighted the sibling dynamic between Paloma and Prisca, especially in episode three, “Sister, Sister.” “Families fight, siblings fight,” she said. “I know with my siblings, we’re not perfect. Seeing the truth of what you’re experiencing at home projected on the screen only helps you relate more.”

Kwak shared that Joon’s arc resonates with him personally. “He’s this very confident guy who’s relentless,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I do need to rely on my friends and family. I can’t do everything by myself.” That balance between independence and teamwork gives the characters dimension beyond their battle suits.

From Dinosaur Kid to Dino Pilot

For Kwak, joining Armorsaurs felt like destiny.

“I grew up like the dinosaur kid,” he said with a laugh. “I had a dinosaur encyclopedia. I really liked Triceratops. I even had a Triceratops cape growing up.” Ironically, his character does not end up bonded with one. “I was really disappointed,” he joked. “But I’ve come to terms with it. A lot of healing has been done.”

He now appreciates the scale and power of flying dinosaurs like the Pteranodon. Makabi agreed, noting that a 20-foot wingspan makes any dino instantly cool.

The cast’s genuine love for dinosaurs adds authenticity to the performances. It also connects with audiences of all ages.

From Green Screen to Action Figures

Seeing the dinosaurs fully rendered for the first time left the cast stunned.

“There’s only so much my imagination can do,” Mynhier said. Watching the armor-up sequences on a big screen, with animation teams from around the world contributing, felt surreal.

Kwak described a cast screening where everyone looked at each other in disbelief. “We were all like, whoa, that’s how that turned out,” he said. He teased that the finale grows even bigger, though he avoided spoilers.

The excitement extended beyond the screen. The series launched with a full toy line, giving fans action figures and armored dinosaurs to recreate battles at home.

“It was really unreal watching these kids unleash themselves onto the toys,” Kwak said. “I got a little emotional seeing myself as an action figure.” He said it reminded him that they are role models now. “Everyone loves superheroes growing up. They want to be like their action figure. That gave me a little more responsibility.”

A Message Bigger Than the Battle

For Yi, the heart of Armorsaurs is not just spectacle. It is hope.

“We would love for families to be able to watch it together,” he said. As a father of three, he reflected on the world kids are growing up in today. “It’s a scarier world than I think the world that I grew up in.”

He hopes the series reminds young viewers that goodness still exists. “There are good people out there. There are heroes out there,” Yi said. Referencing Fred Rogers’ advice to look for the helpers, he added, “I would love for our show to be that vision for what TV shows can be for kids. Look for the good people.”

With armored dinosaurs, global collaboration, and a young cast full of heart, Armorsaurs delivers action while grounding its story in teamwork, family, and courage.

All 13 episodes will stream on Disney+ starting February 18.

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