Rairyu
- Rairyu is a Decepticon from the Victory portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Rairyu (ライリュウ Rairyū) is the idiot amongst a team of idiots. When he manages to form a coherent word it is cause for celebration. Oddly, he still doesn’t attract the criticism or ridicule of his teammate Kakuryu. Still, he is a vital member of the Dinoforce if only because his absence would leave Dinoking with an even weaker stomach than normal.
Fiction
Victory cartoon
- Voice actor: Shinobu Satouchi (Japanese)
Victory manga
Rairyu and the Dinoforce rode their Pretender shells into battle, ransacking the planet Earth. They attempted to escalate the devastation by forming Dinoking, but were stopped cold by the power of Landcross. Magnificent! Our Friend, Star Saber!
Rairyu stood watch as Kakuryu went through his daily fitness routine. Warrior of Love, Star Saber!
As the Autobots infiltrated the Decepticon Space Stronghold, their sudden appearance scattered Rairyu and the Dinoforce. The fighting soon ceased as the Decepticons revealed they only sought energy for their families, including the adorable Dinobabies. Heroic! The Victory War
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Rairyu was part of Deathsaurus's contingent of Decepticons stationed in their Warworld. In agreement with Tarn, Deathsaurus and his forces joined with the Decepticon Justice Division to continue the Decepticon dream and eliminate Megatron. The Permanent Revolution
Toys
Victory
- Rairyu (Dinoforce, 1989)
- Japanese ID number: D-327
- Accessories: Brontosaurus shell, shell-back, "Bronto Gun", Dinoking hip
- A redeco of the Pretender Monster Birdbrain, Rairyu transforms into a quadrupedal monster-thing. He can also form the middle torso to the team's combined mode Dinoking. He comes with a soft-plastic armored apatosaur outer "shell" that he can fit into.
- Dinoking (Multi-pack, 1989)
- ID number: D-328
- Accessories: Brontosaurus shell, shell-back, "Bronto Gun", Dinoking hip
- All six members of Dinoforce were available both in individual boxes, and in a complete six-piece gift set. While there are no differences in the toys themselves, the gift set lacks any bio or Tech Spec cards for the individual components, only having cards for the combined mode.
Notes
- Rairyū corresponds with 雷竜, meaning "Thunder Dinosaur". The term is a Japanese adaptation of "Brontosaurus", which means "thunder lizard" in Greek. The name Brontosaurus was synonymised with Apatosaurus until 2015 when Brontosaurus was revived as a distinct animal.
- The Dinoforce shells are notable for developing a green patina on the painted-gold portions, as well as a slimy texture over their whole surface over time. What causes this is unknown, but ick. Even previously-unopened samples will develop this nastiness. While some water and a little bit of hand-soap should take care of the slime, there's not much to be done about the green discoloration.
- Rairyu's depiction in fiction as the dumbest member of Dinoforce is at odds with their tech specs, which show his intelligence of 5 to be the highest of the team. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown.
- The Victory anime depicted the Dinoforce members as carrying melee weapons, rather than the blasters the toys actually came with.
Foreign names
- English: Birdbrain (Omni Productions dub)
