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The '''Chief Elder''', also known as the Elder-in-Chief, presides over the government of [[Pangaea]] in ''[[Dinosaurs]]''. The Council of Elders is often mentioned throughout the course of the series, but first appears in [[Episode 201: The Golden Child]]. In this earliest appearance, the elders are a group of shrouded figures, who all speak with the same commanding voice and appear to have near mystical properties.
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In subsequent appearances, though the robes occasionally resurfaced, the council of elders had been modernized. The council now seemed to be a closer analogue to the [[The United States of America|United States]] senate or congress, with the Chief Elder in a role akin to that of president, an elected official rather than a member of an ancient order, allowing for greater satirical relevance. Pangaea appeared to have a very high turn-over rate regarding the position of Chief Elder. Almost invariably played by a hand-puppet [[Unisaurs|Unisaur]], the earliest individual holder of the title appeared in [[Episode 219: Nuts To War (part 1)|Nuts to War]] parts one and [[Episode 220: Nuts To War (part 2)|two]]. A frilled and bespectacled dinosaur, the Chief Elder (voiced by [[George Gaynes]], puppeteered by [[Allan Trautman]]) plunges Pangaea into war with the dinosaurs across the swamp over nut supplies, recanting his position only after casualties affect his popularity.
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In [[Episode 221: And The Winner Is...]], the Chief Elder (a full-bodied green dinosaur, voiced by [[Sam McMurray]]) has regained some mystique, clad again in robes and presidng over the traditional infant naming ceremony. His sudden death by heart attack while naming [[Baby Sinclair]] leads to an emergency election. [[Earl Sinclair]] and [[B. P. Richfield]] are the chief candidates, but commentator [[Edward R. Hero]] is elected instead. Hero's puppet, a crinkly almost humanoid Unisaur, would be recycled for all subsequent chief elders, with different voices and slight alterations in hue and costume. In [[Episode 302: Baby Talk]], a council of multiple elders, functioning in a manner akin to the Supreme Court, is seen, with no clear designation as to the Chief Elder.
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A suited Chief Elder (voice by [[Joe Flaherty]], puppetry by [[Mak Wilson]], ) returns to the vitriolic politicking of his "Nuts to War" predecessor in [[Episode 313: Green Card]], blaming the slumping economy on the four-legged dinosaurs, and then on amphibians. (Flaherty would return as Chief Elder in [[Episode 412: Working Girl]], with puppetry by Allan Trautman). In [[Episode 403: The Greatest Story Ever Sold]], the Chief Elder (now voiced by [[Tim Curry]] and operated by Trautman again) is joined by two other elders, and debates the question of an established belief system for Pangaea, ultimately deciding in favor of [[The Great Potato]] as national deity. The Chief Elder's final "appearance" occurs off-screen, praising Earl's exposure of [[Georgie]] in [[Episode 414: Georgie Must Die]].
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[[Category:Dinosaurs Characters]]
 
[[Category:Dinosaurs Characters]]
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[[Category:Dinosaur Culture]]

Revision as of 00:28, 9 April 2006

The Chief Elder, also known as the Elder-in-Chief, presides over the government of Pangaea in Dinosaurs. The Council of Elders is often mentioned throughout the course of the series, but first appears in Episode 201: The Golden Child. In this earliest appearance, the elders are a group of shrouded figures, who all speak with the same commanding voice and appear to have near mystical properties.

In subsequent appearances, though the robes occasionally resurfaced, the council of elders had been modernized. The council now seemed to be a closer analogue to the United States senate or congress, with the Chief Elder in a role akin to that of president, an elected official rather than a member of an ancient order, allowing for greater satirical relevance. Pangaea appeared to have a very high turn-over rate regarding the position of Chief Elder. Almost invariably played by a hand-puppet Unisaur, the earliest individual holder of the title appeared in Nuts to War parts one and two. A frilled and bespectacled dinosaur, the Chief Elder (voiced by George Gaynes, puppeteered by Allan Trautman) plunges Pangaea into war with the dinosaurs across the swamp over nut supplies, recanting his position only after casualties affect his popularity.

In Episode 221: And The Winner Is..., the Chief Elder (a full-bodied green dinosaur, voiced by Sam McMurray) has regained some mystique, clad again in robes and presidng over the traditional infant naming ceremony. His sudden death by heart attack while naming Baby Sinclair leads to an emergency election. Earl Sinclair and B. P. Richfield are the chief candidates, but commentator Edward R. Hero is elected instead. Hero's puppet, a crinkly almost humanoid Unisaur, would be recycled for all subsequent chief elders, with different voices and slight alterations in hue and costume. In Episode 302: Baby Talk, a council of multiple elders, functioning in a manner akin to the Supreme Court, is seen, with no clear designation as to the Chief Elder.

A suited Chief Elder (voice by Joe Flaherty, puppetry by Mak Wilson, ) returns to the vitriolic politicking of his "Nuts to War" predecessor in Episode 313: Green Card, blaming the slumping economy on the four-legged dinosaurs, and then on amphibians. (Flaherty would return as Chief Elder in Episode 412: Working Girl, with puppetry by Allan Trautman). In Episode 403: The Greatest Story Ever Sold, the Chief Elder (now voiced by Tim Curry and operated by Trautman again) is joined by two other elders, and debates the question of an established belief system for Pangaea, ultimately deciding in favor of The Great Potato as national deity. The Chief Elder's final "appearance" occurs off-screen, praising Earl's exposure of Georgie in Episode 414: Georgie Must Die.