Bionatops MOTU Origins Powers of Grayskull Concept
What if Mattel actually brought the legendary Bionatops from Powers of Grayskull into the MOTU Origins line? Thanks to Cory from Make Shape Create, we get a glimpse of what that dream could look like, and it’s absolutely incredible! Using the Jurassic World Rebirth Gigantic Thrashers Eotriceratops dinosaur figure as the foundation, Cory reimagined this prehistoric powerhouse into a fully realized Origins-style concept. Cory elevated the base dinosaur into something that feels both faithful to the vintage Bionatops refreshed with modern updates that collectors would appreciate. What makes his approach so special is the way he combines craftsmanship, creativity, and a deep respect for MOTU fan culture. His project isn’t just a custom…it’s a living example of how fan passion can revive long-lost corners of the toyline. Cory’s process serves as a step-by-step guide for customizers and fans, showing how skills like sculpting, painting, and attention to detail can come together to produce hybrid art pieces that both honor the originals and push them forward. From the earliest stages of gathering parts and sketching, through the sculpting and painting process, his workflow is thorough yet approachable, making his video both a practical YouTube tutorial and an inspiring showcase for anyone interested in vintage-inspired creations.
If you want to check out the end-to-end process of how Cory created this masterpiece, check out his YouTube video here:
How it Started
This incredible custom Bionatops concept actually began its life as a Jurassic World Rebirth Gigantic Thrashers Eotriceratops Dinosaur Figure, which you can see pictured below. At 14 inches long, the base figure was the perfect starting point for Cory’s transformation.
By using this dinosaur as the foundation, he was able to channel the raw prehistoric power of the original toy while layering in the unique MOTU Origins aesthetic, creating a seamless blend of vintage inspiration and modern detail. As you can see below, Cory’s Bionatops custom is coming together in an amazing way, with the base Eotriceratops now sporting sculpted upgrades that bring the vintage MOTU flavor to life. Using Milliput, he’s added those mechanical details at the joints, feet, and horns, while the red sections replicated other robotic elements found in the vintage toy.
After the sculpting was completed, Cory laid down a bold green base coat that immediately transforms the figure into something that feels right out of the vintage MOTU Powers of Grayskull era. The even coverage brings all of the sculpted details together, unifying the Milliput work and mechanical accents into one cohesive piece. His approach of layering a different color paint on top of this green foundation allowed him to draw out the texture of the scales and give the dino a premium finish. A huge decision in his creative process was to either stick with the iconic green across the entire creature or introduce silver accents to accentuate those mechanical parts. Cory is showing how color choices can dramatically shift the figure’s impact, letting the final piece either echo the classic toyline or push into new creative territory, which you will see in the final result but let’s check out how the laser canons were created and painted first.
Laser Canons
The laser cannons Cory built are an impressive kitbash of Lego parts combined with Land Shark cannons, resulting in a custom design that captures the spirit of the original while pushing into a fresh direction. Even before paint, the mix of parts shows off a layered look that feel that is both functional and stylized at the same time. Lego parts and Land Shark peices have also been cleverly integrated and the combination of sculpt work and added parts really makes this figure feel like it’s stepping right out of the Powers of Grayskull line and while they don’t perfectly replicate the vintage Bionatops weapons, Cory’s interpretation leans into a new aesthetic that gives the figure a modernized edge while still paying homage to its classic MOTU roots.
Once Cory finalized the assembly of the laser cannons, he moved on to finishing them with paint. First, he primed the build to ensure a smooth and uniform surface that would help the final colors adhere evenly. From there, he applied a layer of chrome paint, giving the weapons a sleek, metallic look that really sells the look and feel.
The close-up shots of the laser cannons really highlight how much detail came through once the chrome paint was applied. The sharp lines, layered textures, and modular parts Cory combined all catch the light, giving the weapons a polished, almost factory-produced look. You can see how the silver finish ties pieces together seamlessly, making them feel like a unified design.
How it Ended
The finished Bionatops looks incredible, with Cory’s decision to paint the mechanical elements in silver giving the dino a sharp, bio-robotic edge. The mechanical parts contrasts perfectly with the deep green body, bringing out the sculpted details in the joints, armor plating, and weapon rigging. The twin chrome-painted cannons mounted above the frill look powerful and futuristic, while the silver highlights across the legs, face, and armor unify the whole design. By departing from the vintage all-green approach, Cory has created a modernized take that emphasizes the fusion of dinosaur and machine, making this custom feel both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
From the front, the towering dual cannons frame the figure perfectly, drawing attention to the sharp horns and armored faceplate, while the mechanical harness looks like it’s bolted right into the frill. Spinning around to the back, you can see the subtle silver paint apps on the legs, tail, and joint rivets that really sell the bio-mechanical engineering. Those small touches give depth to the build and make the custom feel purposeful from every angle, showing the extra care Cory put into making this Bionatops more than just a repaint as it has become a fully realized MOTU-style upgrade.
From the side, the chrome cannons arching over the frill showcase just how much presence they add, with their angular design complementing the natural curves of the dinosaur’s body. You can also see how the lighter green paint app across the top makes the dino feel more organic and realistic. Shifting to the rear three-quarter view, you can get a better look at how the added silver accents on the joints, tail plating, and tubing integrate seamlessly with the green hide, giving the impression of engineered reinforcements built into the creature itself.
Bionatops History
Bionatops can be spotted on both the front and rear of the Camo Khan card art with King Grayskull riding ontop of him, leading the heroic warriors. He is depicted in his classic look of a green Triceratops dinosaur. Again, this the second of three bionic dinosaurs illustrated on the card art.
Bionatops was originally released in 1987 by Mattel as part of the Powers of Grayskull subline. A horned dinosaur from the land of Preterina, Bionatops was associated with the Heroic Warriors. He sported cannons on his head for the Heroic Warriors to use to help battle the Evil Warriors. A complete vintage Bionatops can cost a pretty penney, so if Mattel releases these are part of the Origins line, it would give collectors who always wanted one another chance to own him!
Below is pictured the vintage Bionatops package both front and back. You can see the Powers of Grayskull vintage packaging and beautiful illustration of He-Man riding atop Bionatop on the back of the package.
Also pictured below is a concept sketch for Bionatops and then what the actual 1987 production version of the creature looks like.
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