Why not the same actors?

The TV Series was a lot better than the mini-series! The mini-series was very boring and the actors weren't as good as they were on the TV Series! The actors in the tv series were a whole lot better and they played the characters a lot better!

"Where you born this big a pain in the ass?" -Buffy

To clarify.

The miniseries Dinotopia was a three part series that ran for two hours on Sunday nights. In total its around a 5+ hour movie. The movie starts of with Karl, David, and their father taking a plane to island hop. Unfortunately, there plane hits a mysterious band of rain. The plan goes down, and we see the boys swim to a shore. The boys then go through education, occupations, and adventures. Finally it wraps up with them going with Sirus Crabbe on expedition to the world below to retrieve the precious sun stones. The adventure from there takes a few turns as things don't go as planned.

The tv series was a reaction to the high ratings and critics' reviews to the miniseries. It takes off where the miniseries left. Since there expedition to the world below, and the gathering of sun stones. Karl and David are no longer rule breakers, but heroes. They now have to uphold that title while learning to still live and work within the laws of Dinotopia. They have a new threat with a group of men and women known as the outsiders. These are people who have lived on the Island but have refused to obey the laws of Dinotopia (they kill T-Rexes). The episodes were more actioned packed than the slow miniseries however lacked the acting of the miniseries as well as the special effects and set design. Eventually cost, low ratings, and bad reviews led to the decision to cancel the show midseason.

Overall the miniseries was wonderful. It can be slow at times, but remeber it has to focus on two boys who have televisions, computers, and internet adjusting to life that not only hasn't those things but HAS Dinosaurs as well. The special effects and set design were worthy of the name Dinotopia.

The series used cheaper everything, and took on a Xena-ish look with the main character of the outsiders.

I would suggest watching both if you are interested. Overall both were different and new, shame that not enough people enjoyed something different and family orriented.