First appearance of the Dinobots. Only Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge are introduced in this episode, with Snarl and Swoop in a subsequent episode.
The Dinobots are depicted as an unstoppable force in this episode and this follows throughout the next season and the 1986 animated film. After the beginning of season 3, they are used mainly as comic relief, and with the exception of Grimlock aren't shown much as the plethora of new characters introduced doesn't allow for as much screen time. Their last "big hurrah" is in the episode "Call of the Primitives" in season 3.
Writer Donald F. Glut was a fan of Japanese television and films and used Destroy All Monsters (1968) as a model for the season one stories featuring the Dinobots. He claims to have put in all kinds of references to Japanese monster movies, all though according to him, not everything came out quite the same way he wrote it.
Due to later marketing concerns in the UK, over how controversial the word Slag is; it's meaning being a misogynistic slur towards women. The Dinobot character was then renamed Snarl in Transformers Animated. As the original G1 character was not featured in both the show and toy line.
Later incarnations of the character would then receive the Slug, as the original Snarl would be incorporated.
In the Marvel comics, the Dinobots were originally part of the Ark crew. Not long after crashing on Prehistoric Earth, Shockwave, who had come in search of Megatron, located the Ark and attempted to infiltrate it. However, a volcanic eruption, temporarily reactivated Teletran-1. And after identifying Shockwave as a potential threat, rebuilt and reactivated five of the dormant Autobots, with Dinosaur alt modes.
The Dinobots would confront Shockwave and bury him under a rock fall. But would themselves, fall in to a tar pit. And remain there for millions of years. Until they were discovered by Ratchet. And quickly revived to rescue the Autobots from Shockwave.