Just because you can’t visit the South Pole doesn't mean you have to live under a rock. Over the years, Nature documentaries have brought millions of people closer to Earth.
Our Planet available on Netflix is produced by Bristol-based Silverback Films. The executive producer Alastair Fothergill and narrator David Attenborough were part of the BBC documentary series Frozen Planet (2011), Planet Earth (2006) and The Blue Planet (2001).
Want to watch a Nature documentary on World Environment Day? Here are a few points you may like to consider before making your choice.
Reddit user, u/stsao1234 commented on a post on the Netflix thread, “... (In) every episode (of Our Planet ), there was something that amazed me. The scenes introducing the coral reefs, and later when they explained the reason behind the appearance of the white corals really left an impression on me.”
Planet Earth II was the first Nature documentary to be shot on 4K ultra high definition, improved camera stabilisation, remote recording and aerial drone technology. There are countless shots which will give you goosebumps.
Watching Frozen Planet or any Nature documentary prior to 2016 will seem like a step-down (from a technology’s perspective). On Reddit’s /r/IAmA, an ask-me-anything subreddit Michael Gunton, creative director of Factual and the Natural History Unit at BBC Studios responds to user overintellectualised, “Rather than observing them, you felt like you were close to them, within their world. Keep the camera low, in their eye-line, keep it moving and fluid — a lot of this is reflecting what you see in drama. You don’t see static cameras.”
- Our Planet was also narrated in Spanish by Salma Hayek (Mexico and Latin America) and Penélope Cruz (Spain)
- As per Netflix, 25 million households were expected to watch the series in its first month
- You can watch Planet Earth II Episode 1 and 3 on June 5 at 10 am and 11 am on Sony BBC Earth
Production, however, is just half the magic. Modern post-production effects and edits in Planet Earth II and Our Planet give a cinematic experience to Nature documentaries. Our Planet ’s soundtrack by Steven Price induces goosebumps.
Prior to Planet Earth II , BBC had a tendency to show the challenges faced by the production crew. Frozen Planet has more of that and a few piece-to-cameras (PTC) by Attenborough as compared to eight minutes in the end of Planet Earth II . While it is not a bad thing, it does weaken narrative. On the other hand those who are curious about the plight of camera men will welcome the extra information.
Our Planet gives screen time only to Mother Nature. A behind-the-scenes segment is added as a separate episode in the DVD, unfortunately it is not on Netflix India.
In the opening credits of Our Planet , Fothergill says, “This series will celebrate the natural wonders that remain and reveal what we must preserve to ensure people and Nature thrive.” This sentence acts an overarching theme in all eight episodes, which end with a clear call to action. More importantly, Our Planet demonstrates that given a chance, balance can be restored in Nature.
Both documentaries are narrated by Attenborough. IfPlanet Earth II left you wanting more, Our Planet is definitely for you. Every shot in the documentary is relevant. As for those who haven't seenPlanet Earth II, it doesn’t matter which one you watch first. Both will leave you more aware and sensitive about all life forms.
