Wildlife Documentaries Continue To Captivate Audiences Worldwide

Wildlife documentaries have taken people into the homes of animals, plants and other non-human living creatures for years.  It is a way to see life in the wilderness up-close and personal.  There is nothing more extreme, breathtaking, and intricate than a film that explores the world we live in and the creatures that make it up.

Typically these forms of documentaries are made for television with most airing on public broadcasting channels.  However, there are the rare few that are made for the cinema and awe audiences worldwide. 

Television documentaries began on BBC television with a long-running series entitled Look.  The first 50-minute weekly documentary series was The World About Us, which started with a color installment from a French film-maker Haroun Tazieff that was called Volcano. 

In the late 1970s and early 1980s there were several television companies around the world that began specializing in the natural history department including the likes of ABC in Melbourne and Australia. 

Wildlife documentaries feature a wide array of topics with varying series’ and programs.  Everything from different species to the ecosystem to scientific ideas like evolution has been touched on.  And while most take the scientific and educational route, others find a unique way to create an alluring and stunning documentary that is mind-boggling.

There are different ways the films are presented, although most feature a human presenter.  Explanatory voiceovers are most common, but extensive interaction and confrontations with animals have become increasingly popular over the years.

Some of the most famous documentary makers and presenters include Bernhard Grzimek, David Attenborough, Richard Brock, Jeff Corwin, Marty Stouffer and Steve Irwin.  As mentioned, most films are made for TV.  But some of the full-length cinematic presentations that have captivated audiences include Animals Are Beautiful People, The Living Desert, Blue Planet and March of the Penguins. 

The idea of being able to see different species up close and in their environment is enthralling to many.  This is what has kept wildlife documentaries going for years on end.  Some are even presented as television miniseries with the most notable coming from ‘Life’ series from BBC, which was written and presented by Sir David Attenborough.  The series comprises of Life on Earth in 1979 for 13 episodes, The Living Planet in 1984 for 12 episodes, The Trials of Life in 1990 for 12 episodes and several other adaptations. 

Wildlife documentaries continue to amaze audiences worldwide today.  The most traditional style known as ‘blue chip’ programming is extremely expensive, but delivers rare images.  And the production of Planet Earth marked the first series to ever be made entirely in high-definition format.  This is just a sign of what is to come in the future of wildlife cinematography.