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MUMBAI:
Animal Planet International has announced the launch of a
programming slate focussed on celebrating and protecting the
natural world.
The
programming slate includes Animals Save the Planet,
a series of humourous animated short films that feature tips
from animals on how to live a greener lifestyle; Crime
Scene Wild, a new series that investigates the illegal
wildlife trade; Going Ape, a continuing series that
highlights efforts to protect endangered primates in West
Africa; and Ocean Voyagers, a high-definition (HD)
documentary narrated by Meryl Streep that focuses on the mysterious
and rarely-seen world of the humpback whale.
The
shows will roll out on the network this autumn in more than
200 million homes across the UK, Europe, Asia, Latin America,
the Middle East and Africa.
Animal
Planet International senior VP GM Phillip Luff says, "This
new slate of programming brings to life what is at the very
core of the Animal Planet brand, which is connecting viewers
to the natural world through captivating characters and stories
that inform, entertain and celebrate the planet."
Produced
in partnership with Aardman Animations, Animals Save the
World is a series of 10 short clay animation films (20
to 40-seconds in length) that features animals demonstrating
how everyone can make a difference by living a greener lifestyle
– including a penguin who discovers how much effort energy
- saving light bulbs can save him, and a cow who learns about
the environmental impact of his own methane gas. The vignettes
will premiere on Animal Planet in all international markets
in late 2007.
Crime
Scene Wild is a new series that uncovers the illegal wildlife
trade, which is second only to drugs in terms of volume and
revenue generated. The series follows former special investigative
agent Steve Galster as he uses cutting-edge forensic and DNA
technology to track wildlife smugglers and catch them in the
act, providing viewers with a behind-the-scenes look into
this world. The six x 60-minute series is produced by Cicada
Productions for Animal Planet International and will premiere
in all international markets starting in 4Q07.
Going
Ape is a continuing half-hour series that highlights conservation
in action by profiling ongoing efforts to protect primates
against loggers and bush meat traders in West Africa. Filmed
at the Cameroon Wildlife Aid sanctuary in Cameroon, the series
documents the efforts of Rachel Hogan and her dedicated team
of veterinarians and volunteers as they work to save and rehabilitate
endangered chimpanzees and gorillas in the rainforest. Produced
by Tigress Productions for Animal Planet International, the
first 13-episode season of the series premiered last year.
Production has commenced on a second season of the series,
which will premiere in all international markets next year.
Narrated
by Meryl Streep and filmed in high-definition, Ocean Voyagers
is a 70-minute feature documentary that provides a look into
the mysterious world of the humpback whale and the ocean environment.
The documentary tells the story of the relationship between
a mother whale and her calf over an unprecedented span of
five years, following the two whales as they embark on a 7,000
mile journey from the South Pacific to Antarctica.
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