Planet Earth II: a celebration of our world
The Return of Planet Earth
The indefatigable David Attenborough returns in this breathtaking documentary showcasing life on Planet Earth.
The new series of Planet Earth II premiered in the UK on November 6, and is due in Australia on Channel Nine sometime next year. It is apparently the first television series produced by the BBC in Ultra HD. The BBC has confirmed the first three episodes of Planet Earth II brought in more UK viewers aged 16 to 34 than The X Factor. Youngsters are being drawn in by the highest-definition shots yet of animals in their natural habitats, plus the terrific music.
Technologies and Music
If the trailer [see links at the end of this blog] is anything to go by, it is going to be a fantastic series. The music by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe is a delight and suits perfectly, bringing home the wonder of our planet. The song Hoppípolla from the Icelandic band Sigur Rós was used in the Planet Earth campaign in 2006. The BBC Creative (the BBC’s in house marketing agency) asked them to provide a new take on the song for the Planet Earth II trailer. The band took the original stems of the track and re-worked the new version from them.
Originally called One Planet in 2013, when the series was first announced, the name was subsequently changed to Planet Earth II. The series is, of course, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
The original Planet Earth, airing in 2006, was one of the first natural documentary series to be made in high definition (HD) and Planet Earth II utilises new technologies developed since the first series. These include Ultra HD, improved camera stabilisation, remote recording and, of course, aerial drone technology. I am sure there will be a separate program illustrating all the new methodologies applied.
Screenings
The first episode of Planet Earth II was watched by 9.2 million viewers in the UK — nearly 15 per cent of the country’s population — and was the highest-rated natural history program in 15 years, more than the original Planet Earth of 2006. The first episode received acclaim and stunned viewers, but there is one especially harrowing scene where an iguana hatchling flees runner snakes.
In a statement, the BBC has recently confirmed that Channel Nine will premiere the natural history series in Australia. An exact date hasn’t been confirmed by either the BBC or the broadcaster, though: all we know is that you’ll have to wait until 2017 to legally view the series in Australia. The joint press release says the agreement will “see the sequel to the hugely popular Planet Earth series premiere on Nine in Australia soon.”
Charlotte Moore, one of the producers, says: “This new series promises to be an extraordinary experience for our audience. Filmed over three years across the globe with all the very latest technology, the series uncovers stories about the natural world we have simply never been able to witness before.”
New camera technology means that audiences are being taken closer to nature and experience it as if they were there. Planet Earth II promises something which could not even be imagined a decade ago, and is definitely one not to be missed. The series is guaranteed to be unique, immersive and game-changing.
Planet Earth II Videos with music
To whet your appetite here are a couple of trailer videos, complete with music.
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