Ever wondered where sci-fi writers and filmmakers find the inspiration for the weird and wonderful creatures they create? After watching Walking With Dinosaurs, The Blue Planet and now Walking With Beasts, the source of their inspiration is becoming more obvious - right here on Earth.
Walking With Beasts is the latest BBC-produced documentary series relying heavily on modern film making techniques such as animatronics and CGI for its appeal, and follows on chronologically from where the critically acclaimed Walking With Dinosaurs left off some 65 million years ago. This period of our history is monumental in size, and so were the changes that took place. After the dinosaurs were wiped out came the birds, followed by the rise of mammals, right through to our recent history and the eventual domination of the most destructive species the world has ever known - man!
This complete series of six episodes (running for just under 30 minutes each), is a mini-series of horror, death, destruction, violence, adaptation and incredible change. It is never less than fascinating and beautifully created. Each episode features a different period within that 65 million years up until the last ice-age just 30,000 years ago, and follows a particular creature or family group as they attempt to survive, and hopefully thrive, in their various habitats. Along the way they encounter every imaginable horror from larger predators, earthquakes, poisonous gases seeping from the earth, dramatic climate changes, famine, drought, and the eventual evolution of man. This approach is particularly effective in keeping the viewer's interest (which was never going to be a problem), and makes the creatures even more real. Many of the creatures are given names or nicknames, and there are a few humorous instances of the beasts interacting with the 'cameraman', such as the flinging of mud and a shattered camera lens. This is an amusing touch.
The series is beautifully and eloquently narrated by Kenneth Branagh. His diction and pacing is impeccable, warm and informative. The accompanying music is a treat in itself, and has a world-music feel, which is highly appropriate, as the series moves around the prehistoric world in an attempt to include as many species as is possible. All the favourites are featured, such as the woolly mammoth and sabre tooth cats, and the creatures range from the small, cute and cuddly variety, to the large, ugly and ferocious type (who are usually trying to eat the small, cute and cuddly ones). There is much (CGI created) violence, but these were violent times, and it would seem that some things haven't changed, even after 65 million years.
Here then, is a brief summary of each of the six episodes.
A New Dawn: The time of the dinosaurs has passed, and 20 million years later, Earth is ruled by the birds. Large, carnivorous, flightless birds. The Eocene period, as it is known, is characterised by a warm climate and much rainforest. Mammals are plentiful, but small. Carnivores they may be, but they are themselves prey to the larger carnivores. This episode captures an eventful day in the life of a small mammal named leptictidium, and her brood.
Whale Killer: It is now the late Eocene period and much has changed. The world is covered more by water, and the ancestors of today’s whales rule the oceans. Basilosaurus in particular is a nasty not-so-little beasty, up to 18 metres long and weighing over 60 tonnes. This episode follows a pregnant basilosaurus as she attempts to find food at a time of great change. The poles are freezing, and as this affects the ocean currents and its food stocks, so does it affect those at the top of the food chain. Land carnivores have also evolved into some very effective killing machines. Not all mammals are now cute and cuddly.
Land of the Giants: 25 million years ago Earth was in the Oligocene period. We follow the journey of an indricothere mother and her newborn calf. Indricothere, like many mammals at this time, is huge. Unlike many others though, she is a herbivore, and while she is too large to be threatened, her calf is not. We are also introduced to a host of fanged beasties who are as ferocious as they are stupid. There is the ancestor of today’s sloth, who is nowhere near as docile, and enteledonts who are the distant relatives of today’s pigs. These large and fierce creatures are extremely savage and are afraid of nothing.
Next of Kin: A little over three million years ago, man’s earliest ancestors appeared, australopithecus, a small hairy ape-like creature with the ability to walk upright. Follow the trials of a small group as they attempt to find a patch of territory that they can claim as their own. Ravaged by malaria, and attacks from neighbouring groups, life is never simple. There are even more, larger carnivores than before, evolving into more effective killing machines with each age.
Sabre Tooth: South America, even one million years ago, was a fascinating place. Being cut off from the rest of the world for so long meant the creatures that lived there were quite unique. When the land bridge with North America formed, sabre tooth cats such as smilodon migrated to these lush new feeding grounds filled with creatures that would eventually become armadillos, ostriches and the like. This episode follows one particular smilodon named Broken Tooth and his pride. Ousted by two younger males, he all but disappears, but time and fate are on his side, and after one of the brothers is killed by one of the largest sloths that ever existed, Broken Tooth returns to fight it out with the remaining brother.
Mammoth Journey: Just 30,000 years ago, woolly mammoths roamed this planet. Earth was experiencing the last in a series of ice ages, and creatures such as the mammoth were amongst the best equipped to survive. Migrating mammoths are the focus of this episode, as they make their way across what is now the North Sea to their winter home. Other large mammals are present also, such as the woolly rhino and several deer-like species. Here too are even closer relatives to our good selves, the neanderthals and the more advanced cro-magnons - hunters, architects and eventual rulers of the planet.
There is a generous helping of extras on the second disc, which are both informative and educational. It's not just the kiddies who will learn something, either. With a combined time of over five hours, Walking With Beasts is great value, and is certain to get repeated viewing.
Walking With Beasts is so near perfect, there really isn't much to say. It is presented in the aspect ratio 1.78:1 and is 16:9 enhanced, as is the main menu. The main menu is prefaced by a not-so-friendly sabre tooth cat taking a swipe at the screen and is an indicator of what follows.
The image is very sharp and clear. The CGI beasts are great, and the animatronic close ups are also very detailed. Every hair and wrinkle can be seen clearly. The colours are particularly impressive with a wide palette used. Drawing on some very limited information from fossils, there has no doubt been some educated guesswork as far as determining such things as colours, textures and sounds. There are beautifully filmed environments and colour, detail and shadow are wonderful. There are no problems with colour bleeding or noise, and only one instance of aliasing (on a dead zebra of all things).
There is some grain when the 'night vision' camera is used, but I suspect this is intentional to give the impression of real night vision. The detail is still sharp, which is possibly a good thing, for it maintains the realism. There are no artefacts to report and a very clean transfer is the result. Subtitles are generally accurate, save for a few words removed for easier reading, and the layer change is not evident.
As mentioned, the only negative is that some of the quicker and more agile creatures look less real than the bigger and slower moving ones. This is in no way a criticism, and will not detract from the enjoyment of the series.