Since launching Nov. 12, Disney+ has become a premier platform for some of the best Disney documentaries. From the in-depth exploration of Disney’s storied theme park designers in “The Imagineering Story” to the recent release of the brilliant “Howard,” the streamer has become a destination for those looking for non-fiction motion pictures and series.
On Sept. 25, Disney+ will continue to bolster its library with a new docuseries from National Geographic with the debut of “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” an original series that will go behind-the-scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It will also explore the natural world within Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT.
According to the press release, the documentary series, narrated by Josh Gad (“Frozen,” “Frozen II”), “is the ultimate tribute to the parks’ magnificent array of more than 300 species and 5,000-plus animals and the herculean tasks their animal care experts undertake to keep things running day and night.”
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Each episode of the docuseries will feature a specific area of the park and some of the day-to-day activities of the parks’ resident animals:
- Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail — Hang out with the newest member of the gorilla troop, baby Grace, named after the GRACE (Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center) gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and help her dad and troop leader, Gino, celebrate his 39th birthday.
- Harambe Wildlife Reserve — Meet animal keeper Rory and come face to knee with his best friend, supermom Masai giraffe Kenya; play fetch with black rhino Badru and his keeper, Katie.
- Kilimanjaro Safaris — Swing past a day spa as keeper Nicole gives two hyenas a bath in the hopes that they’ll be as endearing to guests as they are to her; watch Dakari, the alpha male African lion, reign over his land; and meet Kinsey, the alpha lioness, who’s the real ruler of the pride.
- Discovery Island — Stop by the love nest of Carri and Bones, an endangered vulture couple, as animal keeper Tricia sets the mood for mating and steps up as eggsitter.
- Tiger Temple — Witness animal care experts employing extra creativity to keep critically endangered Sumatran tigers Anala and Sohni entertained.
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT — Plunge in with some of the 3,000 ocean animals that call it home, including an injured wild sea turtle, Harry; rescued manatees Lil’ Joe and Lou; Darby, a pregnant spotted eagle ray; and aquarist Amanda, who is also expecting.
“’Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’ captures the spirit of these two world-famous parks and its animals and ushers that feeling directly into viewers’ living rooms,” said Josh Gad in an official statement. “Each episode, we get to know these animals intimately and are immersed in the magic of Disney, and it’s been a joy giving voice to this ultimate adventure.”
True-Life Adventures and the 1954 Academy Awards Telecast
Disney is no stranger to producing documentaries of the natural world. In 1953, the studio released a series of films that would look at nature the way no other film did during that era.
The award-winning wildlife documentary “The Living Desert” follows the wildlife populating the desert regions of the American Southwest during one day. Narrated by Winston Hibler, it includes up-close footage of exotic plants, scorpions, rattlesnakes, roadrunners, tarantulas and more, with a flash flood providing one of nature’s dramatic highlights.
“The Living Desert” was the premiere feature-length film in Disney’s “True-Life Adventures” series of documentaries focusing on zoological studies. The previous theatrical films in the series, including the Oscar-winning “Seal Island,” were short subjects.
In 1953, “The Living Desert” won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 1954 Oscar celebration. That year would also see Walt Disney make history as the individual (producer) with the most Oscar wins in a single year. “The Alaskan Eskimo” won for Best Documentary Short Subject, “Bear Country” won Best Live Action Short Subject (Two-Reel), and “Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom” won Best Animated Short Film.
In 2000, “The Living Desert” was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The groundbreaking documentary is available for streaming on Disney+.
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Let’s Hear From You
Are you a nature film fan? Have you enjoyed Disney’s newly acquired National Geographic content? Looking forward to “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom?”
We look forward ot hearing from you in the comments below!