RELEASE: TV

The Greatest Places is a large-format film that takes you on an educational journey to seven of the most geographically dynamic locations on Earth, including Greenland, Madagascar, Namib, Okavango, Tibet, Iguazu, and the Amazon.

The story of the Settlement of the United States’ western frontier is told using the stories and words (from diaries and letters) of real life people while showing this astonishingly beautiful territory.  The film chronicles the major events that contributed to the settlement of the western frontier beginning with the Louisiana purchase and ending when in 1890 the U.S. Census Bureau declared that there was no more frontier; it had been settled.

The Amazon River is home to a wide variety of unique fish.  NHK spent over two years exploring the dense jungle to closely follow the Amazon’s stunning underwater creatures with 4K cameras.  The exploration led to an encounter with a crystal clear natural spring, and successful recordings of fascinating creatures of the Amazon.  Captured on camera are very rare footage of electric eels hunting prey, energetic images of the Amazon river dolphin attacking a school of fish in high speed 4K, and a unique sight of local fishermen catching a gigantic 2-meter shark-like catfish.

Come and unveil the drama of the legendary fish in the most magnificent river.

The Amazon rainforest is a luscious jungle wonderland, a treasure trove of many unidentified animals.  The jungle is long on anecdotes about various legendary creatures, in particular the primate “Mono Grande.”  A photo taken in the early 20th century of this gigantic ape amazed the world as a possible new simian, and sightings remain rife today.

“Does the Mono Grande really exist?”

Driven by the desire to find out, an NHK crew thrusts deep into the jungle, encountering exotic monkeys on the way.

After over 100 days of desperate exploration, the crew finally meets up with a enormous monkey!  But is it the legendary Mono Grande they are after … ?

This is remarkable story about a young genet who after losing its mother’s track decides to embark on a lonely journey to look for her.  The forest gives it shelter, food, but it is also filled with traps of nature, threatening dangers, and enemies that turn into allies.

The film tells the story of Ying Zheng, ruler of Qin, who conquered neighboring states and declared himself “Qin Shihuang,” First Emperor of China.  Qin’s battles, achievements, and tyranny are recounted with a cast of thousands in epic style, with historically accurate costumes and meticulous attention to detail.

The Extreme Nature of Bats is a 3D science film that explores not only the truths but the myths and dark legends that have been associated with bats for hundreds of years. Through the (sometimes frightening) wonders of digital 3D technology, audiences will learn that bats are unique and interesting animals; but, because of fear and misconceptions throughout history, they are also one of the most misunderstood animals in the world. There are close to 1,000 species of bats worldwide and they comprise more than one-fifth of all the mammals in the world. The film examines how bats are unique in the animal kingdom because they are the only mammals to have evolved true flight.

Marvel at the awesome power of nature as The Eruption of Mount St. Helens displays the change evoked by a massive volcanic eruption and the renewal process which follows it.  In this Academy Award nominated film, beautiful photography of the mountain prior to May 18th, 1980, is harshly contrasted with the apocalyptic post-eruption scenery created when the entire side of Mount St. Helens was blown away in billowing clouds of ash.  Soar over and through the unearthly landscape of mud, ash and steaming craters in a ride that shows just what it is like to have an exploding volcano in your backyard.

In the open wilderness of Africa, there are only 20.000 lions living a free life.  Humans have killed hundreds of thousands in the last decades – mostly for purely hunting purposes.  In the last couple of years, a new industry has developed called the canned hunting.  After 4-5 years of breeding, young lions are shot in special areas, after which tourists pay up to 40.000 USD for the corpse of the dead male lion.

A real industry developed in South Africa – lion cubs are used in petting zoos, bones of the animals are exported to Asia for so-called medical “purposes.”

Figures of more than 10.000 lions in captivity being targets for future canned hunting are supposed to be real these days.

We want to open public eyes on these industries using big cat lives for money making.  With investigative means, hidden cameras, we will try to get in touch with the people behind these intrigues.

First and foremost we want to stress the work of FOUR PAWS to save and protect big cats worldwide.  As part of FOUR PAWS’ work for wild animals in captivity, the organization focuses on the situation of big cats in zoos, in private captivity, and in the entertainment industry.

First successful action took place in 2002, when four lion cubs used for taking photos with tourists were sent from Romania to a sanctuary in South Africa.  Ever since then, FOUR PRAWS has increasingly stepped in more on this issue and has undertaken research in several countries in order to collect information about the conditions and numbers of big cats in captivity.  In November 2007, the first transfer or “rescue action” with two lions from Romania, and ten lions from Austria took place.

In the meantime the Big Cat Sanctuary LIONSROCK in South Africa is now home to more than 90 big cats.  Furthermore, FOUR PAWS concentrate on collecting more information on big cats around the world and will increase its network with other big cat sanctuaries and big cat experts.

From the earliest voyages that mapped the Earth to today’s launches into space, The Discoverers reverberates with the passion to explore our universe.  Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Dr. Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers examines our desire to expand the boundaries of knowledge.  The stories presented in this film span space and time, taking us around the world to participate in the act of discovery.  Stand alongside Sir Isaac Newton in his British lab; then travel to the present to observe Dr. Louis Herman working with his very cerebral dolphins in Hawaii.

While we can’t look into the future and foresee what may hit us next, we do know that each year brings its share of natural disasters that we often try, in vain, to anticipate, understand, and predict.  This is a new kind of natural disaster programme: instead of relying on poor quality archive footage, our crews are on standby ready to take off anywhere around the planet to film these disasters in Ultra-High Definition.  They will use state-of-the-art film technology, such as gyro-stabilized mounts attached to helicopters, drones, or ships, collapsible dolly carts and even rotating portholes that evacuate sea spray by centrifugal force to bring the highest quality images to your screen.

The carnivorous and ever wary jaguar is usually hidden deep in the forest, never revealing its true nature.  However, during recent dry seasons, they have been spotted in the Pantanal wetland in Brazil.  Using unmanned cameras and ultra-sensitive cameras, our film crew embarked on a major project to record these jaguars.  Witness an amazing Jaguar hunt that climaxes in a single deadly bite.

A story about a magic shop where no matter who you are you can get what you need.  Starring Academy Award Winner Melissa Leo, and Golden Globe Winner Alex Ebert.  Featuring original song “Butterfly” performed by Toby Rand and composed by 2013 Best Pop Album Grammy Winner, Alex Geringas.

Stunning 3D cinematography takes us into an extraordinary, sub-Antarctic island, home to majestic albatrosses, brawling fur seals and six million penguins. It’s a world away from human existence; but yet our hero’s struggle is familiar to us all, young and old alike.

After three years out on the open ocean, our bachelor returns to the place where he was born and raised: Penguin City.  On this densely-packed island, he looks to establish himself and find a mate. What follows is the most challenging time of his life.  He must grow up fast to survive and raise chicks of his own.

Once he meets the penguin of his dreams, the two of them embark upon raising a family.  Having witnessed his chick hatch, the parents work together to feed it, teach it, keep it warm against the harsh sub-Antarctic weather and protect it through its first danger-filled year.  But with predators in the sky, the land, and the water, tragedy could lie around every corner.  In the face of all these challenges, our king must persevere.

The Bachelor King‘s story is often comic, sometimes tragic, and ultimately triumphant; a rite of passage set within one of the earth’s last great wildernesses.

2015 marks the 25th anniversary year of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, an event that has propelled us into the Golden Age of Astronomy and brought us closer than ever to answering the most perplexing questions – what are the origins of the universe?  And are there other worlds like our own, rich with life?

The Hubble Space Telescope has led an army of new high-tech telescopes that is peering deep into the universe, returning data that scientists are using within models to explain how galaxies took shape, how stars live and die, and how the universe set the stage for life.

This visual feast of a documentary brings the most cutting-edge findings of modern astronomy to life with state-of-the-art animation, informed by supercomputer simulations of cosmic events.  Marvel at the formation of a super-massive black hole 350 million lightyears away; admire the stunning beauty of the Orion nebula; and discover what the stars tell us about our place in the stretch of time and space.

The Age of Hubble is gripping, high-end space programming at its best and essential viewing for space enthusiasts of all ages. 

In the heart of Kyoto stands a discreet but very distinguished ryokan or traditional Japanese inn, with only 18 guest rooms.  Its architecture, hospitality, cuisine, and ambience are the best Japan has to offer.

Tawaraya is many things: an inn, a house, a garden, a museum, and a haven of spirits and traditions.

Every room breathes a very Japanese sense of detail with ornaments and objects telling untold stories of exquisite Japanese culture.

Alfred Hitchcock, Jean-Paul Sartre, Steve Jobs … Artists, intellectuals, and captains of industry with a singular feel for beauty have always flocked to Tawaraya.

Filmed with 4K cameras, this documentary introduces us to this oldest and most elegant inn in Japan and reveals its beauty and astonishing history of this House of Secret Codes.

Switch is set in a futuristic dystopia, gang member “O” steals a valuable piece of equipment; the use of which could have devastating consequences.  This sci-fi world comes alive in a surreal blend of colors, shapes and locations which pop in 3D.  Follow a series of characters as all are involved in the chase and capture of this mysterious and coveted device.

The largest creatures on Earth live underwater.  Their sheer size has always triggered our imagination.  In murky waters or inaccessible places, we ignored their true nature and created legends.

Today, scientists try to understand them, to go beyond the myths.  But stranded or fished creatures offer a poor glimpse into their world.  So how can we decipher their underwater secrets without altering their behaviour?

Meet Fred Buyle, a record-breaking freediver who has dedicated his life to this non-intrusive quest.  For science, he travels the world to tag or photo-identify large marine creatures that have populated his imaginary world since he was a child.

Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the world.  In the fall, 900 individuals gather along the Canadian coast, waiting for the annual sea ice to form so they can hunt.  The polar bears may seem active, but their bodies are in a state of hibernation so they must call upon their unique ability to persevere in this harsh environment despite extended periods of fasting.  Pregnant females fast for eight months a year during which time they give birth before emerging from their den.  This episode highlights the true strength of the rulers of the ice kingdom as they raise their cubs in extreme conditions.

The film catapults audiences into the heart of world championship auto racing action at mind-bending speeds in excess of 230 miles per hour.  An inside look through the eyes of real-life racing legends Mario & Michael Andretti.