Documentary

Film
Release Year
Runtime(s)
Synopsis
Ninjaboys: Quest for the Cosmic Front
2016
4 x 25 min

Popular Japanese animation, Ninjaboy Rantaro, and authentic science program Cosmic Front team up to bring a science comedy adventure show for the whole family.

Three ninja friends, Rantaro, Kirimaru, and Shinbei from the manga show set off on a great adventure in space after a surprising turn of events.

Does extra-terrestrial life truly exist in the solar system?  What is the secret behind the birth of the moon?  Join the Ninjaboys as they embark on a spectacular adventure into space and find out about the cosmos!

This fun science show features spectacular space images recreated by 4KCG using the latest astronomical data!

Origins of Land — Nishinoshima Island
2015
29

An extraordinary phenomenon is taking place in the Pacific Ocean: The formation of a new island from an undersea volcanic eruption.

Located 1,000 km from Tokyo, Nishinoshima island suddenly emerged in 2013.  It is still expanding rapidly and has already become the biggest newly-born island in historic record.  Scientists are saying that this exceptional event could literally blow away previous understanding of volcanology, and solve the mystery of how continents are made.

But field investigation is nearly impossible, since the new island is strictly off limits due to the volcanic hazard.  To overcome these issues, NHK has launched a bold project to seize this very rare opportunity and help scientists solve the unknown facets of the island.  The mission involves filming this natural spectacle from the air, land and sea in stunning 4K resolution images using remote control machines, while collecting important scientific data.

Witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience of the “birth of land” in this grand science adventure documentary.

Passing the Pillars of Hercules
2015
52

This is a wildlife feast that feature the migratory animals of the Straits of Gibraltar or the Pillars of Hercules (as it was formerly known), the border between Africa and Europe.  From the dawn of history, battles have been waged in these seas.  Today, one of them is still on each season – the fishing of red tuna in their migratory route through these waters.  This entails an intense fight between two competitors – the Moroccan fishermen and the greatest predator in the oceans, the orca.  Each year in their flight, more than 300 million of birds challenge the strongest westerly and easterly winds to head here for their winter shelters.  Will they all be able to achieve this?  For the other animal species, their migration to this land was either coincidental or compulsory, as pets or as bargaining chip between trading Arabs of Phoenicians.  Whatever the reason, the result is that these chameleons, tortoises, mongooses, and genets are all part of a legacy.  Today, they have become typical species from the south of Spain, some of them being unique representatives of their species in Europe.

Planet Home
40 x 26 min

Pollution, climate change, while some predict the apocalypse, others are building the future.  They are the heroes of Planet Home, and they already have solutions for housing in the future.  In Planet Home, our adventures are grounded on the architecture and the exemplary nature of the sites we discover.  Beyond just buildings, these places house people who are just as inspiring in matters of sustainable development.  Our hosts tell us about their homes as well as their lifestyles.  We enter inside their daily life and home, and also meet those outside who share their philosophy.  Whether we are highlighting the technological excellence of a location, an architect’s crazy ideas, or a family’s new lifestyle, Planet Home is the only documentary series, which offers a map of ecological and sustainable habitats throughout the world.

Power of Color
2015
41

The yearly world cup of body painting, taking place in Austria, is a must see event for art community.  A very special part of this event is the  body painting with luminous colours.  This painting is only visible with infra light.  This will be demonstrated in a fantastic and entertaining show!

Proximity
2017
50

Proximity is a film that pairs surfing’s living legends with today’s most progressive young surfers.  The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Taylor Steele, produced by Teton Gravity Research (TGR) in association with Garage Productions.  Proximity will explore the delicate relationship between people, time, and place, showcasing surfing icons from different generations in diverse locations around the world.

Reflections: Iceland
2016
40

Iceland, the land of fire and ice.  Follow fine art photographer and adventurer Jason Henthorne as he explores the majestic landscape while searching for the perfect intersection of ocean and earth.  Witness Iceland’s epic landscape through the unique eyes of Henthorne and his camera.

Ring of Civilizations — Rediscovering Ancient Asia
2015
4 x 29 min

Vast ruins in Asia continue to attract people while remaining shrouded in mystery.

However, recent research has discovered that cultures and civilizations beyond our imagination once existed in Asia.  One of the world’s largest cities created deep in the jungle; the foundation of an amazing ruling system that existed 2,000 years before Western civilization; a surprising society where wealth was distributed thoroughly.  The peoples of Asia had already established far more advanced cultures and civilizations than previously thought.

The Ring of Civilizations series introduces the allure of the massive ancient ruins found throughout Asia, and tells the story of the lives and insight of those who created them.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4K
2013
65

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! takes the viewer on a visual journey to one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world.  Experience the main stage of the Football Worldcup 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016 like you have never seen it before!

This is the first portrait of Rio filmed with 4K/Ulta HD cameras, featuring breathtaking Aerial, Timelapse, and Slow Motion effect shots.  The high class soundtrack mixes catchy songs with modern and Brazilian blends of Salsa, Samba, Hiphop, and House Music.  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! with its innovative creation of elements opens up a new, unique genre for non-verbal art films!  As part of the fifth largest country in the world Brazil, Rio is the third largest metropolitan area of South America with 12 million inhabitants.  Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, mountains with large rainforests and constant influence of a tropic climate the city is one of the most exotic urban places on earth.  The film shows new, outstanding perspectives on the world famous beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, as well as the iconic landmarks Sugarloaf Mountain at Guanbara Bay and Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado mountain.  Spectacular impressions of the epic annual Carnival parades on public streets and at Sambodromo lead to fascinating insights on the Carioca’s second major passion: Football!

Rise of Animals: Triumph of the Vertebrates
2013
2 x 50 min

David Attenborough embarks on an epic 500 million year journey to unravel the incredible rise of the vertebrates.  He presents explosive new fossil evidence from a region he’s long dreamt of exploring – the frontier of modern paleontological research: China.  The evolution of animals with backbones is one of the greatest stories in natural history.  Brand new discoveries of fossils – ancient and living – combined with stunning CGI and cinematography enable David to tell this fascinating story and reveal that humans are the heirs to a magnificent evolutionary heritage.

Rome Unwrapped
2010
8 x 60 min

Rome’s history is being rewritten.  New excavations are giving us groundbreaking insights into the events that defined the Empire and the personal stories of its people – not just emperors and the elite, but the working classes, engineers, and common soldiers.  Through their experiences, we are gaining a radically different perspective on Rome’s history – leading experts to challenge the traditional view of the Empire.  Now they can tell Rome’s previously untold story based on more and broader sources than ever before.  The names and places are familiar – Caesar, Caligula, the Colosseum – but the interpretation is very different.

As we travel across the Empire’s vast landmass, we meet the new generation of experts on the forefront of this archaeological revolution.  With the help of 21st century technology, they are uncovering new data and reinterpreting ancient sources.  From the makers of the high-rating series Egypt Unwrapped, this series uncovers a fresh, darker Rome that is disarmingly modern.  Through unique access to new excavations integrated with innovative use of CGI and stylish dramatisation, this is ‘When Rome Ruled.’

Rural Destinations in the World
2016
13 x 30 min

In a world where the fast paced life of metropolitan cities have infiltrated every aspect of daily life, everyone is searching for that one place where one can let one’s hair down.

These hidden gems do exist and it will be our honour to escort you there.  Rural Destinations in the World is a thirteen-episode documentary series that shows great vacation spots in Germany, the US, Poland, Iceland, Colombia, Spain, Portugal, Austria, or Switzerland.  It takes you on a trip around the regions of the world that are almost untouched by modernization.  Until recently, tourism meant a search for exotic destinations, idyllic beaches or endless tours across populous cities; in short, it was what we call “mass tourism.”  Nowadays, the average tourist looks for destinations that differ greatly from the frenzy of today’s lifestyles.

From the forests of middle Europe to the shores of Spain, we will introduce you to old traditions that still live on today, the thrills of rock climbing in remote areas and the breath taking scenery of rural destinations.  We will focus on historic heritage, wine tourism, bird watching, fine cuisine, nature, and leisure.  Each episode will uncover secret places, unknown corners, hiking trails and leisure activities that are sure to delight the viewer.  Our goal is to discover some of the most stunning and treasured treats of nature and make known the less known regions of Europe.

Small in Size But Big on Personality: Dwarf Mongooses
2015
52

Some would consider the dwarf mongoose the cutest creature on the African savanna.  Measuring 25 centimeters in length, they are actually the world’s smallest mongooses, living in a land with many predators.  They survive by forming packs of about 20 members and observing unique social rules.  In and around the anthills they call home, the mongooses follow a rigid hierarchy, where the lowest-ranking member of a pack is responsible for the most dangerous duties.  Eating and sleeping are secondary to watching out for enemies and protecting the pack.  Why do these animals risk their own lives to serve the other pack members?  It is, in fact, all part of an ingenious master plan.

Snakes
40
Strange World
2015
8 x 60 min

People have an insatiable and timeless appetite for the bizarre.  Modern media is an incubator of hysteria and excitement, as strange and unexplained stories gain traction and capture the public mind.  In Strange World, our host, journalist Alex Hannaford, travels the planet in search of the truth behind these mysteries.  This is a one-stop-shop for all your conspiracy theory urges!

Survival in the Ice Kingdom: Polar Bears
2014
52

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.

Swimming with Legends
2014
70

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.

Tawaraya: The House of Secret Codes
2015
59

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.

The Bachelor King
2011
75, 56, 50

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.

The Caiman Hunters: Jaguar, Brazilian Wetlands
2016
52

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.

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