The island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean sits on the equator, where immediately next to a richly-colored coral reef, a sharp underwater cliff drops down to 1,000 meters. A long-awaited exploration down the little known depths of this tropical sea is finally about to start. NHK has teamed up with eminent marine biologist Mark Erdmann, discoverer of the coelacanth in Indonesia. The spherical transparent submarine, which successfully captured the world’s first moving images of a giant squid in its natural habitat, is used as the team encounters true living fossil species one after another. During their last dive, in the darkest depths of caves in the deep-sea cliff, the crew encounters a huge, unknown exotic fish …
For this shoot, the submarine was equipped with a cutting-edge 4K camera for pristine images. Join the film crew on an exciting adventure into a deep sea never before seen by humans, captured on six cameras shooting multi-angles, creating a breath-taking underwater documentary.
Denali, which was once called Mount McKinley, is North America’s highest peak. At its towering glacier-clad summit elevation of 6,190 meters above sea level, the temperature is 30 degrees below zero Celsius even in the middle of summer. The condition there is so extreme that it has claimed some lives of explorers.
In 2016 Daisuke Sasaki, a Japanese climber and skier, embarked on an extraordinary undertaking – a one-push ski descent down the hill of the Cassin Ridge on the Southwest Face of Denali. The steep slope that drops directly down to a valley looks as if soaring almost vertically to climbers.
NHK closely followed and captured Sasaki’s great adventure in 4K using eight UHD cameras. The huge precipitous slope plumbing down at inclines of up to 55 degrees, dozens of meters deep crevasses silently gaping in the gentle-white snow cap, and avalanches tumbling rapidly down the slopes that are caused by unusual weather – all the spectacles Sasaki met at the most beautiful but the most precarious mountain in North America were filmed in a stunning quality.
Denali, however, did not so easily allow the daredevil skier to accomplish his ambitious attempt. A slip fall of a team member, who was injured in the accident, nearly discouraged him to continue his bid on the unprecedented decent, but instigated by warm supports from his team members and his profound adoration for Naomi Uemura, a great predecessor and his countryman, Sasaki decided to resume his adventure. And at last in 38 days Sasaki pulled off the stunning feat.
This is a story about a man who made a record success in the world of big-mountain skiing. In a series of suspenseful scenes of his perilous adventure into the magnificent mountain and the breathtaking decent from its ridge, it will get across the viewers how deeply the impulse for exploration dwells in our human species. His adventurous spirit will spark their sporting blood …
Without rain for six months each year and with temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees Celsius, the Negev Desert in Israel is an inhospitable place to live. The Arabian wolf, the smallest member of the wolf family, is unique in that it does not hunt like other wolves that follow their prey for extended periods in packs. Due to a small population, researchers have attached transmitters to a mated pair to understand more about their behavior. This program closely follows the pair as they busily raise their offspring.
The Galapagos Islands are home to a treasure trove of creatures that have gone through unique evolutionary adaptations. One of the most extraordinary is the flightless cormorant, an endangered species. These birds can swim and hunt on water, but because their wings are so small, they are the only cormorants among 30 or so species in the world that cannot fly. Life on land is a series of challenges for them. The parents use their small wings to protect their young against the scorching sun and predators. However, once in the water, they are unbeatable. Using intricate moves, they display impeccable hunting skills. For the first time ever, cameras capture their tireless efforts to survive on a desolate, lava covered island.
If you think that people with ‘extraordinary’ abilities are only in comic books or in Hollywood movies — then think again. Living amongst us are people who have amazing abilities that seemingly defy explanation.
In each episode we meet 2 real life super humans — we explore their world: their family, their friends, how they discovered their amazing powers, and we build up to them pushing their abilities to the very limits of what they are able to achieve.
We also put our characters under the microscope by challenging them to a variety of revealing, scientific tests in order to discover whether or not they are for real, highly trained or mutant individuals.
A fascinating journey to the motherland of spirituality: India – an ancient civilization, mythical and mysterious, infinitely rich in tradition, architecture, culture, and religion.
Fascinating India spreads an impressive panorama of India’s historical and contemporary world. The film presents the most important cities, royal residences, and temple precincts. It follows the trail of different religious denominations which have influenced India up to the present day.
The film deals with the highlights of everyday life in India. In Varanasi, people burn their dead to ashes. At the Kumbh Mela, the biggest religious gathering of the world, 35 million pilgrims bathe in holy River Ganges. This is the first time India is presented in such an alluring and engaging manner on screen.
In 2015 Nigel embarked on a journey with a group of friends to realise a dream of laying down a record at the DLRA salt flat speed trials on Lake Gardiner, South Australia. Flats captures the passion, persistence, adventure, and heartache that played out during their journey, against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes of Australia. Offering stunning 4K production values and a story that is guaranteed to inspire, enlighten and entertain audiences.
The story of Life on Earth is one of our greatest mysteries. How did such variety and wonder develop? Fortunately there is a place where this mystery has been unravelled. It’s the site of the planet’s greatest natural experiment – a living laboratory where life has played out in isolation from the rest of the world. That place is Galapagos. The result is the most remarkable collection of flora and fauna on the planet, set against the backdrop of a stunning yet brutal tropical paradise. In this groundbreaking 3D series Sir David Attenborough returns to Galapagos for the final time to ask the fundamental question: how and why did life prevail on here?
Over three epic hours he will be our guide for this greatest of natural stories. Shot on Red Epic cameras in glorious 5K detail, the series captures the beauty, diversity and strangeness of the Galapagos in a way never seen before, providing an immersive ringside perspective for viewers. This is a story of discovery, of survival against the odds, and of nature’s ingenuity. The stage is at times barren, sometimes brutal but always beautiful. And the characters are mind-bogglingly weird, disarmingly tame and endlessly fascinating. Join Sir David for Galapagos 3D – the greatest show on Earth.
In the far reaches of the Galapagos archipelago there is a remote island – Darwin Island. Here, a mysterious parade of giant whale sharks passes … all of them are pregnant females, about to give birth. What has drawn them here? Where are they going? Galapagos: Realm of Giant Sharks follows a group of researchers who have travelled out to Darwin Island to begin following these dinosaurs of the sea wherever they travel across the globe. But placing satellite tracking devices on giant sharks is not always easy. Steel spear tips bounce off. Dangerous currents intervene. And the sharks can deliver bone-crushing swipes with their tails … In an exciting blend of science and natural history filmmaking, Galapagos: Realm of Giant Sharks uses action-packed, high-resolution photography to draw audiences into the world of one of the ocean’s largest and least understood creatures.
Borneo elephants are miniature elephants measuring only 2.5 meters from the ground to the top of their back. Much of their behavior remains a mystery as they live hidden in the dense growth of the forest. Borneo elephants communicate with low-frequency sounds that are inaudible to humans, and their strong familial bonds mean they help group members when danger is near. Follow a veteran team of researchers from the World Wildlife Fund as they reveal the amazing world of the elusive Borneo elephant.
Its extraordinary dimensions, as long as 10 meters, and shape in the form of silver ribbon, inspired the myth of the sea serpent.
For the past two years, scientific buoys, immersed at a depth of two thousand meters in the Mediterranean off the French Riviera, have attracted countless species of pelagic fish, among them the Giant Oarfish also known as the “King of Herrings,” drifting vertically, alone or by pairs.
With the help of the world expert in Giant Oarfish and logistic collaboration of enthusiasts a scientific expedition reveals the biology of this enigmatic ambassador of the abyss.
Thanks to underwater robots, mixed-gas dives and revolutionary images (5k, high speed, UV and X-rays), the film shows for the very first time when and how the creature feeds and reproduces.
We thus raise the veil on its paradoxical habits: why do all the adults self-mutilate and rid themselves of two-thirds of their bodies without being affected? Why does this lethargic fish not have any known predators? Why does it sometimes strand, while still alive, on shores often in pairs? Why is this ghost of the abyss attracted by electric cables?
Global Child‘s host Augusto uses social media to connect to amazing people as he explores the world, sharing inspiration through incredible adventures. In each episode, Augusto explores an uplifting life lesson by unwrapping it through new friends as they share adventure, laughter, spirituality, and exploration. The audience will not only learn about Augusto’s experiences, but also how to use social media to discover all those incredible adventures themselves.
Hurricanes are the strongest storms on earth. They can inflict losses of billions of dollars and thousands of lives. Beyond the hype that surrounds these dangerous events, are stories of significance to society, nature and the future. Collaboration with world-class scientists sheds new light on this lethal phenomenon. Thanks to dedicated film crews standing in the path of hurricane landfall, such as Sandy and Isaac, this series explore in full detail these severe storms, revealing how they shape our planet, sometimes provide new opportunities for life but also threaten our future.
Ibiza features more than just the world famous crazy party island in Europe’s Mediterranean Sea: The film leads through a fascinating journey to beautiful beaches, pristine nature, exclusive ocean view clubs and mythic hippie culture.
Impressions of the vibrant old town, neighbour island Formenterra and many aerial views show images that magically attract the rich and famous, VIPs & freaks of our planet.
18 high class Chillout- and Beach House Classics represent the perfect soundtrack to an inspiring, timeless masterpiece that no scene insider can resist.
The Arctic is accessible to man only because of ice dogs. As hunters, haulers and guardians, for thousands of years they have been a vital link to nature. Dogs led the Sarqaq people out of Siberia and, a millennium later, led explorers to the North Pole. Amundsen won the race to the Pole because he relied on ice dogs. As the light returns to Greenland, we arrive in Scoresbysund with a troop of the only companions worth having.
Iceland – a unique land with an incomparable landscape and pleasantly euphoric inhabitants.
This documentary is a scenic expedition through majestic volcanoes, seething geysers, powerful waterfalls, threatening fjords, and almighty glaciers. Hardly any other country offers such a variety of spectacular forces of nature! But not only that, this island offers its people a bout of freedom and equality that puts it on the list as the number one place to visit. With an extremely low mortality rate, high life expectancy and stellar incomes it is giving Disney land stiff competition as the happiest place on earth. While chalked full of excitement and good cheer, this documentary will give you an insight into how it can be that the people of a small, distant island with only a fraction of sunlight in some months can be happier than the people in sun-blessed Italy and Spain.
Samurai swords have served as lethal weapons but also as objects of sacred beauty in Japan. Priced as high as $1 million, a sword’s beauty can only be revealed by the polishers who show its splendid temper patterns reflecting the sun, waves, and flowers. But today, there are only 50 polishers left and that number is fast dwindling.
Master Sasaki is the only polisher to teach young protégés the ancient techniques. Two rivals, Yuichi and Yuki, undergo a grueling and sometimes humorous apprenticeship, hoping to win the big contest that can make or break their future as an independent polisher. Will the art of samurai swords stand a chance of being passed on for another thousand years? Beautifully shot 4K images showcase the little-known world of Japanese sword polishers.
An “independent watchmaker” is a watch craftsperson creating works of art based on his/her own ideals without belonging to any corporation. Among these watchmakers, Masahiro Kikuno is one that has been receiving attention for his extremely unique work that highlights traditional Japanese culture. Now, Kikuno is aiming to recreate an ultimate timepiece into a wristwatch. It is based on a “temporal hour clock” made by a Japanese master craftsman in 1851, which divides the time between sunrise and sunset into six equal parts. As the length of the day varies with the season, the length of the temporal hours changes by season. The complex and exquisite automaton clock consists of more than 1000 parts. The documentary closely follows Kikuno’s amazing creative activity of translating the same system into a small wrist watch.
Enjoy the exquisite world of traditional Japanese craftsmanship in stunning ultra-high-definition 4K images.
A piece of cloth folded like origami transforms into a three-dimensional designer outfit when spread out. Master fashion designer Issey Miyake has been taking the fashion world by storm for decades with innovative creations that have redefined the Western concept of clothing. Miyake, now in his 70’s, is filled with more ideas than ever before. This documentary closely follows Miyake in the creative process of a new series of “origami-like” designs based on his concept of “A Piece of Cloth.” Miyake and his young staff members are relentless in the pursuit of the designs that are beautiful when folded flat, and are attractive when worn dynamically. Witness the passion, ambition and creative struggles of Miyake and his team, beginning with the planning right thru to the completion of his new collection.
