The love story between chickens and men has lasted for over 5000 years. How has this humble forest animal managed to conquer all continents, all territories and become the most abundant and diversified feathered species on our planet?
Today there are over 19 billion on earth, three times more than human beings, and many more than any other species of wild birds.
How did this darkly plumed forest species become so diverse in colour, form and behaviour? What is the everyday life of the hens and roosters that surround us?
Battery-farmed in Brazilian hangars, raised outdoors in the English countryside, in Filipino combat training centers, in survivalists’ bunkers or on New York’s roofs, chickens can live many different lives.
This documentary will explore the world of mankind and chickens in order to unveil the mysteries of the unprecedented success of this unassuming bird.
The ability to fly is one of the greatest wonders in the natural world. Millions of creatures soar above our heads today, using a fabulous variety of techniques to defy gravity and master their aerial environment. But how did animals make the incredible transition from land to air?
Conquest of the Skies uses the very latest science and stunning special effects to uncover the 300-million-year story of flight—and it’s not simply about birds. Using advanced 3D filming technology we capture the beauty and excitement of the whole world of flying creatures, from the fastest predatory falcons to the most acrobatic of insects, night flyers like owls and bats, and the soaring and gliding specialists capable of traveling huge distances. Audiences will enter the truly amazing world of these remarkable animal aviators, and leave the theater both stunned by the spectacle and thrilled by the story of how animals rose up and conquered the skies.
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.
A major eight-part series following experts using the latest research and modern techniques to unravel Egypt’s greatest mysteries. With special access to sites across the country, the series travels from the pyramids and Sphinx in Giza and Saqqara down to the Valley of the Kings near Luxor and the great rock temples of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt. The series investigates the origins of Egyptian civilisation and the real history behind the legend of the Scorpion King, uses CT scans and facial reconstruction to try to identify the Screaming Man mummy, and reveals new insights into Egypt’s great figures including Ramses II, Alexander The Great, and Cleopatra.
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.
They are everywhere. Flowers by the billions. They drink, move, compete and some even eat bugs. A brilliantly colorful and bright adventure through the science of flowers. You will fly over some of the world’s largest flower fields and see how this amazing life-form covers our fields and gardens while simultaneously cleaning our air and tickling our senses.
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.
From guitar makers to beer brewers, Glimpse takes us on an eye-opening journey through the world of modern manufacturing. Glimpse is a multi-part documentary television series that uses state-of-the-art 3D imaging technology to reveal how common everyday items are made. Each half hour show has three to four main segments and features information about the specific companies included within each episode.
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.