Disney’s nature films, rooted in the legacy of Walt Disney’s passion for the natural world, make a triumphant return with the enchanting Disneynature Earth.
Disney invited me to view Disneynature Earth in 2009 when it was released. All thoughts an opinions are my own.
Disney’s nature films, rooted in the legacy of Walt Disney’s passion for the natural world, made a triumphant return with the enchanting Disneynature Earth.
As part of this revival, the film’s directors, Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, bring their expertise from the Emmy Award-winning “Planet Earth,” creating a visual masterpiece that not only captivates but also treads lightly on our planet.
Behind the Scenes of Disneynature Earth
In a rare insight into the making of Disneynature Earth, I had the privilege of joining a conference call with directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield.
The filmmakers acknowledged the environmental impact of their work, especially with the use of helicopters for breathtaking shots. Mark Linfield emphasized the film’s potential to raise awareness and its positive contribution by stating, “we feel that the environmental message and the awareness that we hope this film will create is worth, to some extent, the inevitable carbon that’s burnt up in filming a movie all the way around the world and using helicopters.”
During the interview, Mark Linfield disclosed Disney’s initiative to offset environmental impact. In the first week of the film’s release, Disney pledged to plant a tree in the North Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil for every ticket sold. This meaningful gesture aims to counteract carbon emissions, contributing to the preservation of a highly threatened rainforest area.
Valerie Williams from the former site GreenMuze delved deeper into the environmental aspects, seeking clarity on the carbon footprint calculation. Alastair Fothergill admitted that, at the film’s inception seven years ago, calculating the carbon footprint was not a prominent concern. He candidly acknowledged the unavoidable carbon footprint associated with filming worldwide and using helicopters, but he expressed hope that the film’s focus on raising environmental awareness could, in part, justify its ecological impact.
Valerie William sought specifics on how the filmmakers minimized their ecological impact. Alastair Fothergill highlighted their commitment to small crews and reduced paper wastage. He explained, “Compared with your average Hollywood crew, we travel very, very light, and simple things such as paper wastage and being very careful that we leave things exactly as we went. We took out those sorts of things that we could actually affect. There is no way, clearly, we could get to all the locations we wanted to without using airplanes, and the aerial photography, which is crucial to the movie, involves helicopters. We couldn’t avoid that. But apart from those two areas, we were as economical as we possibly could be.”
A Cinematic Marvel with a Green Heart
Disneynature Earth not only mesmerizes audiences with its stunning cinematography but also sets a positive precedent in the film industry by addressing environmental concerns.
As awareness of climate impact grows, this film stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in championing both cinematic excellence and eco-conscious practices. Disney takes its first steps toward a more sustainable future, setting the stage for future cinematic endeavors to follow suit.
Since the films release in 2009 Disneynature has released 17 more movies, many of which can be viewed on Disney+. There is another Disneynature film expected to be released to Disney+ in 2024 with the working title of Tiger.
These nature movies from Disney are a great way to start a discussion with your family about nature, conservation, and the environment.
Disneynature’s Earth is not currently on Disney+ but can be purchased online. You can also view many of the other Disneynature films on Disney+.
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