April 22, 2020, is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and National Geographic had big plans, but the network had to pivot as COVID-19 unfolded.
EVP Geoff Daniels explains how National Geographic made the Earth Day shift due to the pandemic. He said that given the circumstances globally, the network wanted to be sure to “strike the right tone – inspirational and hopeful.” So, they decided to pivot slightly on one of the primetime Earth Day specials, “Born Wild: The Next Generation.” This show was produced in association with ABC News and those by GMA’s co-anchor Robin Roberts.
The original Earth Day plan was to broadcast most of the show live from multiple locations worldwide. When National Geographic realized this would not be possible for Earth Day, they shifted the focus to pre-taped segments featuring top National Geographic explorers. Daniels said it was remarkable that they were still able to deliver an uplifting show that “celebrates the diversity and wonder of our planet as seen through the eyes of adorable and charismatic baby animals – with a big assist from Chris Hemsworth and two little koala joeys named Ember and Dimples!”
The other National Geographic primetime special, “Jane Goodall: The Hope” was in the final stages of post-production when the studio shut down. The only snag there was Goodall was unable to travel to the United States before the premiere as originally planned. However, Daniels stated that Goodall “has done more to support the show from her home in England than she ever would have been able to do given her normal travel schedule.”
In the end, I couldn’t be more proud of how both specials turned out with my hope that they’ll bring real inspiration and joy to all our viewers at a time when the world needs it most.
Disney+ Earth Day Specials
There will be several animal-centric animated classics to rewatch like “The Lion King” and “Finding Nemo.” However, the most talked-about nature film on Disney+ is “Elephant.” This film is a Disneynature documentary narrated by Duchess Meghan.
The Duchess narrates the migration on Shani the elephant as she and her family travel across Africa.
“I’ve been very lucky to be able to have hands-on experience with the elephants in their natural habitat. When you spend time connecting to them and the other wildlife, you really understand we have a role to play in their preservation and their safety. We see in this film just how remarkable they are. Their memories are amazing. The close connection of the herd, the protectiveness of their young — I think they are a lot more like us than they are different,” stated the Duchess on “Good Morning America.”
By Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
Cynopsis Media: Nat Geo Pivots for Earth Day Amid COVID-19
Yahoo! News: What to Watch on Disney+ to mark Earth Day 2020
Corsicana Daily Sun: Earthx2020 and Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Image Courtesy of snarglebarf’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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