Disney to make nature films

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Apr 23, 2008 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

The Walt Disney Company announced the formation of Disneynature. This new enterprise will create nature documentaries for theaters.

Heading Disneynature is Jean-Francois Camilleri, former senior Vice President of Walt Disney Motion Pictures located in France. Camilleri is one of the principles of the surprise hit "March of the Penguins".

The first film scheduled for release on April 22, 2009 will be "Earth" based on BBC's popular Planet Earth series. Bob Iger, President of Walt Disney Company stated "We were blown away by that TV series and we wished the Disney name was on it."

The team that created Planet Earth has been hired for future Disneynature productions, including Alastair Fothergill, who is directing "Earth." Fothergill stated "Disney has been an inspiration to wildlife documentarians for generations and it's a genuine thrill to advance this extraordinary legacy under this new label."

Also slated for Disneynature are The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos" "One Minute to Midnight" which focuses on orangutans, "Big Cats," "Chimpanzee", "Oceans" and "Naked Beauty: A Love Story That Feeds the Earth" which features a bat, a hummingbird, a bee and a butterfly.

The films will be accompanied by the publication of nature books and could become a part of theme park attractions. Iger said "We love balancing heritage and innovation ... Disneynature is a concept we look forward to building across the company and across the globe for years to come, and we hope these films will contribute to a greater understanding and appreciation of the beauty and fragility of our natural world."

Walt Disney was known as a proponent of nature documentaries and earned several Oscar nominations for Disney productions.