If there is one thing informational cable channels have learned to do spectacularly are anthology series making great use out of their HD channels. Next up is Great Migrations, a four episode epic from National Geographic starting this Sunday at 8:00. The four episode split up among the reasons why animals migrate, it’s in their DNA (Born to Move, 11/7 at 8), to procreate (Need to Breed, 11/7 at 8:00), for food (Feast or Famine 11/14 at 8:00), and basic survival (Race to Survive, 11/14 at 9).
Great Migration is the natural sequel to the Discovery documentary Life
and it matches it size and scale which can even view in standard definition (which begs the question when are channels going to start send Blu-Ray screeners?). It also shares its one drawback, narration by Alec Baldwin. Sure his voice is less annoying that Oprah’s but it hard when you hear the disembodied voice of Baldwin and not think of certain voice-mails. Much like Life, there is a case to be made to watch with the mute button on. Okay, it is fun to hear Alex say, “He’s four tons of raw aggression,” and no he is not referring to one of his brothers.
Much like Life, Great Migrations features the monarch butterfly, an insect that takes three generations to migrate from Mexico to Canada, but only one to get back to Mexico. Survivor fans will remember Jellyfish Lake which reward challenge winners got to take a dip in during the Palau season. But the signature segment of the series is easily when the African elephants the show features got caught in an epic sandstorm that looks like the end of days.
Great Migrations also has three companion hours for further viewing. Tuesday November 9 at 10:00 is The Science of Great Migrations, get a behind the scenes look at how scientist tracked some of their subjects of the series like how they got a microchip on the monarch butterfly that was light enough that they could still fly away. Then right after the fourth and final episode November 14 at 10:00 in Great Migrations: Behind the Scenes to see how the cameramen and producers got the iconic shots for from the show including a firsthand take on going through the previously mentioned sandstorm. Lastly Great Migrations: Rhythms of Life airs Saturday November 20 at 8:00 which is a best of the series sans Alec Baldwin who is replaced by original music.
If you cannot get enough of Great Migrations on the television, there is a companion three hundred page book also entitled Great Migrations
. It is split into four sections that correspond with the television show with plenty of glossy pictures and explanations of the animal’s migration. You can also check out National Geographic’s Great Migrations social game Move “which simulates the zebra and wildebeest migration and allows users to participate in one of 14 regional teams that will be playing real-time across the globe, and invite Facebook friends to join to build the biggest herd and complete the most migrations.”
One quick warning to animal lovers before they turn into Great Migrations, many of the animals depicted migrate to get away from predators and some migrate right into them, so be warned there are some very graphic scenes of these encounters throughout the series. Check out (a non graphic) preview of what you can expect on Sunday:
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