Earth Day 2022 is tomorrow, April 22, and to celebrate, Disney+ will premiere three new nature specials.
This Earth Day, Disney+ will take viewers on a journey around the world – from the rainforests of Guyana to the farms of California to the icy tundras of the Arctic – to witness and celebrate the diversity and resilience of our planet and the species that inhabit it.
Filmed in some of the world’s most fascinating, biodiverse, and mysterious environments, all of these dynamic movies and specials give viewers a revealing look at Earth’s splendors, its ecosystems, and inhabitants that face insurmountable environmental changes and threats.
Here are the three debuts to check out:
Disneynature’s “Polar Bear”
Two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keeneer (“Capote,” “Being John Malkovich”) narrates “Polar Bear,” which tells the story of a new mother whose memories of her own youth prepare her to navigate motherhood in the increasingly challenging world that polar bears face today.
It is helmed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, the directing team behind Disneynature’s “Penguins,” and produced by Fothergill, Wilson, Jason Roberts, Keith Scholey and Roy Conli.
In honor of the film’s debut, Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund will continue their longstanding commitment to caring for wildlife and their habitats by supporting Polar Bears International (PBI) in their efforts to help protect polar bear mothers, cubs, and their Arctic home.
Among a host of activities, PBI is deploying a new aerial radar detection tool to allow aircraft to identify polar bear dens to help protect these sites for polar bear moms and cubs during this crucial period, giving each new cub the best possible start in life.
The non-profit organization is also working with Arctic communities to reduce potential human-bear conflicts to keep bears and people safe, as well as efforts to inspire action on climate change globally.
“Polar Bears International is an exceptional organization doing exceptional work for both the polar bears and the environment in which they live,” said Conli. “They bring essential awareness to the general populace of what’s going on in the Arctic and the realities polar bears face today, and inspire us all to take action to positively change the future for this species. I’m so proud that we’re working with their incredible team.”
“Explorer: The Last Tepui”
“Explorer: The Last Tepui,” from National Geographic, follows elite climber Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”) and a world-class climbing team led by National Geographic Explorer and climber Mark Synnott on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle as they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1000 foot sheer cliff.
Their goal is to deliver legendary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive “island in the sky” known as a tepui. The team must first trek miles of treacherous jungle terrain to help Dr. Means complete his life’s work, searching the cliff wall for undiscovered animal species.
This Earth Day, learn why the tepuis – much like the Galapagos – are a treasure trove of biodiversity worth protecting.
“The Biggest Little Farm: The Return”
Also from National Geographic, “The Biggest Little Farm: The Return” is based on the 2018 award-winning feature documentary film that tells the story of John and Molly Chester, a couple who abandon their urban life in Los Angeles to live on a barren farm to grow delicious food in harmony with nature in Ventura County.
The new special follows the farmers’ 10-year tireless journey as they transform the land into a magical working farm and document the whole process in this heartwarming special.
Apricot Lane Farms is a beautiful, complex world that reflects our planet’s biodiversity, and this special introduces audiences to animals that will quickly burrow into their hearts, like Emma the pig who welcomes her newest litter, and an adorable lamb named Moe who befriends the family.
This Earth Day, see how the farmers utilize the interconnectedness of nature to help build soil health, maximize biodiversity, and regeneratively grow the most nutrient-dense food possible.
Disney+ has also culled other titles from its library for a handy Earth Month list of shows and movies to watch. It can be found at disneyplus.com/editorial/earth-month.
