Walking with Dinosaurs was a six-part documentary television mini-series that was produced by the BBC, narrated by Kenneth Branagh, and first aired in the UK in 1999. The series was subsequently aired in North America on the Discovery Channel in 2000, with Branagh's voice replaced with that of Avery Brooks. It is the first entry of the Walking with... series and used computer-generated imagery and animatronics to recreate the life of the Mesozoic, showing dinosaurs in a way that previously had only been seen in feature films. The program's aim was to simulate the style of a nature documentary and therefore does not include "talking head" interviews. The series used paleontologists such as Peter Dodson, Peter Larson and James Farlow as advisors (their influence in the filming process can be seen in the documentary The Making of Walking with Dinosaurs).

The Guinness Book of World Records reported that the series was the most expensive documentary series per minute ever made.



Four adults, four kids. The boys, both aged 4 and newly into the world of dinosaurs excitedly waited for the monsters to appear through the giant teeth far below them. The adults just concentrated on battling height-induced nausea (or was it the food?). The girls (7 and 10) just sneered with immeasurable superiority at the boys and compared High School Musical notes.
Then the show started. And instantly every one of us was hooked. Even Ethan who immediately leapt onto Grandad's lap and peered scaredly through the safety of spread fingers.
What a great show. It is truly amazing how they have produced such huge, yet lifelike creatures. As an adult, you obviously look for how they are moving, but rapidly forget the technology and simply enjoy the spectacle that unrolls in front of you (well, below to be totally accurate).
Each of the dinosaurs was excellent, especially, of course, the giant TRex that undoubtedly stolef the show. By that time, the kids in the audience - and there were plenty - were used to the scariness, so dealt with Mrs Rex's arrival (protecting her young - ahhh!) with due aplomb.
And it was not just the dinosaurs that were impressive. The set itself drew gasps of appreciation, especially the plants and trees that emerged floating in the (non existent) wind and also the fire and ensuing desolation. What was so impressive was that there was no attempt to impose reality (an impossibility), but just very clever use of lights and the set itself.
An interval half way through was totally unnecessary and an irritation when there are so many kids around - yes, I know they need the loo, but they need the loo when they need it, not during an interval.
But other than that, the whole event was great. The boys believed the whole thing and are now convinced dinosaurs still walk the earth. The adults waxed lyrical about the technology and artistry (once they had climbed down the 2,098,745 steps) and the girls - well, they excitedly determined that Walking with Dinosaurs was 'better than High School Musical'. What more can you ask?


Tags: walking with dinosaurs,