The Tyrannosaurus Rex has long been something like the Arnold Schwarzenegger among dinosaurs. A movie star (Jurassic Park), an action hero (Jurassic Park 2), a professional teeth barer (Jurassic Park 3). There was a murmur on the dinosaur forums when scientists scratched the coolness of their T-Rex a few years ago. They wrote that there is evidence that some giant lizards wore feathers, even the tyrannosaurus. Passé is the idea of the bald powerhouse – his career end in Hollywood?
But on the contrary. The fresh look gives the T-Rex completely new roles, for example as a swimmer, dancer or flirt professional. However, he starts out as a bony sidekick to Sir David Attenborough. The British naturalist and filmmaker receives the audience at the beginning of each of the five episodes in an exhibition hall. He’s like the museum guide for the new docuseries A planet before our time at Apple TV+, one who can’t wait for it to kick off. Attenborough calls the T-Rex next to him “one of the most remarkable animals that ever lived”. That he says “animals” and not “monsters” or “creatures” is important and exactly what he wanted.
After all, dinosaurs are nothing more than the ancestors of the animals that are still alive today. This understanding has helped dinosaur researchers for years to gain new insights into their behavior – and viewers to identify with the dinosaurs. You can empathize with the dinosaurs, just like in one of Attenborough’s animal documentaries.
Like the Animals: The Planet Before Time features dinosaurs in the style of the compassionate animal documentary.
(Photo: Apple+/Apple+)
In order to maintain the appearance that it was one of his animal documentaries, complex technology was used. 95 species of dinosaurs, some animated for the first time, come from the team that created the Lion King photorealistically brought to life. The five episodes, each revolving around a different habitat, were filmed on real locations, sometimes with an amazing eye for detail, so that CGI animation and practical effects almost merge. The camera perspectives are observational and authentic, prompting audiences to remember that the animals on screen have been extinct for 66 million years.
Although the viewer rarely accompanies individual animals for more than ten minutes, emotions jump over faster than you think. The key is again the three-dimensional images, such as that of Deinocheirus, a kind of water buffalo dinosaur with shaggy plumage, whose itching makes the animal feel sorry for. While Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack duly underscores moving moments such as pterosaurs’ first attempts to flap, Attenborough’s commentary uses dry punch lines in the right places. For example, he once compared the claws of a robber to salad forks.
Even if the T-Rex in A planet before our time neither mauling goats nor crushing buses, the series understands how and why dinosaurs fascinate people. It even shows that dinosaurs are even smarter and more impressive than pop culture has ever painted them.
A planet before our timeMonday through Friday, one episode daily, on Apple TV+.