DisneyNature Oceans set for release on Earth Day 2010

With Disneynature’s first feature film EARTH (a rehash of the BBC series Planet Earth but we won't keep going on about that ;-) pulling in close to $100 million worldwide in its opening week, it’s not surprising that the studio is looking ahead to next year.

A teaser trailer has been released for OCEANS anticipated for release on Earth day 2010. You might recognise some scenes in this one from the BBC's PLANET EARTH series, but there are also glimpses of some new, incredible footage waiting in the wings.

Also keep an eye open for recycling of the classic line from Attenborough's Blue Planet 'Until now we've only touched the surface'...

Oceans - Arctic Ocean

Tonight BBC 2 9pm
(repeated on the HD channel on Saturday at 17:05 )

Last in the series.....

EPISODE 8 – ARCTIC OCEAN
In this episode the team ventures into one of the world’s most hostile environments.
The Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in controlling our climate. Expedition Leader Paul Rose, Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, Maritime Archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and Marine Biologist and Oceanographer Tooni Mahto head to this hostile and remote ocean where they plan to dive beneath the polar ice cap to explore how the ice, the dominant feature of this ocean, is shrinking and how this could affect the rest of the world.

The polar bear is threatened by the retreating ice – but it isn’t alone. The team risks diving in sub zero temperatures to collect samples of the tiny creatures that are the basis of the Arctic’s complex food chain.

As the seas warm, the Atlantic walrus could be a global warming winner – in the short term – and the team attempts to find out why. And they search for a glimpse of the world’s only white whale – the beluga.

Produced and Directed by: Daniel Barry

Series Producer: Helen Thomas

Executive Producer: Anne Laking

www.bbc.co.uk/oceans
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g639s

Oceans: Mediterranean Sea

Tonight BBC 2 8pm
(repeated on the HD channel on Saturday at 16.55)

www.bbc.co.uk/oceans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g21kz

Photo: Tooni Mahto by Ian Kellett

The team embarks on an expedition to explore the profound effect that man is having on the Mediterranean Sea. Western civilisation developed around its shores, but now human activity is threatening to destroy it.

Expedition Leader Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and oceanographer Tooni Mahto investigate how the Mediterranean gave rise to one of Europe's first superpowers by diving the remains of a Roman shipwreck. Under the cover of night, they brave the treacherous waters of the Straits of Messina to search for one of the largest predatory sharks in the world - the increasingly threatened, prehistoric six gill shark.

They dive a perilous network of submerged caves to look for evidence of enormous changes to the Mediterranean Sea and they try to discover whether the feared great white shark could be breeding here.

Location Producer: Ingrid Kvale
Edit Producer: Hannah Robson
Series Producer: Helen Thomas
Executive Producer: Anne Laking

"Exquisitely filmed"...The Metro

"A shimmering Series".... The Sun

Oceans: Indian Ocean

Wednesday 3 December, 8pm BBC TWO, Episode 4 of 8

(repeated on the HD channel on Saturday at 17:05 )

www.bbc.co.uk/oceans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fzb9c

In the first of two episodes in the rich tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the team explores its remote and pristine underwater worlds.
Expedition leader Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and oceanographer Tooni Mahto investigate how schools of manta ray suffering from shark bites are treated by the inhabitants of a remarkable reef and they go in search of one of the Indian Ocean's most elusive creatures, the dugong. The expedition visits the only 'coral nursery' in this ocean, where an extraordinary technique is being used to repair damaged reefs. They investigate what is driving the increasing trade in shark fishing and, working with the British Met Office, they take part in a global experiment to collect vital information about the Indian Ocean.

Produced and Directed by: Daniel Barry
Series Producer: Helen Thomas
Executive Producer: Anne Laking

"Five episodes in...this series is certainly living up to it's initial promise" .... The Daily Telegraph

"A shimmering Series" .... The Sun

“There are a myriad of reasons to watch this eye catching series……superb underwater photography…..plenty of fun for fact fans….You’ll be hooked to New Year” ....Mail on Sunday

Image: Indian Ocean Reef Fish by Ian Kellett.

Oceans: The Atlantic

Thursday 27 November, 8pm BBC TWO. Episode 4 of 8

In this episode the team explores a corner of The Atlantic Ocean. This Ocean is the youngest of the great oceans and critical in influencing our climate.

Expedition Leader Paul Rose, Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, Maritime Archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and Marine Biologist and Oceanographer Tooni Mahto make a dangerous dive into a "black hole" to discover how different our planet’s earliest oceans were 3.5 billion years ago. They dive one of only 2 places on the planet where the oldest lifeform on earth still survives: Stromatolites, the creatures responsible for transforming our ancient oceans by producing oxygen.

They brave waters teeming with sharks to act as human bait in an experiment to test a shark repellent. They also investigate how the Atlantic has been invaded by the poisonous lionfish which is decimating local fish stocks and spreading fast. And they try to identify a lost British Warship, the HMS Southampton, which was shipwrecked after winning a battle against an American vessel in the war of 1812.

Oceans: The Red Sea

Episode 3 of 8. Wednesday 26 November, 8pm BBC TWO Oceans

In this episode the team explores the remote and unexplored Southern Red Sea, teeming with marine life and home to some of the warmest waters on the planet.

With unique access, Expedition Leader Paul Rose, Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, Maritime Archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and Marine Biologist and Oceanographer Tooni Mahto investigate whether the vibrant coral here can help other coral reefs threatened by global warming.

They dive in one of only 2 places on earth you can see a new ocean being born; they explore the wreck of an Italian ship, to find her top secret, deadly cargo, and they uncover archaeological evidence of one of early man’s first encounters with the sea.

And Philippe Cousteau Jr has an emotional journey to the remains of an ambitious underwater village established by his grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, in 1963 to discover whether humans could live beneath the waves.

Produced and Directed by: Milla Harrison- Hansley Series Producer: Helen ThomasExecutive Producer: Anne Laking

"Exquisitely filmed"...The Metro

"One to watch"... The Sunday Telegraph

"A shimmering Series".... The Sun

“There are a myriad of reasons to watch this eye catching series……superb underwater photography…..plenty of fun for fact fans….You’ll be hooked to New Year” ....Mail on Sunday

Oceans: Southern Ocean

Tonight BBC 2 8pm
(repeated on the HD channel on Saturday at 5.20 pm)

www.bbc.co.uk/oceans
Image: Paul Rose by Ian Kellett.

The team investigates why parts of the Southern Ocean are warming twice as fast as the rest of the world's oceans and looks at the impact of this phenomenon. They go in search of one of the planet's most curious and enigmatic creatures - the weedy sea dragon. They explore iconic kelp forests to investigate how they're being threatened by the rise in sea temperatures and a new predator. They dive one of the thousand shipwrecks in these waters and in a unique sunken valley, they search for mysterious deep ocean creatures normally found hundreds of metres below the surface. And they enter a maze of perilous sea caves to hunt for evidence of ancient sea creatures that can reveal how this ocean formed.
Produced and Directed by: Penny Allen Series Producer: Helen ThomasExecutive Producer: Anne Laking

"Exciting discoveries and fascinating facts”…. The Daily Mail

"Must sea Viewing"... The People

Oceans, Sea of Cortez

Tonight BBC 2 8pm
(repeated on the HD channel on Saturday at 5pm)
www.bbc.co.uk/oceans

In this episode the team explore how a unique ocean paradise; home to the greatest variety of whales and dolphins in the world, is under threat. Expedition Leader Paul Rose, Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, Maritime Archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and Marine Biologist and Oceanographer Tooni Mahto dive stormy seas to investigate how a giant predator, the cannibalistic Humboldt squid, is invading this sea; and search for the threatened hammerhead shark. In an extraordinary encounter, they carry out pioneering science on one of the largest carnivores on earth - the 20 metre long sperm whale. They dive a sunken ship with a tragic human story and to search for evidence that this sea is still growing they dive along part of the San Andreas fault line, above waters heated to near boiling by the furnace of the inner earth.
Produced and Directed by: Matthew Gyves
Series Producer: Helen Thomas

Executive Producer: Anne Laking

"A classy documentary"…. The Sunday Telegraph

"A shimmering Series".... The Sun

“There are a myriad of reasons to watch this eye catching series……superb underwater photography…..plenty of fun for fact fans….You’ll be hooked to New Year” ....Mail on Sunday

"Top Aqua Totty!".... Radio 4

Philippe Cousteau free diving with sperm whales by BBC & Ian Kellett