"AMAZING DIGITAL EFFECTS BRING A LOST WORLD TO LIFE."
- DVD description
Overall
Walking with Dinosaurs is a mainly computer-made documentary wich brings dinosaurs to life. The show consists of 6 episodes, and each one takes place in a different time than another. It first aired on BBC in the UK back in 1999 and came to other countries thereafter. It's a part of the Walking with... series wich also contains Walking with Beasts, Walking with Cavemen and more! The show is narrated by Kenneth Branagh, who is also the narrator of Walking with Beasts.
Plot Summary
The main-thing in the whole show is to tell what could have happened in the time of the dinosaurs. It's like a documentary with modern animals, but they are replaced with dinosaurs. Kenneth Branagh teaches the audience about the dinosaurs and comments what they are doing.
Dinosaurs seen in the show
New Blood
Peteinosaurus (Pterosaur)
Placerias (Mammal-like reptile)
Postosuchus (Rauschian)
Thrinaxodon (Cynodont)
Time of the Titans
Dung Beetle (insect)
Anurognathus (pterosaur)
Cruel Sea
Cryptoclidus (plesiosaur)
Liopleurodon (pliosaur)
Rhamphorynchus (pterosaur)
Ophthalmosaurus (icthyosaur)
Giant of the Skies
Listed in the book as 'Beneath a Giant's Wings'.
Ornithocheirus (pterosaur)
Tapejara (pterosaur)
Kronosaurus (pliosaur)
Spirits of the Silent Forest
Koolasuchus (amphibian)
Polar Allosaurus
Death of a Dynasty
Anatotitan
Deinosuchus (crocodile)
Didelphodon (mammal)
Dinilysia (snake)
Quetzalcoatlus (pterosaur)
Plot
New Blood
We follow the life of a female Coelophysis through the dry season. We also watch the demise of a Postosuchus.
Time of the Titans
We follow a new-born Diplodocus, which we see grow to adolescent size, before it is attacked by an Allosaurus. It is then saved by an adult in the herd.
Cruel Sea
We follow the life of a male Ophthalmosaurus pup, as well as a massive Liopleurodon. It ends with a tropical storm that beaches the Liopleurodon.
Giant of the Skies
We follow the flight of an Ornithocheirus to the mating grounds, only to find he is too late, and dies, becoming food for next generation.
Spirits of the Silent Forest
We follow a group of Leaellynasaura, first through an Australovenator attack, and then through the harsh winter. We also see the
hatchlings grow up and learn to survive.
Death of a Dynasty
We see T-rex fighting an Ankylosaurus, and giving birth. The babies have to avoid snakes like Dinilysia, and the eggs have to be protected from egg-eating Didelphodons. Finally, we witness the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Theatre Adaptation
Recently, a theatre adaptation of Walking With Dinosaurs has been made, featuring massive dinosaurs weighing up to a ton. For more details visit Walking With Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular (also known as Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience).
Specials
The Ballad of Big Al
One of the Walking with Dinosaurs specials follows the life of an Allosaurus, named 'Big Al'. He starts as an egg, and then grows to fifteen years old, before being killed by the drought. He suffered several injuries throughout his life, and the remains of these on his bones help scientists build the story of Big Al's life.
Sea Monsters
The 'Sea Monsters' trilogy features Nigel Marvin trying to survive the seven most dangerous seas of all time. Some of the animals featured are Dunkleosteus, Megalodon, Liopleurodon and Tylosaurus.
Chased By Dinosaurs
Nigel Marvin also features in Chased By Dinosaurs. This is a two-part series. In the first episode, Nigel tracks the biggest predator and the biggest prey (namely Giganotosaurus and Argentinosaurus), and in the second episode he tracks the biggest claws (namely Therizinosaurus).
Prehistoric Park
Nigel also features in the six-episode TV series Prehistoric Park. Follow the link in the title to read about it.