"Walking with Beasts" (2001) TV series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Nigel Paterson

Writers:

Kate Bartlett (writer) &
Jasper James (writer) ...
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

15 November 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Animation | Documentary

Plot:

Using the latest digital technology, the era between the dinosaurs and man is superbly recreated by the BBC and Discovery Channel in another winning production from the coalition.

Plot Keywords:

Prehistoric | Computer Animation | Prehistoric Life

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Kenneth Branagh	...	Narrator (8 episodes, 2001)
Stockard Channing	...	Narrator (8 episodes, 2001)

(more)

Series Directed by
Nigel Paterson		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Kate Bartlett		(unknown episodes)
Jasper James		(unknown episodes)
Michael Olmert		(unknown episodes)
Nigel Paterson		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Tim Haines	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2001)
Jasper James	....	series producer (8 episodes, 2001)
Nigel Paterson	....	producer (8 episodes, 2001)
Joshua C. Barkley	....	post-producer: USA (unknown episodes)
Mick Kaczorowski	....	executive producer / executive producer: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Ben Bartlett		(8 episodes, 2001)

Series Film Editing by
Greg Smith		(8 episodes, 2001)
Andrew Wilks		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Clark Bunting	....	executive in charge of production: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)
Claire Downey	....	post-production supervisor: USA (unknown episodes)
Anna Mishcon	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Sara Yerman	....	production manager: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Josh Weston	....	sculptor (8 episodes, 2001)

Series Sound Department
Jovan Ajder	....	sound designer (unknown episodes)
Chris Burdon	....	dubbing mixer / sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Kenny Clark	....	sound designer (unknown episodes)
Peter Crooks	....	foley editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Andy Hunt	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (6 episodes, 2001)
Tacy Kneale	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (2 episodes, 2001)
Nick Ball	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Nigel Booth	....	sculptural design: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Jamie Campbell	....	physical effects (unknown episodes)
Richard Gregory	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Tamzine Hanks	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Jez Harris	....	animatronics supervisor: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Lindsay Harris	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Annika Hellgren	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Jeremy Hunt	....	sculptural design: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Reza Karim	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Charley Kingan	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Stuart Leach	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Waldo Mason	....	sculptural design: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Tacy Neal	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Bobbi Roberts	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Tim Rose	....	puppeteer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Tristan Schoonraad	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Colin Shulver	....	key animatronics designer: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Karen Stone	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Maria Swindell	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Annabel Tait	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Richard Van Den Bergh	....	physical effects (unknown episodes)
Jeni Walker	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Kevin Walker	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)
Carl Wilson	....	animatronics team: Crawley Creatures (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Alex Burt	....	animator: Framestore CFC (6 episodes, 2001)
Avtar Bains	....	digital effects artist: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Oliver Bersey	....	digital effects artist: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Will Braithwaite	....	research & development (unknown episodes)
Adam Burnett	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Darren Byford	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Steve Carey	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Simon Clarke	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Peter Clayton	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Oliver Cook	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Michael Davis	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Virginie Degorgue	....	creature skin painter: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Richard Dexter	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Laura Dias	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Richard Ducker	....	digital artist: character setup/rigging (unknown episodes)
Stuart M. Ellis	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Catherine Elvidge	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Theo Facey	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
David Fish	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Danny Geurtsen	....	creature skin painter: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Neil Glasbey	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Jane Gratkowski	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Timothy Greenwood	....	visual effects supervisor: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Scott Griffin	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Karen Halliwell	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Guy Hauldren	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Rebekah Hay	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Daren Horley	....	creature skin painter: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Jason Horley	....	creature skin painter: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Wayne Howe	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
David Hulin	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Eleanor Jackson	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
John Peter Li	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Chi Kwong Lo	....	software developer: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Sophie Lodge	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Robyn Luckham	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Martin Macrae	....	creature skin painter: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Virgil Manning	....	animation supervisor: Framestore / computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Christian Manz	....	digital effects artist: Framestore (unknown episodes)
David Marsh	....	computer graphics supervisor: Framestore CFC (unknown episodes)
Mike Milne	....	director of computer animation: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Thomas Parker	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Alex Parkinson	....	software developer: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Steffan Perry	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Sirio Quintavalle	....	digital effects artist: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Sharon Reed	....	computer animation executive producer: Framestore (unknown episodes)
George Roper	....	visual effects supervisor: Framestore (unknown episodes)
William Sargent	....	computer animation executive producer: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Asa Shoul	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
James Studdart	....	software developer: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Sarah Tosh	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Jon Turburfield	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Max Tyrie	....	animation supervisor: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Sean Varney	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Jon Veal	....	computer animator: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Fiona Walkinshaw	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Simon Whalley	....	visual effects post-production: Framestore (unknown episodes)
Kate Windibank	....	digital effects artist: Framestore (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Evans	....	assistant camera (1 episode, 2001)
Claire Allistone	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Bell	....	photographer (unknown episodes)
John Evans	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
John Howarth	....	photographer (unknown episodes)
Paul Jenkins	....	photographer (unknown episodes)
Michael Pitts	....	photographer (unknown episodes)
Peter Thorn	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Sophie Lodge	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Mark Francesco	....	assistant editor: USA (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Leslie Aiello	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Robert McNeill Alexander	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Mauricio Anton	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Annie Bates	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Bell	....	helicam operator (unknown episodes)
Bob Brain	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Steve Burns	....	senior vice president: production: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)
Paul Chambers	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Bob Chandler	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Margery Coombs	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Robin Crompton	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Anna Dufendach	....	production assistant: USA (unknown episodes)
Richard Farina	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Patricia Fearnley	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Frank Fish	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Mikael Fortelius	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Scott E. Foss	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Jens-Lorenz Franzen	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Alexandria Freeman	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Vanessa Fry	....	production coordinator / production staff (unknown episodes)
Philip Gingerich	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Samantha Henham-Barrow	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Claire Imber	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Mark Johnston	....	production assistant: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)
Adrian Lister	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Steven Long	....	production staff (unknown episodes)
Herbert Lutz	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Gregory MacDonald	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Tony Martin	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Michael Morlo	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Maureen O'Leary	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Nigel Paterson	....	location director (unknown episodes)
Shannon Pote-Marino	....	production assistant: Discovery Channel (unknown episodes)
Donald Prothero	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Paul Ralph	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Randy Reiches	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Olga Soffer	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Hans Thewissen	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Alan Turner	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Mark Uhen	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Peter Ungar	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Tjeerd Van Andel	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)
Larry Witmer	....	principal scientific advisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• BS Asahi
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Discovery Channel Pictures
• Pro 7
• TV Asahi

Distributors

• BBC Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2001) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• Discovery Channel (2001) (USA) (TV) (original US airing)

Special Effects

• Crawley Creatures and Associates (animatronics)
• Framestore

Other Companies

• 62 Blue Productions LLC  post-production services: USA
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• Academy Costumes  costumes
• BBC Concert Orchestra  music performed by
• Code Design  titles

Also Known As:

"Walking with Prehistoric Beasts" (USA)

Runtime:

180 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

BS Asahi

Trivia:

According to the bonus features on the "Walking with Monsters" (2005) DVD, Walking with Beasts was the series the producers originally planned to create. They went with "Walking with Dinosaurs" (1999) first, though, as they thought it would be a bigger success, since dinosaurs are more well known to the public than prehistoric mammals. Dinosaurs proved to be a big hit indeed, so eventually the production for Beasts got green-lighted as well.

Quotes:

[Last lines.]
Kenneth Branagh: [narrating] We have since built museums to celebrate the past, and spend decades studying prehistoric lives. And if all this has taught us anything, it is this: no species lasts forever.

Movie Connections:

Spin off "Sea Monsters: A Walking with Dinosaurs Trilogy" (2003)

A milestone natural history series

This series is truly awe-inspiring, besides being entertaining and educational to boot. The CGI graphics are so good that the creatures look completely real. And to the nay-sayer below who complains that `no human ever saw these creatures … blah blah … how do we know … blah blah … its like saying Thomas The Tank Engine is the real story of the British railway … blah blah' I say this: First if all, palaeontologists can tell a whole lot from fossils – everything from an animal's size and gait, right down to what it ate. Secondly, some of these animals (mammoths, sabre-tooth cats, woolly rhinos, giant elks) WERE seen by human eyes, and indeed cave paintings have proved to be another valuable source of information about these creatures. And thirdly, some of these creatures are so closely related to modern animals that it is possible to draw fairly sensible conclusions about what their social habits must have been like just by observing their modern relatives. Of course there's inevitably going to be an element of conjecture and speculation in a production like this, but at least it is educated, sensible and logical conjecture, and it's probably not far off the truth in most cases. My minor quibbles are pretty much the same as those already aired by other reviewers: I found it incredibly naff giving the sabre-tooth cats names - `Half Tooth' and `The Brothers'. Why not just call them Brian, Clive and Trevor instead? That would have been no more or no less silly. And some fascinating and truly bizarre prehistoric animals were completely overlooked or mentioned just briefly (the ancient horses being one example). But these are minor quibbles about an otherwise superb effort by the BBC. It gets 9 out of 10 from me.