Blue Planet II

Blue Planet II
source
Title	Blue Planet II
Genre	Nature documentary
Starring	Sir David Attenborough
Narrated	Sir David Attenborough
Composer	Hans Zimmer
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Executive producer	James Honeyborne
Producer	Sophie Lanfear
Cinematography	Gavin Thurston
Runtime	60 minutes
Company	BBC Studios Natural History Unit
Original network	BBC One
First aired	29 October 2017
Preceded by	The Blue Planet

Blue Planet II

Blue Planet II is a 2017 British nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough and produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit. The series, a sequel to the 2001 series The Blue Planet, explores marine ecosystems across the world's oceans and features original cinematography, scientific collaboration, and a score by Hans Zimmer and collaborators. It won multiple awards and prompted international attention to ocean conservation issues involving plastic pollution and fisheries.

Overview

Blue Planet II examines marine life from coastal Great Barrier Reef waters to the depths of the Mariana Trench, profiling species such as humpback whales, blue whales, giant squid, leatherback sea turtles, and kelp forests. The series showcases behaviours including deep-sea foraging, bioluminescence in comb jellys, and migration seen in Arctic terns and salmon. Production worked with research institutions like the National Oceanography Centre (United Kingdom), the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute to integrate telemetry, stable isotope analysis, and remote-operated vehicle recordings. Blue Planet II also highlighted human interactions with the sea, including commercial fishing fleets, shipping lanes such as the Panama Canal corridor, and coastal communities in regions like the Galápagos Islands and Mauritius.

Production

The series was commissioned by the BBC and produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit under executive producer James Honeyborne. Filming spanned five years and involved collaborations with broadcasters including the Discovery Channel, BBC America, and ZDF. Camera teams used technologies developed at institutions such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and companies like Arctic Oceanography Limited to deploy autonomous underwater vehicles, submersibles like DSV Alvin, and high-speed gyro-stabilised camera platforms. Scientific advisers included researchers from Cambridge University, University of Oxford, University of Sydney, University of British Columbia, and the Smithsonian Institution. Post-production and colour grading were carried out at facilities including Pinewood Studios and mixers who previously worked on films from Industrial Light & Magic and studios associated with Warner Bros. Pictures.

Episodes

The seven-episode series comprises thematic chapters titled to reflect ecological zones and behaviours. Episodes focus on habitats such as the isolation of polar ice around the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, the productivity of the Coral Sea and Red Sea, the dynamics of coastal ecosystems like the Chesapeake Bay, and the abyssal plains of the Indian Ocean. Each instalment features sequences filmed in locations including the Galápagos Islands, Seychelles, Falkland Islands, Canary Islands, the Hebrides, and the waters around South Georgia. Scientists from organisations such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the European Marine Biological Resource Centre, and the Australian Antarctic Division appear in supplementary material to contextualise observations.

Music and Soundtrack

The original score was developed by composer Hans Zimmer with collaborators including Jacob Shea and David Fleming. The soundtrack blends orchestral elements recorded at studios associated with the London Symphony Orchestra and electronic textures inspired by recordings from deep-sea hydrophones used by teams at the National Oceanography Centre (United Kingdom) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Sound design drew on field recordings captured by crews alongside teams from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop tradition and mixers who have worked on productions with Sky Atlantic and HBO.

Broadcast and Reception

Blue Planet II premiered on BBC One in October 2017 and was simulcast on international partners including the Discovery Channel, NHK, CBC Television, and ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). It achieved record audience figures for natural history programming on the BBC and received critical acclaim from outlets such as The Guardian, The New York Times, The Telegraph (London), and The Times (London). The series won awards at ceremonies including the BAFTA Television Awards and the Emmy Awards, and was commended by conservation bodies including WWF and Greenpeace for raising public awareness.

Impact and Conservation Initiatives

Footage and messaging from the series energized campaigns targeting plastic pollution and single-use plastics, influencing policy discussions in institutions such as the United Kingdom Parliament, the European Commission, and the United States Congress. Partnerships formed with non-governmental organisations like Oceana, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and Surfrider Foundation to leverage the series' visibility for beach clean-ups, citizen science initiatives, and advocacy for marine protected areas linked to networks such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Academic collaborations with University of Exeter, University of Auckland, and Imperial College London used series data to publish follow-up studies on microplastic ingestion in species including albatrosses and squid.

Home Media and Streaming Releases

Home media distributions were handled by BBC Studios and partners including Warner Bros. for certain territories, with Blu-ray and DVD releases bundled with bonus features such as behind-the-scenes footage featuring teams from the BBC Natural History Unit and commentary by Sir David Attenborough. Streaming rights were secured by platforms including iPlayer, Netflix in selected regions, and Amazon Prime Video for digital purchase or rental. Educational licensing enabled versions for institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and university libraries, and curated excerpts were used in exhibitions at venues including the Natural History Museum, London and the American Museum of Natural History.

Category:BBC television documentaries Category:Documentary television series about nature