Walking With Dinosaurs 2025

[GojiraGuy1954]

I feel like it would have been relatively simple to replicate the basic foundations of WWD in a modern series, too. Let's say you don't bring back the original creators, or Kenneth, or Benjamin. Let's say you drop the atmosphere in favour of something more standard for a modern nature documentary. Fine.

But to call yourself Walking With Dinosaurs, you should do at least two things:

1. Tell a story chronologically. Don't put the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops in episode one unless the rest of your series takes place in the Cenozoic. Can be discounted if you're a WWD special that only covers one locality, like Big Al.
2. Stay in the past for the entirety of an episode. No interruptions, immersion is key.

Big Al did the science in a smart way by having one episode be the WWD story and then the next one being scientific explanation from paleontologists. That's something I wish Prehistoric Planet had more of. But according to Holtz, it is "interleaved" in the new show, so I expect we're going to get talking head interruptions ala Jurassic Fight Club or Dinosaur Revolution.

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

I feel like it would have been relatively simple to replicate the basic foundations of WWD in a modern series, too. Let's say you don't bring back the original creators, or Kenneth, or Benjamin. Let's say you drop the atmosphere in favour of something more standard for a modern nature documentary. Fine.

But to call yourself Walking With Dinosaurs, you should do at least two things:

1. Tell a story chronologically. Don't put the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops in episode one unless the rest of your series takes place in the Cenozoic. Can be discounted if you're a WWD special that only covers one locality, like Big Al.
2. Stay in the past for the entirety of an episode. No interruptions, immersion is key.

Big Al did the science in a smart way by having one episode be the WWD story and then the next one being scientific explanation from paleontologists. That's something I wish Prehistoric Planet had more of. But according to Holtz, it is "interleaved" in the new show, so I expect we're going to get talking head interruptions ala Jurassic Fight Club or Dinosaur Revolution.

I'd argue that there's a third, even more important benchmark for WWD, which Chased by and Prehistoric Park (mostly) also followed, but this new show is already ignoring. And by extension a fourth thing that follows from the third.

3. Make every single shot feasible using unintrusive filmmaking techniques as they're used in modern animal documentaries. None of this "swooping along with Pterosaurs" nonsense.
4. Add little gags of the animal interacting with the camera.

The show might still be following the fourth, I guess it's easier than the other points. But the "this was actually filmed by an actual crew who had to worry about life and limb and wasn't capable of Superhero-esque flight" framing is an instrumental part of the Walking with vibe.
Honestly feel like these rules are more important than the chronology one (since Chased By Seamonsters bucked it and worked) or the "Past only" one (since Big Al bucked that one and worked).

[triceratops83]

And if Nigel Marven isn't available, I am.  https://dinotoyblog.com/video/mosasaur-unboxing-nigel-marven-style/

I had a good chuckle watching that, you do a really good impression!

[GojiraGuy1954]

I feel like it would have been relatively simple to replicate the basic foundations of WWD in a modern series, too. Let's say you don't bring back the original creators, or Kenneth, or Benjamin. Let's say you drop the atmosphere in favour of something more standard for a modern nature documentary. Fine.

But to call yourself Walking With Dinosaurs, you should do at least two things:

1. Tell a story chronologically. Don't put the Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops in episode one unless the rest of your series takes place in the Cenozoic. Can be discounted if you're a WWD special that only covers one locality, like Big Al.
2. Stay in the past for the entirety of an episode. No interruptions, immersion is key.

Big Al did the science in a smart way by having one episode be the WWD story and then the next one being scientific explanation from paleontologists. That's something I wish Prehistoric Planet had more of. But according to Holtz, it is "interleaved" in the new show, so I expect we're going to get talking head interruptions ala Jurassic Fight Club or Dinosaur Revolution.

I'd argue that there's a third, even more important benchmark for WWD, which Chased by and Prehistoric Park (mostly) also followed, but this new show is already ignoring. And by extension a fourth thing that follows from the third.

3. Make every single shot feasible using unintrusive filmmaking techniques as they're used in modern animal documentaries. None of this "swooping along with Pterosaurs" nonsense.
4. Add little gags of the animal interacting with the camera.

The show might still be following the fourth, I guess it's easier than the other points. But the "this was actually filmed by an actual crew who had to worry about life and limb and wasn't capable of Superhero-esque flight" framing is an instrumental part of the Walking with vibe.
Honestly feel like these rules are more important than the chronology one (since Chased By Seamonsters bucked it and worked) or the "Past only" one (since Big Al bucked that one and worked).

Hardcore agree. That one part of PrePlanet S2 where they used the infrared camera felt very WWD to me, and I hope the new show at least has something similar

[Flaffy]

Maybe I'm just being cynical, but describing WWD as a "brand" just feels so soulless and corporate to me? Personally this just cements the idea that the BBC simply slapped on the WWD title for recognition only. Surviving Earth is shaping up to be the true spiritual successor to the Walking With series, given the use of practical effects and collaboration with Tim Haines, the mind behind the original WWD series.

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

"Brand, brand, brand", ugh. I feel bad for the people who actually worked on this, seems marketing and management really did not value them. Guess they'll probably also get all of the blame when this project inevitable fails to recapture the audience WWD had. Can't blame the suits who mess with projects and creatives at every stage of development up to the point of sabotage 

[Brocc21]

Some new promotional images from the BBC on Twitter:

[Faelrin]

New clip.

Animation reminds me too much of Planet Dinosaur, and looks way dated for 2025. Like it all feels weightless, which for something as heavy and bulky as T. rex is problematic. Again I've seen indie projects do it better. Not feeling this one at all. Or the previous take on WWD for that matter. The animation in that was gorgeous, and from over a decade ago now.

[Carnoking]

Well, no matter how it turns out at least we got this rex design out of it.

Yeah, I like it more than Prehistoric Planet's design, sue me.

[Flaffy]

Well, it's no Prehistoric Planet that's for sure. From the clip, the dinosaurs don't really feel well integrated into the environment. More like props in a scene.

The original WWD still stands as the most expensive documentary series ever produced, with a budget of almost $10 million. Hence I wonder why the BBC couldn't spare a larger budget for this project considering Apple's investment into PP.

[Trenchcoated Rebbachisaur]

...It looks like it's starving... ._.

[Gwangi]

The narration sounds in line with WWD but the CGI...

[Turkeysaurus]

If you are too young to know how Walking With Dinosaurs had an impact back in the day, it was more realistic to us than Prehistoric Planet was for you. So clearly this is new one is not even close to give that impression. I think Prehistoric Planet is the true heir to original series.

Just enjoy it for what it is. We'll still have a brand documentary that probably very good. I even enjoyed some scenes on Life On Our Planet.

I hope we will get PP season 3 someday.

[Duna]

...It looks like it's starving... ._.

Head is too much skin-wrapped. And skull does not merge with the neck, like the original WWD rex.

[Flaffy]

If you are too young to know how Walking With Dinosaurs had an impact back in the day, it was more realistic to us than Prehistoric Planet was for you. So clearly this is new one is not even close to give that impression. I think Prehistoric Planet is the true heir to original series.

Don't forget Surviving Earth. Spearheaded by the production company Impossible Pictures (now Loud Minds), and Tim Haines. I would not consider PP to be an heir to WWD given the drastically different narrative and presentation styles.

Just enjoy it for what it is. We'll still have a brand documentary that probably very good. I even enjoyed some scenes on Life On Our Planet.

I hope we will get PP season 3 someday.

Likewise. A scene by scene comparison shows how expertly crafted PP is.

[Gwangi]

I find it hard to believe that a T. rex could get THAT close to the Quetz without it noticing.

[DavidJamesArmsby]

The lackluster filmmaking here disappoints me way more than the CGI. This whole scenario is awkward and very shoddily put together.

[Carnoking]

The lackluster filmmaking here disappoints me way more than the CGI. This whole scenario is awkward and very shoddily put together.

The creatives behind this would do well to take notes from your shorts!

[Flaffy]

The lackluster filmmaking here disappoints me way more than the CGI. This whole scenario is awkward and very shoddily put together.

Very weird pacing and camera angles indeed. This series is shaping up to be WWD in name only.

[DavidJamesArmsby]

The lackluster filmmaking here disappoints me way more than the CGI. This whole scenario is awkward and very shoddily put together.

The creatives behind this would do well to take notes from your shorts!

That's very kind of you.
The biggest inspiration for my Dinsoauria films is the original 1999 Walking With Dinosaurs, so they honestly should have just taken notes from the original series they're rebooting! XD