The Success of the Disneynature Division of Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group

When the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group announced the development of the new Disneynature division, it was met with mixed reaction. Many saw it is a great way for Disney to make nature documentaries and increase awareness about the natural world around us. Others cynically saw it as a way for Disney to cash in on the increasing awareness among people about all things green and natural.

No matter which side you fall on, the success of Disneynature is fairly evident. It began as a small division with headquarters in Paris, France. This would make it the first-ever Disney offshoot to not be headquartered in the United States. It is headed by Jean-Francois Camilleri, a man who served as a senior vice president at Disney, and is well respected by his peers.

The goal set by Disney for Camilleri was to build a team that would actively pursue high-quality documentary films that dealt with nature in some way. The films could be centered on animals, weather, the ocean or anything having to do with nature and wildlife. The documentaries would have to be of such high caliber that they could be released worldwide into theaters, which is rare for documentaries.

Disneynature’s first foray came from Alastair Fothergill, who had previously produced “Planet Earth” and “The Blue Planet” for the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) and the Discovery Channel. He again teamed with the BBC and Discovery to help Disneynature co-produce “Earth.” It chronicled a year-long journey that started in the Arctic in January and concluded 12 months later in Antarctica. During the 12 months, camera crews showed the diversity in habitats for several of the earth’s animal species. It was narrated by Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation) in the United Kingdom and James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader from the original “Star Wars” trilogy) in the United States.

It was an instant success due to the expert camera work and breathtaking scenery. It grossed over $108 million worldwide, more than recouping the $35 million it cost to make. Disney was emboldened by the success and decided to let Disneynature continue to produce documentaries.

After “Earth” came “The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos,” which focused on a single female flamingo in northern Tanzania who is separated from her family clan. She has to survive in the wild with the threat of large predatory birds and ruthless hyenas. Though it sounds like a Disney animated film, it is a true story, with filmmakers simply filming the action instead of staging it. It was released in France and the UK in limited release.

Shortly after, Disneynature released “Oceans,” a large-scale project that took four years to film. With over 50 locations used for filming, it was the most expensive Disneynature film to date, costing an estimated $66 million to produce. It was released on Earth Day in 2010 and in the UK later that year. It made over $88 million worldwide in theaters, though that does not include DVD sales, which helped make it much more profitable.

In 2011 came “African Cats,” about some of the large, predatory cats that live on the Africa Savannah. It filmed the movements and daily lives of several cheetahs and lions in Kenya and was narrated by Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury in “The Avengers”). Disney teamed with the African Wildlife Foundation to come up with a campaign where proceeds from the film’s theatrical release could be used to help the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor in Kenya. They came up with “See African Cats, Save the Savannah,” which helped save over 50,000 acres in the Corridor.

In keeping with the tradition of releasing films on Earth Day, in 2012, Disneynature released “Chimpanzee” in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Foundation. They agreed to donate a portion of every ticket to the Foundation, with a minimum of $100,000 given. The film was narrated by Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear from the “Toy Story” franchise) and gives viewers a glimpse into the life of Oscar, a chimp in the Taï National Park in the Ivory Coast.

It grossed only $30 million but helped cement Disneynature’s place in the film industry as a division that helps nature and wildlife charities. The awareness and funds raised by the various Disneynature films may make even the most cynical of observers believe it was a good idea. With the beautiful visuals accompanied by educational facts, it is no wonder that people are eagerly awaiting each new Disneynature release.