It could be said that David Attenborough is the voice for/of the planet. The British broadcaster and nature historian has introduced generations to the wild world as narrator for numerous documentaries, including the BBC’s comprehensive series about the Earth, beginning with 2001’s The Blue Planet, followed by Planet Earth (2006), Frozen Planet (2011), and Blue Planet II (2017).
In 2019, Attenborough and the Blue Planet crew teamed up with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Netflix to create a different kind of nature program. Titled Our Planet, the series strays from the conventional “blue-chip” themed approach — i.e., highlighting the grandeur and biological rhythm of the natural world — and instead focuses on human being’s destructive impact on the environment. Its conservation-minded motif, accompanied by stunning wildlife footage, offers viewers the opportunity not only to see magnificent creatures close up but also to learn what they can do to preserve Earth’s flora and fauna.
Attenborough’s conservation message is paired with superb production values; Our Planet was shot by many of the same photographers who contributed to the “Planet” docs, including renowned underwater wildlife cinematographer Doug Anderson. I recently spoke over the phone with the Scottish native about how he came to the project, his favorite critter, and Attenborough’s message.