Walking with Prehistoric Beasts

I bought this having seen it on satellite TV and knowing its weakness, but hoping that it might be corrected on the DVD. First of all, the animation is superior, and the beasts and their stories are even more interesting than Walking with Dinosaurs. Maybe it's because they were more closely related to us, but I found the stories generally more compelling. However, my only complaint is that the scientific context could have been so much better. For example, creatures that have no living relatives are described on the show, but there is no mention of when we believe they perished and why they might have been an evolutionary dead end. I would have found it interesting to show where the various animals fit in a graphic timeline, and in a "family tree" showing what they are believed to have become and when. In other words, these wonderful stories and animation could have done a better job of showing us what scientific evidence they are based on. They are entertaining, and wonderful to watch for children or adults. On the second DVD, there is general talk about methodology of paleontologists, BUT it is not tied very well to the creatures we saw in the series. Also, for example, there is talk about South America breaking off of Antarctica and evenually bumping into North America, but this process could have been showed so much more effectively with a simple animation tied to a timeline.

Walking with Prehistoric Beasts uses the magic of digital animation to bring to life enormous, or tiny, mammals who followed the dinosaurs after their cataclysmic destruction. Each segment follows particular individuals as they work to survive their own harsh environments and predators. The variety of species is remarkable; some seem quite similar to today's animals, while others were unique and became extinct long before man made his appearance. The smooth and comforting voice of Kenneth Branagh, who also narrated Walking with Dinosaurs, tells the stories with confidence and compassion. This is an entertaining and instructive series, suitable for children as well as adults.

My son with autism wanted Walking With Prehistoric Beasts, and I was happy to be able to find a copy. My son is very happy to have this in his vast DVD collection.

This is part of a series of BBC specials that we purchased for our 5 year old son, after we found them on Netflix. My son loved the series so much we had to get it for him. He has learned so much about prehistoric creatures and is fascinated by the entire subject. He has watched this movie and the others in the series countless times, it is so well done and captivating for any age. There are some parts that show animals hunting others that can be pretty vicious, but my son who is pretty sensitive to "scary/bad" things, didn't have any issues with those nature moments. The movie shows the evolution of the various creatures, and tells the whole story of what earth was like at various points in time. It is super educational and interesting - so well done. I can't say enough great things about it!

For anyone interested in prehistoric mammals, this is perhaps one of the most extensive documentaries on the subject that I know of. It isn't a scientific examination but rather a presentation of ideas in a manner much more akin to a BBC Earth expose on modern species living in Africa, etc. It is a little dated which shows in the special effects but is still entertaining. I would love to see a contemporary update someday with the latest CGI and updated science.

My two-year old grandson is discovering dinosaurs and this is a logical extension for him. We have a good time watching any episode. There is nothing is frightening to graphic for him. At the same time, this is an enjoyable show for an adult. The result is something that we can watch over and over. This is where the 150-minute first disc is so useful, it allows for a couple of days to elapse until we see the episode again. The second disc is a making of that is more for adults. I bought this and Walking with Dinosaurs instead of the complete collection set. My grandson enjoys the dinosaurs more but likes this one too.

and the Woolly Mammoth. But how about the Leptictidium? A tiny early mammal. A tiny meat eater the size of a cat, who has to keep clear of the top predator of her time, the Gastornis, a flightless bird as big as a man and just as hungry!Or how about the Andrewsarchus, a five meter long wolf-like creature with bone crunching jaws over three feet long and related to the whale. In fact it BECAME the whales!This is a two DVD set. The first holds six amazing episodes about six different periods of Earth's history, from right after the death of the dinosaurs to just before man starts to rule the planet. The second holds lots of fun extras: interviews, TWO 50 minute long behind-the-scene featurettes, photos, fact files and even storyboards.Really helps fill in that space between dinosaurs and us. A must for any DVD library!

I finally got the third instalment of the "walking with" series. I couldn't wait til this film was released on DVD when I caught it on Discovery channel. First let me say that I am glad there are those out there who like to treat the portayal of prehistoric beasts seriously and not as Disney talking characters or Jurassic Park man-eating monsters. The documentary style of Prehistoric Beasts attests to how much the filmmakers value the paleontological finds of recent years. Now is the film %100 accurate in every aspect? No. Is every animated frame perfect with regards to special FX? not really. But as a whole it is a wonderfull learning and entertaining piece. The scenes with the giant rhino ancestors are awe-inspiring. The saber tooth cat comes to life like never before, and of course you have the famous mammoths stumping around the prehistoric badlands. Even those interested in movie FX will want this DVD along with the other 2 in the series as part of their library.

Bought this on realease years back - but when my eldest children were toddlers they did a number on it ;)Re-bought in 2018 with my, now youngest (3 year old) in mind, and he's in love already (the 11 year old also ingrossed too)Yes, it's dated, and artistic liberties taken and educated guesses made, but it's still fun.Along with the silken tones of Kenneth Branangh, this is a definite favourite in our house!

The makers of Walking With Dinosaurs exceeded themselves with this show. Amazing attention to detail right down to individual strands of hair on the Woolly Mammoths. The show starts with the time of the dinosaurs and ends with the Ice Age 1,000 years ago.

My boys aged 5 and 6 love this series. We bought this one after buying and viewing Walking with Dinosaurs which was also a hit in our house. Full of information and nicely narrated by Kenneth Branagh. My 6 year old especially has learnt loads from this! (5 year old watches it too but not quite so intrigued so perhaps he a little young, just wants to watch what his brother is watching!) Recommended especially for 6+

Brilliant. Bought this for my 5 year old son who absolutely loves this dvd. He has watched it countless times now and has not gotton bored yet. There are a couple of scenes were young or sensitive children might get upset such as meat eaters attacking and killing plant eaters but on the whole its very educational and you will not get bored watching it again and again ......

The animation quality is unreal. It feels like you are watching an actual filmed event that David Attenborough would narrate on a daily basis. The series is full of interesting information that not everyone would know and I thoroughly enjoyed it!If you are interested in Natural History, then buy this DVD Series!