Disneynature’s Growing Up Wild
Digital HD | VOD
Directed and produced by Keith Scholey and Mark Linfield
Narrated by Daveed Diggs
Disneynature | 77 minutes
Release date: December 8th, 2016

Back in 2008, Walt Disney Studios launched Disneynature, a unit of their studios to produce nature documentaries. They have released 8 films on a wide variety of animals, narrated by big name stars such as Meryl Streep and Samuel L. Jackson. Just arriving for the holidays is Growing Up Wild, covering five animal families ranging three continents. The documentary is narrated by Daveed Diggs (Black-ish/The Get Down).

Turn down the lights and stare at the screen. New imagery appears, promising a positive movie experience. Over the past few weeks, Disney has released a bunch of trailers for forthcoming projects from Brad Bird, Marvel, Disney Channel, Lucasfilm and, yes, even Disneynature.

The time has come to break down these trailers and determine their worth through rating them in a Disney-like manner. I am assigning the best type of trailer an “E-ticket,” akin to the most popular Disney attractions, whereas the most unappealing trailer receives an “A-ticket,” much like the rides and shows people could enter for free.

Monkey Kingdom
Directors: Mark Linfield and Alastair Fothergill
Narrator: Tina Fey
Disneynature
Rated G | 82 Minutes
Release Date: April 17, 2015

Lions and sharks and bears, oh my! Disneynature’s collection of films have chronicled the stories of these creatures — no central focus on tigers just yet, I’m afraid — but until now, this documentary label had yet to venture into a society dominated by toque macaque monkeys.

Practically every April brings a new Disneynature film to theaters, and Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom embodies the series’ awe, compassion and discovery in a neatly wrapped (just under an) hour-and-a-half experience. It’s entertaining, yes, and as documentaries aim to inform, you will indeed walk away learning many, many fascinating facts that you can bring up at your next party.