MIPTV 2023: Love Nature unveils largest-ever Slate of original series and documentaries

The catalog includes eight new titles, including "Deep in the Heart," "Macaque Island," "Enchanted Forests," "Jaguar Journals," "Lizzie Daly," "Animals Like Us," "Super Shark Highway" and "Beasts" of the Big Blue."

11 APR 2023

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Love Nature unveiled its biggest slate to date of new original commissions, featuring eight new titles. “Our most fulsome slate yet is stacked with character-driven series that unlock access to fascinating animal behavior, while also involving humans who weave in themes of conservation and optimism in meaningful ways,” says Carlyn Staudt, Global General Manager, Love Nature. “Working with top-tier production partners around the world enables us to showcase a broad range of wildlife stories and a diverse array of global natural landscapes that Love Nature audiences keep coming back for.”

The slate furthers Love Nature’s momentum working with world-class, natural history partners to create premium content with global appeal. The new projects include, "Deep in the Heart," "Macaque Island," "Enchanted Forests," "Jaguar Journals" with the working title "Lizzie Daly," a working title, "Deep Down Under" (w/t), "Animals Like Us," "Super Shark Highway" and "Beasts" of the Big Blue." This fresh lineup of programming will premiere in 2023 and 2024 on Love Nature around the world and will also roll out on Sky Nature in the UK, Germany and Italy. The slate leverages Love Nature’s relationship with global distribution group, Blue Ant International, which oversees licensing opportunities for most of the new titles outside of commissioning territories.

Overseen by Alison Barrat, SVP of Production & Development, Love Nature, the new slate of original series includes "Deep in the Heart," produced by Fin and Fur Films. Narrated by international Texas-born star, Matthew McConaughey, "Deep in the Heart" is a one-hour version of a theatrical release that celebrates the unique landscapes and remarkable wildlife of Texas. This visually stunning documentary features wildlife species ranging from black bears to the shy Ocelot and follows society’s ever-changing relationship with the natural world. 

"Macaque Island," a three-part natural history series produced by Beach House Pictures, is also included. The title combines stunning footage shot in Singapore’s hilltop forest, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, with the stories of three distinct tribes of long-tailed macaques and the parallel stories of the devoted conservationists working to preserve the species. The result is a fascinating saga that takes audiences inside the complex social network of the macaques, while simultaneously investigating how they are thriving amid Singapore’s growing urban population. "Enchanted Forests" (working title) (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR). Producer: Off the Fence Productions. This six part series champions the often undersung, yet vital, woodland ecosystems that play a crucial role in supporting life on our planet. 

"Jaguar Journals with Lizzie Daly," produced by Off the Fence Productions, is a brand-new series that follows expert wildlife biologist and TV personality, Lizzie Daly as she joins monitoring projects. Using the latest tagging-technology, Daly uncovers exciting new insights into animal behavior and reveals how to protect wildlife. Jaguar Journals combines emotional and dramatic storytelling with the scientific purpose of Daly’s mission across the series. Each episode returns to the leading cast of jaguar characters in gripping storylines that keep the audience coming back for more.

"Deep Down Under" is also included in the new catalog. Produced by Big Wave Productions, the title shows TV personality and wildlife biologist, Lizzie Daly, who goes on a road trip across Australia to reveal insights on the continent’s diverse and charismatic marine life. From the cold shores of southern Victoria, to the tropical reefs of northern Queensland and the wild currents of Western Australia, she explores a range of wildlife from from two-inch turtle hatchlings and shape-shifting cuttlefish, to huge predatory white sharks and 24-meter blue whales.

"Animals Like Us" (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR), Producer: Pioneer Productions, This series takes a deep dive into the wondrous lives of the world's most charismatic critters, to unpack their humanlike behaviors and marvel at a world where animals are just like us. Episodes explore how seemingly human animals can be, including how octopuses dream, elephants grieve their dead, wolves miss each other, and dolphins communicate what they want to eat. "Super Shark Highway" (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR), Producer: Breakout Productions. In a world-first research expedition, two elite teams take audiences on a journey that tracks the ocean’s greatest predator along remote and unexplored shark migration routes.

"Beasts of the Big Blue" (6 x 60’; UHD & HDR). Producer: NHNZ Worldwide for TVNZ and Love Natur. Narrated by renowned New Zealand actor, Rachel House, this landmark series showcases stunning wildlife living in and around the South Pacific and Southern oceans. Beautiful cinematic coastal footage and compelling storytelling introduce unique marine neighborhoods, iconic underwater creatures, and surprising unsung heroes. The series follows the survival methods of bus-sized oceanic manta-rays and several incredible whale species including pilot whales, false killer whales, a humpback whale and her calf, and a Bryde’s whale, among other wildlife.

Our most fulsome slate yet is stacked with character-driven series that unlock access to fascinating animal behavior, while also involving humans who weave in themes of conservation and optimism in meaningful ways. Working with top-tier production partners around the world enables us to showcase a broad range of wildlife stories and a diverse array of global natural landscapes that Love Nature audiences keep coming back for.” Carlyn Staudt Global General Manager, Love Nature