Every Earth Day Disneynature graces the world with an incredible and inspiring documentary and this year’s Polar Bear is no different.
Earth Day is a day where we celebrate the Earth, while doing our best to commit to another year of helping her heal and grow. It is also the day that Disneynature drops a new documentary, showcasing the life of an animal and the challenges that they face in this big world. This year, the animal is the polar bear. Voiced by Catherine Keener, this documentary is full of inspiration, stunning visuals, and a little bit of hope (something we could all use right about now).
In true Disneynature fashion, this story follows a young polar bear cub and her brother, as she grows up and has a cub of her own. Viewers are taken on a journey where they learn about the closeness of a polar bear family, and see all the things a mother will do for her baby. Family is a big part of this documentary, with parallels to how human families protect and love each other weaved in.
The film itself is absolutely gorgeous, choosing one of the most stunning locations on Earth as its backdrop. There is nothing quite like a sunset or sunrise pressed up against the pure white snow. The cinematography choices are brilliant and the camera work is unflawed. Using aerial photographer to fully capture the vast lands and their beauty creates a visual masterpiece.
This story isn’t all fun and games for the polar bears though, Disneynature is completely unafraid to shy away from climate change and the challenges it presents for the animals of the Arctic. Right off the bat, this is a major topic addressed, but then the documentary dives in deeper later on. It sheds a light on what a lot of humans are overlooking, and is sure to tug at the heartstrings, making viewers want to do anything they can to help the situation.
As tragedy strikes, and tears are shed, there is still an underlying message of hope. Witnessing the challenges that these gorgeous creatures go through because of climate change is absolutely heartbreaking. Humans don’t have a whole lot of time to turn things around for Planet Earth, so we better get started. If nothing else, hopefully Disneynature can inspire some to think about their actions, and how they are treating this planet. We only have one, and we certainly aren’t the only ones using it.
Keener’s voice is a calming, yet insistent constant throughout the film, allowing viewers to easily fall in love with these animals, but also wanting to do whatever they can to help them. Disneynature’s Polar Bear is both an exploration of the polar bears, as well as an exploration of climate change and the way it is affecting wildlife and the planet. This collection of films is a great way for children to learn about nature and the creatures that share the planet with us.
Another fantastic Earth Day documentary from Disneynature, Polar Bear is now streaming on Disney+, and the perfect way to celebrate the planet.
Visually stunning, inspiring, and a bit of a tear jerker.
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: Meet Buzz Lightyear’s Cute Sidekick, Sox
About Polar Bear
Narrated by two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener (“Capote,” “Being John Malkovich”), Disneynature’s “Polar Bear” tells the story of a new mother whose memories of her own youth prepare her to navigate motherhood in the increasingly challenging world that polar bears face today. Helmed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, the directing team behind Disneynature’s “Penguins,” and produced by Fothergill, Wilson and Roy Conli.
Polar Bear is streaming exclusively on Disney+ now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.