Disneynature’s BEARS
opens in theaters everywhere
on April 18th!
Bears - Clip "Digging Up Clams"
YouTube Embed:
Bears - Clip "First Steps"
YouTube Embed:
BEARS
DISNEYNATURE
Website and Mobile Site: Disney.com/Bears
Genre: True Life Adventure
Rating: G
U.S. Release Date: April 18, 2014
Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey
Co-Director: Adam Chapman
Producers: Keith Scholey, Adam Chapman
Narrator: John C. Reilly
In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure “Bears” showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop teeming with life, their journey begins as winter comes to an end and the bears emerge from hibernation to face the bitter cold. The world outside is exciting—but risky—as the cubs’ playful descent down the mountain carries with it a looming threat of avalanches. As the season changes from spring to summer, the brown bears must work hard to find food—ultimately feasting at a plentiful salmon run—while staying safe from rival male bears and predators, including an ever-present wolf. “Bears” captures the fast-moving action and suspense of life in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses—Alaska!
Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Earth,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”) and Keith Scholey (“African Cats”), and narrated by John C. Reilly, “Bears” arrives in theaters April 18, 2014, to celebrate Earth Day.
Notes:
· “Bears” is the fifth theatrical release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. The label was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories.
· The first four releases under the Disneynature label—“Earth,” “Oceans,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”—are among the top five highest grossing feature-length nature films of all time.
· Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking, producing 13 True Life Adventure motion pictures between 1948 and 1960, including “Seal Island” (1948), “Beaver Valley” (1950), “The Living Desert” (1953) and “Jungle Cat” (1958). The films earned eight Academy Awards®.
.
“I hadn’t been to the Alaska Peninsula before, so flying to
the site in the Cessna—which of course reminded me of all the travel I did
in Africa in those little planes—was just incredible. Flying over the volcanoes, looking
down at the ocean, seeing the islands and the spread of the land that was so
wild and so uninhabited for many miles was really exciting. It gave me a
feeling that I don’t often have these days.”
~ Dr. Jane Goodall, Disneynature Ambassador
PRODUCTION NOTES
“Bears” captures the fast-moving action and suspense of life in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses—Alaska. “Bears are a symbol of North America,” says director Alastair Fothergill. “We want to take audiences to one of the most beautiful places in the world—an area people hope to visit, but never do. Now they can see Alaska through the eyes of a mother bear and her cubs.”
“The brown bear is strong and intelligent, gentle and incredibly social,” adds director Keith Scholey. “And unlike any other animal, they hold a special place in our hearts—we all had a teddy bear growing up. Bears are perfect for storytelling.”
In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature’s upcoming True Life Adventure “Bears” showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic backdrop teeming with life, their journey begins as winter comes to an end and the bears emerge from hibernation to face the bitter cold. The world outside is exciting—but risky—as the cubs’ playful descent down the mountain carries with it a looming threat of avalanches. As the season changes from spring to summer, the brown bears must work hard to find food— ultimately feasting at a plentiful salmon run—while staying safe from rival male bears and predators, including an ever-present wolf.
Filmmakers hope to show moviegoers the true dynamic of the brown bear. Says
Scholey, “A lot of people think that we’re crazy to film bears on location in such a
remote area. But these animals don’t deserve the reputation they have. They are not
out to hurt people. They are big, powerful animals with a remarkably gentle nature. We
never felt threatened by the bears.”
“We were able to capture incredible footage of this mother’s plight to feed her cubs,” says Fothergill. “It’s a terrible dilemma she faces—wherever there’s food, there’s danger. And when she’s able to find refuge, there’s not much food. Every parent can relate to her struggle in a way. We all face tough choices every day and sometimes just have to hope we’re doing what’s best.”
Narrator John C. Reilly agrees. “I remember going to New York City for the first time with little kids. It might as well have been bears on the street. I can absolutely relate to the protective feelings a mother bear gets when looking after little ones.”
Reilly, who lent his voice to Ralph in Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” returned to the recording studio for “Bears.” “With these bears,” he says, “it almost looks like there's a person inside—the way that they move, relax, play and eat. They enjoy themselves. They take big naps after Thanksgiving dinner like my whole family does.”
“Disneynature’s film ‘African Cats’ was a big drama with a lot of action and big characters,” says Scholey. “And ‘Chimpanzee’ was a far gentler film that was often very funny. What we love about ‘Bears’ is that it’s really the best of both worlds.”
“Bears” is directed by Fothergill (“Earth,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”) and Scholey (“African Cats”), co-directed by Chapman (“North America,” “Big Cat Diary”) and produced by Scholey and Chapman. With music by George Fenton (“Gandhi”), “Bears” arrives in theaters April 18, 2014, to celebrate Earth Day.
SEE “BEARS,” PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS invites moviegoers to see the film during opening week (April 18-24, 2014) and Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will make a contribution to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to protect wildlife and wild places across America’s national park system. “We can’t wait to share these bears’ fascinating behaviors and innate curiosity as they navigate a beautiful but challenging world,” says Alan Bergman, president of The Walt Disney Studios. “We are committed to protecting the environment and inspiring Disneynature fans to take part in conservation by joining forces with organizations like the National Park Foundation to preserve the natural world.”
“We were able to capture incredible footage of this mother’s plight to feed her cubs,” says Fothergill. “It’s a terrible dilemma she faces—wherever there’s food, there’s danger. And when she’s able to find refuge, there’s not much food. Every parent can relate to her struggle in a way. We all face tough choices every day and sometimes just have to hope we’re doing what’s best.”
Narrator John C. Reilly agrees. “I remember going to New York City for the first time with little kids. It might as well have been bears on the street. I can absolutely relate to the protective feelings a mother bear gets when looking after little ones.”
Reilly, who lent his voice to Ralph in Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” returned to the recording studio for “Bears.” “With these bears,” he says, “it almost looks like there's a person inside—the way that they move, relax, play and eat. They enjoy themselves. They take big naps after Thanksgiving dinner like my whole family does.”
“Disneynature’s film ‘African Cats’ was a big drama with a lot of action and big characters,” says Scholey. “And ‘Chimpanzee’ was a far gentler film that was often very funny. What we love about ‘Bears’ is that it’s really the best of both worlds.”
“Bears” is directed by Fothergill (“Earth,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”) and Scholey (“African Cats”), co-directed by Chapman (“North America,” “Big Cat Diary”) and produced by Scholey and Chapman. With music by George Fenton (“Gandhi”), “Bears” arrives in theaters April 18, 2014, to celebrate Earth Day.
SEE “BEARS,” PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS invites moviegoers to see the film during opening week (April 18-24, 2014) and Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will make a contribution to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to protect wildlife and wild places across America’s national park system. “We can’t wait to share these bears’ fascinating behaviors and innate curiosity as they navigate a beautiful but challenging world,” says Alan Bergman, president of The Walt Disney Studios. “We are committed to protecting the environment and inspiring Disneynature fans to take part in conservation by joining forces with organizations like the National Park Foundation to preserve the natural world.”
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