Peppa Pig
has made headlines lately following the announcement that
Mrs. Pig has welcomed yet another little one into their family.
I’m curious about what Peppa might be up to.
dinosaur
Obsessive brother George is at the center of this family upheaval. Could his fascination with prehistoric beings grow even stronger? This question came to mind as I watched, particularly thinking about George’s character throughout.
Walking with Dinosaurs
— BBC One’s “reinterpretation” (not quite so bold as a “reboot” for the BBC) of the 1999 CGI natural history marvel.
Dinosaurs hold particular appeal for both fictional piglets and children, justifying the show’s timing during tea time and the focus of the premiere episode on an orphaned juvenile triceratops from a child-oriented perspective. Shot in Montana—a region abundant with dinosaur remains—the episode seamlessly blends scenes where paleontologists discuss their discoveries with computer-generated imagery depicting the brief existence of this young triceratops.
To be honest, I enjoy observing experts analyze fossilized T-Rex droppings (they call them “prehistoric poo” and “dino dung”) and discuss how much smaller their brains were than ours. “However, the T-Rex didn’t need to solve complex math problems,” notes team leader Eric Lunn.
The specialists likewise examine the remains of a three-month-old Triceratops, leading into the computer-generated sequence centered around the ostensibly parentless creature. In the narrative, this young one is dubbed Clover and has been forsaken by her mother and father. Without the inevitable sorrowful conclusion, this might have resembled a classic Disney animated film.
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Clover’s escapades involve evading capture by a dim-witted Tyrannosaurus Rex and avoiding the sharp, deadly beak of a pterosaur (picture a supercharged pelican, amplified further still). Eventually, she discovers a new clan within an Edmontosaurus herd, often referred to as “the cows of the Cretaceous” due to their herbivorous nature. The group also provides her with what they call a “companion,” another juvenile Edmontosaurus without a named identity—likely because this companion soon becomes prey for a wandering T-Rex.
Regardless of how kid-appropriate the episode may be, one cannot ignore the reality that the actual 66-million-year-old Clover met her demise when she was only three months old. As narrator Bertie Carvel points out, “Inexperienced, vulnerable, and tiny enough to be consumed entirely, Clover would have made a perfect meal.”
The filmmakers pull a small stunt on us, allowing us to think that Clover was actually consumed by a T-Rex, before a subsequent scene reveals she managed to escape. While this plot device might make a crime novelist cringe, it does ensure that young kids can rest peacefully after watching.
The original series of
Walking with Dinosaurs
was revolutionary in how it employed the structure of a conventional,
David Attenborough
-a nature documentary style for these long-gone creatures. The series leveraged both the benefits and advancements since the post-
Jurassic Park
“Dinosaur fever” coupled with advancements in CGI animation — making it the costliest documentary produced per minute. Over these past 25 years, the expense of CGI tech has significantly dropped; however, our amazement has waned as CGI has become commonplace, with accessible AI animation tools readily available today.
However, the genuine issue lies with empathy: the entire Clover situation is fictitious and thus removed from reality. Even though Attenborough’s documentaries frequently centre around situations like an abandoned lioness, these struggles are actual events and hence truly engaging. On another note, I have always had little interest in dinosaurs—or “dine-saws,” as they are sometimes called—so this aspect doesn’t particularly resonate with me.
Peppa Pig’s
George puts it.
His fellow humans will undoubtedly discover
Walking with Dinosaurs
exciting – assuming, of course, dinosaurs aren’t outdated anymore. Even though, the reality that
Jurassic World Rebirth
suggests otherwise as one of this summer’s most anticipated cinematic blockbusters.
‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ returns next Saturday at 6:25 pm on BBC One.
