• ABOUT
• SERIES OUTLINE
• SERIES APPROACH
• LOCATIONS AND EXPERTS
• PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE
• Short promo
• CONTACT

ABOUT

History, science, technology and animal antics. This 3 part series examines the past, present and future of animal use in conflict. At Sea, on Land and in the Sky. Using a combination of archival and contemporary war footage along with CGI created sequences, each episode will focus on 3 distinct animal stories. We visit research and training facilities, battlefields, universities, zoos and grave yards, in fact anywhere in the world that animals have, or are being utilised for conflict.

We meet some of the worlds top handlers, military strategists, foot soldiers, engineers and scientists. And of course in doing so, we are introduced to some of the most amazing creatures on the planet. The cute and cuddly, the dangerous, the wet and slippery, the downright weird. We detail the good and bad, the right and wrong and the just plain insane.

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SERIES OUTLINE

The old saying 'War is for the dogs' is only partly correct. It's also for the horses, elephants, pigeons, rats, dolphins, camels, sea lions, oxen, chimps, sharks, bees, dragonflies and even the glow worm. Animals have been recruited into military service for thousands of years. In fact, the use of animals has proven so successful that not one single war in more than two thousand years has been fought without them.

In the fascinating 3 part series Animals on the Frontline we come face to face with this strange menagerie of recruits and find out what it is that makes them so invaluable, in the sea, the sky and on the land.

Initially used to traverse rough terrain or simply to frighten the wits out of a ferocious enemy, animals and the technology developed to support them, have become tools of war as useful and utilised as the latest fully automatic weapon.

Immense budgets are spent every year on scientific and technological support systems for the use of animals in conflict. Be it visual imaging, sonar spy systems or training facilities, there are laboratories everywhere, including some of the poorer regions of the world, where dedicated scientists spend years working to better the natural advantage that animals possess over humans in certain situations. Animals on the Frontline will visit several of these facilities and introduce some of the animal heroes that are working to save countless lives every day.

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SERIES APPROACH

With episodes individually themed to focus on those animals utilised by the military under the Sea, in the Sky or on the Land, Animals on the Frontline is designed to give the viewer a comprehensive understanding of the past, a strong insight into the future and a clear picture of present day training and deployment. But this is by no means a serious educational piece. Including segments of scientific experiment, vox pops and examining some of the more ridiculous examples of military application, Animals on the Frontline will be fun and engaging with the goal of enlightening rather than explaining. Each episode opens with a stunning 3D computer graphic animation portraying some of the great history of animal use in human situations of conflict. This segment immediately introduces the audience to one of the three themes of Sea, Sky and Land and shows some of the more astounding moments of historical significance within the subject matter.

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LOCATIONS AND EXPERTS

Within the body of the episode three 'focus pieces' dominate. Spending approximately 15 minutes on each, Animals on the Frontline will delve into the training methods, stories of survival, successes and disasters in the use of particular animals past, present and future. Brief mention of other animals stem from these pieces but are not covered to the same depth.

Speaking to some of the world's leading researchers and handlers in the field, Animals on the Frontline will present a first hand picture of the present reality of military animal application. Some of these key speakers will include Lt Stephanie Murdoch of the Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego, California. Jelle Atema, Biologist at Boston University discussing his research into remotely controlling wild animals and Professor Ronald Fearing detailing the development of micro-aeroplane technology based on the flight structure of the insect. Authors Jilly Cooper and Juliet Gardiner will round out the details, offering a more over-arching approach to the subject matter. Joining this distinguished core will be handlers from the K9 dog training facility in Queensland, Australia, the Metropolitan Mounted Police Unit and the Giant African Rat laboratories of Apopo in Tanzania. And still the list is far from complete.

Interspersed with the focus pieces will be lighter entertainment segments such as 'FACT OR FICTION?' examining some of the myths of animal behaviour in the battle field and attempting to uncover the truth of the matter. Also the 'Bizzare Fact' that will appear in each episode offers the viewer a brief intermission from the general ambience of the episode and delves momentarily into fun scientific investigation of some of the more unusual examples of the military use of animals.

Overall, Animals on the Frontline is first and foremost entertainment. Taking a neutral position between the arguments on either side of the moral debate of animal use, this program will move to support both sides of the story and leave the viewer feeling informed and entertained without having been persuaded one way or the other. The 'water cooler' talk of the next day will be what we (the Producers) have heard every time we have explained the concept to others, 'I've never really thought about it before but it is absolutely fascinating!'

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PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

Of course this sort of work with animals often faces scrutinisation and many groups exist to denounce the utilisation of animals by the military services of the world. While generally focussing on the ability, successes and astounding facts of the animals' part in military campaigning, this program will not shy away from asking the tough questions and examining some of the more vicious rumours that tend to dominate public discussion of the subject. The past may indeed have some ugly, black spots but military animals in the modern era are treated with love, dignity and great respect. Regularly awarded medals of bravery and service equal to those handed to the best of soldiers, some animals of war have even had their lives avenged with the death of a human.

Each episode of Animals on the Frontline explores the history, modern developments and widespread use of animals in human conflict. As it began thousands of years ago and continues today around the globe, this program will travel to all four corners to seek out the whole gamut of animals that have been taken to the frontline, detailing the good times and the bad, the right and the wrong, the almost unbelievable and the just plain insane.

Delivered as 3 X 1 hour episodes, Animals on the Frontline will be produced in a High Definition digital video format and blended with powerful animation and motion graphics to give vibrant life to history, the future and all the stunning beauty of the present.

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Short promo

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CONTACT

For infornation regarding ANIMALS ON THE FRONTLINE
Please contact:

Thinktank Digital
02 9981 1762



Email:
[info@thinktankedit.com.au]@[info@thinktankedit.com.au]

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