Dorothy’s conventional wisdom of home, and there being no place like it, might be more true than Glenda the Good Witch ever imagined; especially had Dorothy been an beaver, prairie dog, or bat. Unlike humanity which has long since adopted a basic concept of the “home” consisting of four walls and various living rooms, the broader animal kingdom has a variety of homes as diverse as its population. Some animals burrow, some tunnel, others build, and still more nest. PBS’s Nature episode The Animal House explores the different homes of animals, ranging from insects to birds to reptiles. Though the narration can be tedious, peppering the audience with a barrage of animal facts and unnecessary explanation, the footage is vibrant and gives us a look into the private lives of animals that documentaries seldom capture.
Whereas BBC’s nature documentaries take very in-depth looks at larger concepts, usually based on location and not species, PBS doesn’t have the same concern with showcasing the richly diverse environs beyond how they impact the individual animals and the homes they create for themselves. This helps with the focus, but also means there’s little context for each subject beyond “animal houses”. The documentary skips fairly rapidly from one animal to the next and covers a wide field, but the presentation is a bit light on substance beyond those brilliant moments where the cameras capture life in what would normally be inaccessible and private parts of their lives.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
None.
"Nature: The Animal House" is on sale January 10, 2012 and is not rated. Documentary. Written by Mark Fletcher. Starring Chris Morgan.
