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Planet Carnivore

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Peek at predatorial life is too graphic for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 10–12

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    A fascinating -- if, at times, harsh -- look at life in the wild.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The series' focus is on the predatory habits of the world's fiercest hunters, so animals are shown being killed, dismembered, and eaten. Close-ups detail how carnivores tear meat from bone as they devour their prey. Scenes also show diseased animals in the throes of death.
  • Sex:

    Occasional mention of animals' sexual maturity and mating rituals.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Planet Carnivore was written by Emily Ashby

Parents need to know that since this series centers on the predatory habits of some of the world's fiercest carnivores -- like the African lioness and the great white shark -- there's a lot of bloodshed. The death scenes may upset young and/or sensitive viewers. Animals are shown stalking, chasing, and killing their prey, and the victims often make anguished sounds as they die. This is definitely a know-your-kids situation -- if they're prepared for the harsh reality of nature, this series offers intriguing insight into animal life in remote areas of the world. But if they tend to sympathize with all creatures great and small, steer them to something less violent.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how animals are designed for their surroundings. How do animals in different ecosystems adapt to their surroundings? What physical attributes do different species have for survival? How do these defense mechanisms protect them from predators? What dangers do the predators themselves face? How would the ecosystem function if they became extinct? How is this show similar to and different from other nature programs?
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More on Planet Carnivore

What’s the Story?

Narrated by Alec Baldwin, PLANET CARNIVORE takes viewers into the remote hunting grounds of some of the world's ultimate predators, including the African lioness and the great white shark. Each episode focuses on a different predator, with cameras capturing the intensity of the ongoing quest for food from the hunters' point of view, following as they identify their target, position themselves for the attack, and move in for the kill. In addition to offering fascinating footage and high-quality computer images that help depict pertinent geography and topography, this informative series also delivers facts on the animals' evolution, the delicate balance of their environments, and various factors that threaten their supremacy. For example, one installment about a lion pride that dominates an isolated volcanic crater in East Africa follows a lioness named Malkia, whose mastery of the art of stalking and killing her prey puts her atop the local food chain. Viewers watch as she and her female descendants work hard to feed their growing pride with wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles -- all while defending themselves against threats of disease, competition from other lions, and more.

Is It Any Good?

Planet Carnivore chronicles the harsh reality of nature and offers a dramatic look at what it takes to survive in the wild. But as educational as the series is, the relatively high level of gore (for a nature program, that is) means that parents may want to be cautious about sharing it with sensitive kids.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    Fantastic Footage

    Gripping account of life for a lion! I know they use lenses, but this footage is fantastic. How do they capture this stuff? The story sucks you in, the action is incredible. They are not cuddly cats! 8 years and up its fine.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

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