Product Description

This 2-disc collection celebrates the animals who play an important role in the myth, legend and folklore of diverse peoples and cultures, from the Inuit to the Aborigines. The sea monster, the unicorn and the vampire are not merely creature of fantasy; they all have their origins in real, living animals. The highest quality animal behavior footage is combined with amusing tales recounted by natives from all over the w orld. State of the art graphics and dramatized re-enactment give powerful and realistic insight into the relationship between animals and the people they live among. Monster of the Deep - The Giant Octopus: An old sea dog shows two children his octopus tattoo and tells how, fishing off Vancouver island, one of his friends was dragged to his death by the tentacles of a giant octopus. Jaws of Fire -- The Komodo Dragon: The first Komodo Dragon was the weaker, male twin of a human sister. The ruling Sultan was compassionate, and ordered that this brother and his descendants, the Komodo Dragon, always be guaranteed some of the food, of the stronger sister and her descendants, the inhabitants of Komodo. To this day the people of Komodo offer some of their food to the dragons that live amongst them. Sacred Bird of the Maya -- The Quetzal: A Spanish Conquistador kills the Mayan King. But as soon as he dies he is transformed into a Quetzal, the Mayan symbol of freedom.

Review

Viewers will see fascinating footage . . . While the content is consistently interesting, it s the photography that really steals the show here . . . Recommended. Three Stars. --Video Librarian

Extraordinary videography of bison, sea cows, giant octopus, Komodo dragons, orangutan, and the Quetzal bird in their natural habitats are a delight to viewers… Patrick Galligan superbly narrates the excellent, well-researched script off-screen, accompanied by well-chosen background music and sounds. The stunning scenery and animal footage are expertly mixed with stills of museum artwork. Each animal showcased is shown in its stunning natural habitat… This series is an excellent purchase for school curriculums and for public libraries. --School Library Journal