Sky1 tracks down Big Beasts with Offspring

Big Beasts: Last of the Giants will include an encounter with a sperm whale

European satcaster Sky has commissioned a three-part factual series for Sky1 in the UK that looks at some of the world’s largest animals.

Big Beasts: Last of the Giants will be fronted by biologist Patrick Aryee and produced by Bristol-based indie Offspring Films, with Sam Hodgson producing and Alex Williamson exec producing.

The series will mix live-action footage from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Australia with animated graphics to explore why size matters to individual animals, species and biodiversity.

CGI created and animated by another Bristol company, Moonraker VFX, will help tell the story.

Big Beasts: Last of the Giants will see Aryee experience close encounters with whale sharks, orangutans, giant pandas and giraffes, as well as a seven-metre anaconda, a venomous Komodo dragon and a sperm whale.

The series is the fourth to be made by Offspring and Sky with Aryee presenting.

Episode one debuts on Sky1 on Wednesday June 13, with the second and third instalments airing on the following Wednesdays.