The Walt Disney Company is marking Earth Day on April 22nd, through a day of special content across its portfolio of brands and platforms.
Wednesday, April 22, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which has become the world’s largest civic event and inspires more than a billion people each year to protect and honour our planet in a variety of ways.
Earth Day 2020 comes at a time of great uncertainty for people across the globe, and while it may not be possible to be outside and join friends and neighbours in planting trees or cleaning up public spaces, The Walt Disney Company’s portfolio of brands is sharing a wide range of content across linear and digital platforms that shines a light on the wonder and beauty of our planet and inspires hope for its future.
From thoughtful and inspiring specials and environmentally themed TV episodes to engaging social media activations, Disney is bringing Earth Day programming to audiences, wherever they may be this year.
National Geographic
Officially one year into joining the Disney family, National Geographic is celebrating Earth Day by inviting audiences to be inspired by the planet and to tap into their inner explorers. The 132-year-old brand is bringing the wonder of the wild world directly to homes across its educational, storytelling and media platforms.
To kick off its “Let the Planet Inspire You” programming, on April 18, Nat Geo is inviting families to participate in an Earth Day Neighbourhood Safari, as a way of staying connected with both nature and each other (at a safe distance).
Families can design their own “safari stop” with the resources available on the new one-stop family resource site NatGeo@Home, complete with lessons from Disney Animation, Pixar and Marvel on how to draw favourite safari animals and encourage friends and neighbours to do the same. NatGeo will create a feed of “safari art” to help bring together neighbourhoods all over the world during this moment of isolation.
In addition to the safari, the entire NatGeo@Home site will feature inspiring content for families to celebrate the planet from home from April 20–22 in honour of Earth Day. From engaging animal videos and DIY projects to help the planet, to daily live talks from National Geographic Explorers, National Geographic has set up a virtual base camp to keep the spirit of exploration and adventure strong for kids and families at home.
Across its television networks, National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo MUNDO are devoting the entire day to Earth Day with a special marathon of inspirational natural history programming, leading into two prime-time global, emotionally evocative specials, Born Wild: The Next Generation and Jane Goodall: The Hope.
Disney+
Disney+ will highlight DCF’s milestone anniversary in one of two Earth Month-themed segments of the Disney+ original series Disney Insider. In an instalment that debuted on April 10, “Saving an Endangered Species” follows veteran Disneynature producer and animator Roy Conli on a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a research and development trip. In “The Heroes We Deserve,” premiering on April 24 in celebration of DCF’s 25th anniversary, the series spotlights Conservation Hero Johanna Turner and the work she is doing to safeguard natural resources and protect species on the brink of extinction.
On April 3rd, the streaming service launched an Earth Day-themed collection of documentaries, series and films from National Geographic and Disneynature that includes three features from Disneynature making their Disney+ debut: Elephant, narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex; Dolphin Reef, narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman; and Penguins, which was released theatrically in 2019 and is narrated by actor Ed Helms. The acclaimed documentary Before the Flood, docu-series One Strange Rock and the landmark series Great Migrations are among the National Geographic titles also featured in Disney+’s special collection.
Hulu
At Hulu, a special Earth Day collection will take over the platform’s homepage beginning on April 18, spotlighting titles such as National Geographic Documentary Films’ 2017 award-winning Jane, the Hulu Original Endlings and the ABC News documentary Guardians of the Amazon.
Disney Channel
Kids and families will be able to experience a comprehensive lineup of Earth Day-themed content across Disney Channel platforms, including Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD and DisneyNOW.
Disney Channel will air a series of Earth Day interstitials that were produced in collaboration with National Geographic and filmed last month on location at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort. In the videos, hosts Christian J. Simon and Ava Kolker (Sydney to the Max) take viewers on a fun and educational adventure where they encounter animals such as elephants, tigers and gorillas and learn about the importance of protecting wildlife.
On April 22, in addition to airing National Geographic’s Born Wild: The Next Generation, the network’s full day of Earth Day programming will include the Disneynature films Monkey Kingdom and Penguins, as well as environmentally themed episodes of hit series BUNK’D, Big City Greens, Coop and Cami Ask the World, Raven’s Home and Sydney to the Max.
ABC & FX
Several of ABC’s scripted prime-time series are incorporating Earth Day into episodes airing in April. The event was integrated in episodes of mixed-ish and American Housewife on April 14 and 15, respectively, and on April 22 will be featured in episodes of The Goldbergs (8 p.m. ET) and Schooled (8:30 p.m. ET).
Leading up to Earth Day, on Tuesday, April 21, FX will present an Earth Day-themed movie marathon beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET (and concluding on April 22 at 2 a.m. ET). Also on April 21, FXX is airing eco-themed episodes of The Simpsons from 6–9 p.m. ET.
Freeform will commemorate Earth Day by screening themed episodes of The Simpsons, as well as family films that highlight animals and the environment, including Ice Age, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and Disney’s The Jungle Book (2016).