Animal X

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Animal X is an Australian made documentary television series that aired in more than 120 countries. It began in 1997 with its first series of 13 half-hour episodes. In 2002, Discovery Channel in the U.S. co-produced the 2nd series of 13 half-hour episodes with the creators of the series, Australia's Storyteller Productions, for Animal Planet.^[1] At this point Animal X episodes generally had 3 stories, with one exception: "The Skookum Cast". This was a joint expedition between Animal X and the BFRO which discovered the Skookum Cast, said to be an imprint of the body of a bigfoot.

Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit

In 2004 Animal X spin off, the Natural Mystery Unit, was born. Also a co-production between Discovery and Storyteller, it was again aired on the Animal Planet Network in the United States, as well as numerous other networks in countries around the world. AX NMU features a male and female investigation team composed of Daniel Searle and Natalie Schmitt.^[2] They visited locations of cryptid sightings and provided background on the possible existence of the legendary animals. A 'controller' character played by veteran actor Bill Kerr tells the story, provides directions and gives orders to the team. Kerr always ends the show with the same line; "There are stranger things in Heaven and Earth. And you've just seen one of them on Animal X."

Animal X Classica (as the first two series have become known) ^[3] and Animal X Natural Mystery Unit are produced in segments that often feature eye-witness testimony. AX NMU episodes routinely show the Animal X Team planting motion-activated infrared video cameras to try to capture evidence of the creatures they seek; or discovering some form of physical evidence which they would then send off for analysis. Even so, episodes are careful to avoid making definitive conclusions and the new evidence presented by the Team is usually described as inconclusive or unable to be classified. Animal X adopts a cautious believer approach to Cryptids and rarely features outright skeptical viewpoints. In 2007 the show is on air in various countries, including Poland, Norway, USA (reruns starting again soon) and soon to be available on the web through Google Video and YouTube.

Episode list

Series One

1. Chupacabra, magic cows, Black Dogs
2. Killer crocodiles, Fizo, Howick Falls Monster
3. Rainbow Serpent, Lake Monster, killer wolves
4. Cattle Mutilations, croc horror, Black Cat of Killakee
5. Dingoes, fish, Bigfoot
6. Komodo, ghostly lions, Canadian Lake Monster
7. Cat worshipers, alien animals, killer bees
8. Salawa, dolphin therapy, Jersey Devil
9. Goatman^{[disambiguation needed ]}, Phar Lap, psychic animals
10. Beast of Bodmin, Giant Squid, psychic animals part two
11. Yeti, hypnotising dog, Thylacine
12. Mad elephants, Biblical lions, Yowie
13. Caddy, Red Heifer, big cats in Australia

Series Two

1. Chupacabra in Puerto Rico, Panthers in Essex, Dogs who diagnose disease
2. Marsupial Lion, Thunderbirds, Animals sealed in stone
3. Megalodon, pets that save lives, plagues of animals
4. A Bigfoot special
5. New England sea serpent, hominids around the world, Beaching whales
6. Skunk Ape, animal emotion, frog and fish rain
7. Incredible dog journeys, thylacine, Swedish lake monster
8. Carnivorous herbivores, Megalania, Animal memories
9. Animal heroes, Yowie, Telepathic parrot

Series Three

1. Ghostly creatures
2. Beast of Gévaudan
3. Thylacine
4. Bigfoot
5. Winged creatures (Mothman, Owlman)
6. Monsters of the Deep (Bloop)
7. Reptilian creatures (Lizardmen)
8. Chupacabra
9. Big cats
10. Animal powers

Series Facts

Series Premiered: UK: Channel Five 1998, Discovery Channel (reversioned with the "spookiness" removed), then in its original form on Animal Planet worldwide. It has been seen in more than 120 countries.

See also

• Monster Quest

References

External links

• Official Site