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Planet Earth II’s 360-degree videos are a great escape

Planet Earth II’s 360-degree videos are a great escape

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And a good example of spherical video done well

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It might feel like years ago by now, but it was just this past Monday when we all went bonkers over a dramatic video from the new installment of Planet Earth, wherein an iguana is seen escaping a gaggle of snakes. Now that we’re on the other side of the presidential election, and I think it’s safe to say we all need a little breather.

So let’s go back to that scene from Planet Earth II. How great! And actually, I’ll do you one better, because the BBC released a 360-degree video — also narrated by David Attenborough — that brings you behind the scenes of that particular shoot. It’s a fascinating glimpse both at how it was made as well as the environment that the crew was documenting. You can watch it above in your browser, or pull it up on your phone. Bonus points if you have something like Google Cardboard laying around.

360-degree video is still a format without much of a purpose. Consumers and filmmakers alike are trying to figure out how to film in it but also what makes a good 360-degree video in the first place. BBC’s take on it seems pretty close to the ideal — relatively short in length, good quality, and engaging — and they’ll be releasing more as Planet Earth II airs. It’s still not the kind of immersive content promised by virtual reality, but at this point in time, it’s plenty worth escaping into.

- VIA: Wired
- Source: BBC