New Clues About Past Mass Extinctions Exposed in Exclusive CuriosityStream 4K Documentary, ‘Ancient Earth’

3-Part Original Series Awakens the Magnificent Prehistoric Creatures that Previously Roamed Earth through Extraordinary Animation

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 9, 2017 — The new documentary series Ancient Earth, premiering today on CuriosityStream, takes viewers on an extraordinary journey back in time to an era when ferocious saber-toothed carnivores, terrifying 40-foot sharks and massive dinosaurs dominated our planet.

The original three-part series is presented in stunning 4K Ultra-HD featuring cinematic-quality, incredibly realistic animations that bring to life some of the fascinating and almost otherworldly creatures that once lived, but were wiped out during the worst mass extinction events. The series premieres as scientists gather more evidence that we’re heading toward the planet’s sixth mass extinction, with dramatic declines in wildlife populations around the world.

Produced in collaboration with 12-time Emmy Award winning Pixeldust Studios, the series is based on the newest resources and research from experts at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History. More than just a lesson in prehistoric creatures, each episode offers viewers an immersive experience with period-accurate environmental and landscape elements that transport viewers virtually to the time and place.

“This is truly a unique production, with stunning imagery and animation,” said Rob Burk, executive producer for CuriosityStream. “Many of these exceptional creatures haven’t been animated before, and these films give viewers a chance to see not only what they looked like, but also how they lived within their environment.”

The series features the extraordinary lifeforms that evolved during three of Earth’s most significant geologic periods, and the cataclysmic events that resulted in their demise:

• Episode 1 — The Permian Period introduces viewers to the life that sprung forth on land and sea more than 252 million years ago, including terrifying creatures like the saber-toothed Gorgonopsid and shark-like Helicoprion. This episode exposes the “smoking gun” that scientists now believe caused the worst mass extinction on our planet.
• Episode 2 — The Triassic Period, between 251 million and 199 million years ago, reveals how the power of evolution ushered in the first era of early dinosaurs, most of which were ultimately annihilated by waves of lava and toxic gas from extreme volcanic activity. Those that survived eventually gave rise to Earth’s most notorious prehistoric predators, including Tyrannosaurus Rex.
• Episode 3 — The Cretaceous Period, from 145 million to 65 million years ago, highlights magnificent dinosaurs like Triceratops and T.Rex, and massive pterosaurs like Quetzalcoatius — one of the largest flying creatures of all time. It also paints a chilling portrait of the asteroid that brought the age of dinosaurs crashing to a close, and paved the way for life as we know it today.

“This series beautifully captures just how resilient life and our planet Earth truly are,” said Elizabeth Andrade, executive producer and executive vice president with Pixeldust Studios. “As we face what could be another catastrophic extinction event, Ancient Earth provides some fascinating lessons about the roles each creature plays in our precious ecosystem.”

All three episodes in the series are available to watch for free now by visiting www.curiositystream.com to start a 30-day trial. And see exclusive trailers and clips from each episode of Ancient Earth here.

About CuriosityStream

CuriosityStream is the world’s first ad-free, on-demand streaming service for documentary and nonfiction programming. Over 1,500 shows from the world’s best filmmakers are available to watch on most devices, starting at just $2.99 per month. Focused on offering enriching and enlightening content covering science, technology, civilization and the human spirit, CuriosityStream was founded by Discovery Communications founder and media visionary John Hendricks. For more information, visit www.curiositystream.com.

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Contact: Vanessa Gillon, 301–755–2069, vanessagillon@curiositystream.com