Blue Planet II
Blue Planet II is a seven-part British nature documentary miniseries produced by the BBC Natural History Unit as a sequel to the 2001 series The Blue Planet, first broadcast on BBC One beginning 29 October 2017 and narrated by Sir David Attenborough.[1][2] The series explores the world's oceans through advanced cinematography, revealing previously unseen behaviors of marine species across diverse ecosystems from coastal shallows to the deep sea.[3] Filmed over four years in over 50 countries, Blue Planet II employed cutting-edge technologies such as underwater drones and macro lenses to capture intimate details of ocean life, highlighting both the beauty and fragility of marine environments.[4] It achieved record-breaking viewership in the United Kingdom, with the premiere episode drawing 14.1 million viewers and becoming the most-watched program of 2017.[5][6] The series garnered critical acclaim for its visual spectacle and educational value, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program and nominations for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.[7][8] It also received the National Television Award for Impact, recognizing its role in raising public awareness about plastic pollution's effects on marine wildlife, which prompted behavioral changes in 88% of viewers according to surveys and influenced policy discussions on single-use plastics.[9][10][11]Production
Development and Planning
The development of Blue Planet II was driven by executive producer James Honeyborne's recognition of significant advancements in underwater filming technology and new marine discoveries since the original 2001 series, aiming to reveal previously undocumented animal behaviors and ocean phenomena.[12] The project was initially commissioned by the BBC Natural History Unit under the working title Oceans.[13] Planning spanned approximately one year prior to filming, during which the production team, led by Honeyborne and series producer Mark Brownlow, collaborated with marine scientists to structure the series into seven episodes centered on distinct ocean habitats such as the deep sea, coral reefs, and open waters.[12] Key decisions included prioritizing cutting-edge equipment like rebreather diving kits for extended underwater stays, low-light cameras (e.g., Sony A7S and Canon ME20F), and custom tools such as the megadome lens and underwater probe to access novel filming angles and behaviors.[12] The team also secured co-production partnerships with entities including BBC America and Tencent to support the ambitious scope.[12] Logistical planning emphasized military-style coordination for 125 expeditions across 39 countries and all oceans, accounting for seasonal wildlife patterns and environmental variables like the El Niño phenomenon that later affected shoots.[12] The final title Blue Planet II was publicly announced on 19 February 2017, with Sir David Attenborough confirmed as narrator.[14] This preparatory phase ensured the series could integrate emerging scientific insights while minimizing ethical risks to wildlife through targeted, non-disruptive approaches.[13]Filming Techniques and Innovations
The production of Blue Planet II employed advanced underwater cinematography to capture previously unseen marine behaviors, utilizing custom-engineered cameras and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) during expeditions spanning four years across 39 countries.[15][16] Filmmakers integrated re-breather technology, allowing divers to remain submerged for up to four hours without producing bubbles that could disturb subjects, thereby enabling footage of natural fish behaviors in shallow waters.[15] Ultra-sensitive low-light cameras, capable of 4K resolution in near-darkness, were pivotal for filming bioluminescent phenomena, such as Noctiluca scintillans "sea sparkles" amid shoals of mobula rays off Mexico in 2016.[17][15] Infrared cameras revealed predatory strikes by bobbit worms on fish at night, documenting behaviors not previously recorded.[15] Miniaturized probe cameras with wide-angle lenses accessed tight coral crevices to film tiny reef organisms at eye level, while UHD underwater probe systems targeted small-scale reef activity.[15] For deep-sea sequences, submersibles weighing 10 tonnes and van-sized ROVs equipped with fiber-optic controls facilitated macro filming of creatures smaller than a fingernail; operators used laptops, joysticks, and hand controls to manage rotation, tilt, focus, and exposure remotely.[18] A custom macro-camera mounted on submersible arms captured extreme close-ups on the seafloor, limited to select shots per dive due to alignment challenges with minute subjects.[18] Innovations like underwater sliders enabled smooth tracking shots mimicking creature perspectives in reefs, motorized macro positioners provided precise positioning for detailed close-ups, and scope lenses allowed penetration into coral structures for novel angles.[16] Surface and transitional filming incorporated a 24-inch megadome lens to simultaneously capture above- and below-water scenes, such as walrus interactions with icebergs, minimizing refraction and splash interference.[15][17] Suction-cup-mounted miniature cameras, affixed to orcas and whale sharks via poles, recorded unique viewpoints of prey pursuits, with sensors tracking environmental data before self-detaching.[15][17] High-speed slow-motion cameras on jet skis filmed dolphins leaping through waves, while custom time-lapse rigs documented processes like coral bleaching in rock pools.[15][17] These methods, often developed in collaboration with scientists, yielded over 6,000 hours of footage emphasizing high dynamic range and cinematic slow motion.[16]Crew, Narrator, and Ethical Filming Practices
Sir David Attenborough served as the narrator for Blue Planet II, providing the series' distinctive voice-over commentary that contextualized the footage of marine life and ecosystems, a role he reprised from the original 2001 series. His narration emphasized scientific observations and environmental interconnections, drawing on decades of experience in natural history broadcasting.[1] The production team was headed by executive producer James Honeyborne, a biologist who initiated the project in 2013 and coordinated filming efforts spanning four years across more than 50 countries and 6,250 hours of footage from global oceans.[19] Series producer Mark Brownlow oversaw the integration of underwater sequences, building on prior work in deep-sea documentaries.[19] Episode-specific producers included Orla Doherty for "The Deep" and "Our Blue Planet," involving 500 hours of submersible dives to depths of 1,000 meters; Kathryn Jeffs for "Green Seas," with Antarctic expeditions; John Ruthven for "Big Blue," featuring custom sperm whale cameras; and Jonathan Smith for "Coral Reefs" and "One Ocean."[19] Underwater cinematographers such as Roger Munns captured specialized reef and behavioral footage using advanced low-light equipment, while production manager Katie Hall managed logistics for the multi-year endeavor.[20] The crew comprised filmmakers, marine scientists, and technicians from the BBC Natural History Unit, emphasizing collaboration with international partners to access remote habitats.[19] The BBC Natural History Unit adhered to editorial guidelines prohibiting filming activities that cause physical harm or undue distress to animals, prioritizing observation over intervention and requiring risk assessments for all wildlife interactions.[21] In Blue Planet II, this involved non-invasive technologies like remotely operated vehicles, autonomous landers, and deep-submergence vehicles to film in inaccessible deep-sea zones without direct human presence, reducing ecological disruption.[18] However, some sequences used footage of captive cetaceans from aquariums to illustrate social behaviors, which producers defended as behaviorally authentic and indistinguishable from wild equivalents in controlled settings, though disclosure of captive origins was not provided in the broadcast, prompting criticism for potential viewer deception.[22][23] A pollution awareness segment in episode 7 employed staged releases of hundreds of rubber ducks to simulate plastic debris accumulation, which environmental advocates accused of misleading representation despite producers' claims of illustrative intent to highlight real threats.[24] Broader industry discussions post-production called for standardized ethical codes, including independent reviews, to address cumulative filming impacts like carbon emissions from expeditions, though no major animal welfare violations were documented for the series.[25]Broadcast and Distribution
United Kingdom Broadcast
Blue Planet II premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2017, airing weekly on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM.[26] The seven-episode series concluded on 10 December 2017, with each installment exploring distinct oceanic environments and behaviors narrated by Sir David Attenborough.[27] The opening episode, "One Ocean," attracted an average of 10.3 million live viewers, representing over 41% of the available television audience, marking it as the highest-rated BBC program at the time of broadcast.[28] Including time-shifted viewings within seven days, the premiere reached 14.1 million viewers, surpassing competitors such as Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor to become the most-watched British television program of 2017.[6] Subsequent episodes maintained strong performance, consistently outperforming rival entertainment shows in weekly ratings.[29] In addition to linear television, the series dominated BBC iPlayer streaming, becoming the platform's most-requested program of 2017 with millions of additional on-demand views contributing to its overall reach.[30] This hybrid viewership underscored the program's broad appeal across demographics, including younger audiences aged 16-34 who engaged heavily via digital platforms.[29] The broadcast schedule also included an accompanying one-hour prequel special, "Blue Planet II: The Prequel," featuring music by Hans Zimmer and Radiohead, which aired prior to the main series to build anticipation.[26]International Release and Viewership
Blue Planet II began its international rollout in early 2018 after premiering in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2017. The series aired in the United States on BBC America starting 20 January 2018, with subsequent episodes broadcast weekly.[31] In Belgium, it debuted on 2 January 2018, followed by Germany on 19 February 2018 and Sweden on 4 March 2018.[31] BBC Worldwide handled distribution to over 200 territories, including co-productions with partners in China, France, and Germany, facilitating localized broadcasts and streaming.[1] Viewership varied significantly by region, reflecting differences in market size, broadcasting slots, and cultural interest in natural history programming. In China, the series achieved extraordinary popularity, with the premiere episode drawing approximately 80 million concurrent streams, straining internet infrastructure, and accumulating over 24 million views in its first week on Tencent's platform, eventually exceeding 100 million total views.[32] [33] This surge was attributed to the program's high production values and David Attenborough's narration, which resonated amid growing environmental awareness.[32] In contrast, U.S. audiences were more modest, with the premiere episode attracting 2.95 million viewers in a five-network simulcast on BBC America, including 1.15 million adults aged 25-54, though subsequent episodes saw declining figures around 3 million total.[34] Analysts noted this underperformance relative to UK metrics stemmed from fragmented media landscapes, competition from domestic content, and less familiarity with Attenborough's style.[33] In New Zealand, it ranked as the highest-rated natural history series upon release, contributing to BBC Worldwide's strong international performance for factual programming.[35] Overall, the series bolstered global interest in ocean documentaries, with BBC Earth channels reporting sustained streaming demand in markets like Canada and Australia through 2018.[36]Ratings and Accessibility Metrics
In the United Kingdom, the premiere episode of Blue Planet II, broadcast on BBC One on 29 October 2017, achieved an audience of 14.1 million viewers within seven days, including linear and catch-up viewing, marking it as the highest-rated program of 2017.[5] [6] The linear broadcast peaked at 10.3 million viewers, representing a 41.4% share, with the remainder accessed via BBC iPlayer.[37] Across the full seven-episode series and repeats, the program reached a total unique audience of 37.6 million individuals, equivalent to over 62% of the UK population.[38] Internationally, viewership varied by market. In China, the premiere episode reportedly drew approximately 80 million viewers, contributing to temporary internet disruptions from high demand.[33] In the United States, the BBC America premiere on 14 January 2018 garnered 2.95 million total viewers and 1.15 million adults aged 25-54 across a multi-network simulcast.[34] The series' global distribution through partnerships expanded its reach, though specific aggregate international figures beyond initial episodes remain limited in public data from broadcasters. Accessibility extended through broadcast and digital platforms, with BBC iPlayer enabling on-demand viewing that significantly boosted totals; for instance, catch-up accounted for nearly a third of the premiere's audience.[37] Subsequent streaming availability on services such as HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV, and discovery+ further broadened access, though quantitative metrics for post-broadcast streaming views are not comprehensively reported by platforms.[39] [40] The series included standard accessibility features like closed captions in English on select platforms, aligning with broadcaster requirements for public service media.[41]Content and Scientific Focus
Episode Structure and Key Narratives
Blue Planet II features seven episodes, each running approximately 58-60 minutes, structured to progressively explore diverse oceanic habitats through unprecedented underwater footage captured over 125 expeditions spanning 60 countries. The narrative arc emphasizes animal adaptations, cooperative behaviors, and survival challenges in extreme environments, narrated by David Attenborough to highlight evolutionary ingenuity and ecological interconnections without anthropomorphic framing.[2][3] The first episode, "One Ocean," aired on 29 October 2017, portrays the global ocean's unity, showcasing migratory feats like humpback whales traveling 16,000 kilometers annually and dolphins employing coordinated bubble-net feeding techniques to corral fish schools, revealing sophisticated group hunting enabled by advanced acoustic tracking.[27][3] Episode 2, "The Deep," broadcast on 5 November 2017, delves into abyssal zones below 1,000 meters, where bioluminescent displays and scavenging events—such as bluntnose sixgill sharks dismantling whale carcasses over weeks—illustrate life sustained by sparse organic falls amid pressures exceeding 1,000 atmospheres.[27][3][42] "Coral Reefs," the third episode on 12 November 2017, examines shallow tropical ecosystems covering under 0.1% of the seafloor yet supporting 25% of marine species, featuring symbiotic relationships like cleaner fish servicing predators and parrotfish grinding 5-6 tons of coral annually to produce white sand beaches.[27][3] Episode 4, "Big Blue," aired 19 November 2017, focuses on the pelagic zone's vast emptiness, where filter-feeders like whale sharks—reaching 12 meters—thrive on plankton blooms, and high-speed pursuits by yellowfin tuna schools demonstrate endurance migrations covering thousands of kilometers.[27][3] "Green Seas," the fifth installment on 26 November 2017, highlights nutrient upwellings driving seasonal productivity in temperate waters, narrating mass spawning events where billions of krill form swarms attracting blue whales consuming up to 4 tons daily, alongside seabird raids on fish shoals.[27] Episode 6, "Coasts," transmitted 3 December 2017, chronicles intertidal dynamics shaped by tidal ranges up to 16 meters, depicting walrus herds navigating ice edges and godwits probing mudflats for invertebrates during low tides, underscoring rhythmic adaptations to land-sea interfaces.[27][43] The finale, "Our Blue Planet," on 10 December 2017, synthesizes prior footage into a cohesive overview of ocean-scale phenomena, integrating long-term behaviors like albatross pair bonds enduring decades with glimpses of undiscovered species, reinforcing the theme of oceans as Earth's dominant yet understudied biome.[27]Highlighted Marine Discoveries
Blue Planet II showcased unprecedented footage of marine behaviors and ecological processes, leveraging advanced submersibles and remotely operated vehicles to access previously unfilmed depths. In the "Green Seas" episode, the production team captured the first submersible dive into the squid spawning zone, revealing dense aggregations of squid engaging in mass spawning events at depths exceeding 300 meters off the coast of California.[44] This footage provided new visual evidence of synchronized reproductive strategies in species like the Humboldt squid, highlighting vulnerabilities to environmental changes such as ocean warming.[45] The series documented novel interspecies interactions, including humpback whales intervening in killer whale hunts on pinnipeds near the South Shetland Islands. Filmed over multiple expeditions, this behavior—observed in over 20 instances during production—depicted humpbacks using their massive flukes and breaches to disrupt orca predation, offering empirical insights into potential altruistic or competitive dynamics in Antarctic waters, though the precise evolutionary drivers remain debated among marine biologists.[46] Similarly, in the Red Sea, bottlenose dolphins were recorded rubbing their bodies against specific coral species, a behavior interpreted as self-medication to alleviate skin parasites, with chemical analysis of the corals confirming bioactive compounds effective against common dolphin afflictions.[47] Deep-sea scavenging processes received attention through the first filmed whalefall in the Atlantic Ocean, where a sperm whale carcass off the Azores was observed attracting bluntnose sixgill sharks and other scavengers in a multi-stage decomposition sequence spanning weeks.[48] This event, tracked via baited camera traps at depths up to 1,000 meters, illustrated nutrient cycling from surface to abyssal zones, with bone-eating Osedax worms colonizing remains within months, underscoring the rarity of such observations prior to Blue Planet II's technological deployments.[42] Additional highlights included tool-use by tuskfish on the Great Barrier Reef, where individuals repeatedly used coral anvils to crack bivalves, and sex-change sequences in tropical fish triggered by temperature rises, both filmed in situ to demonstrate adaptive reproductive strategies amid habitat pressures.[49][50]Integration of Environmental Themes
Blue Planet II integrates environmental themes by juxtaposing stunning depictions of marine biodiversity with evidence of human-induced threats, emphasizing causal links between anthropogenic activities and ecological degradation. The series illustrates plastic pollution's pervasive effects through footage of marine animals ingesting or becoming entangled in debris, such as a pod of pilot whales off the coast of Scotland where a mother whale carried her dead calf, later revealed to contain significant plastic in its stomach upon necropsy.[51] This visual evidence is narrated by David Attenborough, who attributes the calf's death to ingested plastics mistaken for food, underscoring the scale of ocean contamination estimated at 150 million tons of plastic waste.[52] Similarly, scenes of sea turtles entrapped in discarded fishing gear and albatross chicks fed plastic by parents highlight microplastics' entry into food chains, with Attenborough noting that such pollution stems from single-use items entering waterways via inadequate waste management.[53] Climate change themes are embedded via observations of habitat disruption, including coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef linked to rising sea temperatures, where episodes document mass die-offs of corals that support 25% of marine species.[10] Ocean acidification, caused by CO2 absorption elevating seawater acidity by 30% since the Industrial Revolution, is shown eroding shellfish shells and disrupting plankton populations foundational to food webs.[54] Attenborough's commentary frames these as direct consequences of fossil fuel emissions and deforestation, with polar sequences depicting shrinking sea ice—reduced by 13% per decade in the Arctic—compelling species like polar bears to undertake riskier hunts.[55] Overfishing and bycatch are addressed in segments on depleted fish stocks, where industrial trawling has halved global populations of large predatory fish since 1950, integrated as a cautionary narrative on unsustainable exploitation.[56] The seventh episode culminates these integrations in an explicit examination of humanity's footprint, blending archival data with contemporary footage to argue that oceans absorb 90% of excess heat and 30% of CO2 emissions, amplifying threats like intensified storms and species migration.[57] Attenborough concludes with an appeal for behavioral and policy shifts, stating that "the ocean is changing faster than ever before" due to cumulative pressures, though the series avoids prescriptive solutions in favor of empirical demonstration.[58] This approach prioritizes causal realism by linking observable harms to verifiable drivers like emission rates (e.g., 36 billion tons of CO2 annually) and plastic production (430 million tons in 2015), drawing from peer-reviewed datasets while critiquing short-term human priorities over long-term ecosystem stability.[10]Music and Audio Elements
Original Score Composition
The original score for Blue Planet II was composed by Hans Zimmer in collaboration with Jacob Shea and David Fleming, members of Bleeding Fingers Music, Zimmer's production company founded to support large-scale documentary scoring projects.[59][60] Zimmer, who had previously scored the original Blue Planet series, led the effort to create an orchestral palette evoking oceanic vastness, with the team dividing episodes into scenes for targeted composition as footage arrived.[59] This collaborative approach allowed for rapid iteration, incorporating natural sound inspirations like whale calls and wave patterns into thematic motifs such as the recurring "Family Theme" and "Surfing Dolphins."[61] Recording took place in Vienna with a full symphony orchestra, emphasizing dynamic swells to mimic tidal movements and abyssal depths, a technique described as employing a "tidal orchestra" for immersive underwater habitats.[62] Additional production involved Bleeding Fingers' resources for electronic layering and custom sound design, with creative producer Russell Emanuel overseeing integration.[59] A notable element was an orchestral reimagining of Radiohead's "Bloom," co-produced by Zimmer and the band, which served as a promotional track and prequel cue to heighten emotional resonance with marine family behaviors.[63] The resulting soundtrack album, released on October 30, 2017, by Silva Screen Records, features 19 cues totaling over 70 minutes, including standout tracks like "The Blue Planet" opening and "Albatross Flight" for aerial sequences.[61] This score's emphasis on live instrumentation over synthesized elements distinguished it from more electronic-heavy film works, prioritizing acoustic fidelity to enhance the series' scientific narration without overpowering natural audio.[64]Sound Design Contributions
The sound design for Blue Planet II emphasized immersive underwater audio, drawing on field recordings supplemented by post-production effects to represent otherwise inaudible marine interactions. Re-recording mixer Graham Wild, along with sound editors Kate Hopkins and Tim Owens, integrated these elements into a balanced soundtrack that included natural sounds, foley effects, narration, and music, often mixed for 3D surround sound to enhance viewer immersion.[65][19][66] Field recordings formed the foundation, with marine bioacoustics researcher Dr. Steve Simpson capturing sounds using directional hydrophones, such as the dawn chorus of singing fish on coral reefs and the shell-smashing of tuskfish (Choerodon graphicus) on the Great Barrier Reef. These were creatively layered by editors to add dimensionality, particularly in episodes featuring clownfish vocalizations—including alarm calls—from French Polynesia sites. However, anthropogenic noise pollution, like shipping traffic and sonar, contaminated many recordings and was noted to disrupt marine communication ranges, reducing whale detectability from hundreds to under 10 kilometers in some cases.[67][67][66] In quieter deep-sea sequences, where natural audio is minimal, the team employed artistic enhancements during tracklay, such as whooshing effects for jellyfish propulsion or amplified grunts and clicks to depict reef activity, tuned to relevant frequencies for narrative focus. Innovations included the first complete recording of a humpback whale's (Megaptera novaeangliae) full sound cycle, captured via a suction-cup hydrophone attached to the animal's back during filming. The production addressed silent underwater voids by avoiding intrusive artifacts like diver breathing while prioritizing story-driven acoustics over literal silence.[66][68][66] Viewer feedback highlighted debates over effect volumes, with complaints that foley and music occasionally overwhelmed dialogue, prompting the BBC to verify mixes on standard televisions rather than professional monitors. Executive producer James Honeyborne defended the approach, stating effects were "representative" of natural phenomena based on scientific input, though some critiques questioned their realism in a documentary context.[69][70][68]Reception
Critical Acclaim for Production Quality
Critics universally praised Blue Planet II for its unprecedented cinematography, which captured marine behaviors in groundbreaking detail using advanced underwater rigs and submersibles. The Hollywood Reporter described the series as a "visually astonishing and riveting seven-part collection of images so surreal they almost feel like science fiction," highlighting the innovative filming that revealed never-before-seen ocean phenomena.[4] Similarly, The New Yorker commended the "excellent footage shot on a circumglobal photo safari," emphasizing the technical prowess in documenting elusive deep-sea events.[71] Production quality earned formal recognition, including the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, acknowledging the series' mastery of high-definition underwater imaging across over 500 dives and 7,000 hours of raw footage. Review aggregates reflected this acclaim, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 97% approval rating from 31 critics, who lauded the "hypnotic beauty" achieved through cutting-edge techniques like motion-controlled time-lapse rigs for deep-sea sequences.[72] NPR's David Bianculli noted that scientists and filmmakers "capture images in unprecedented, truly breathtaking ways," underscoring the causal link between technological innovation—such as custom-built domes for split above-and-below-water shots—and the vivid portrayal of marine ecosystems.[73] Underwater camerawork stood out for its endurance and precision, with cinematographers logging over 600 hours submerged to film micro-details like bioluminescent displays and predator-prey interactions, techniques that WIRED described as "ingenious" for overcoming challenges like low-light conditions and extreme pressures.[17] IMDb user and critic consensus echoed this, rating the series 9.3/10 and praising "exceptional cinematography and groundbreaking footage" that revealed behaviors unattainable in prior documentaries.[1] These elements collectively elevated Blue Planet II's production to a benchmark for natural history filmmaking, prioritizing empirical capture of real-time oceanic dynamics over stylized effects.Audience Engagement and Metrics
The premiere episode of Blue Planet II, broadcast on BBC One on 29 October 2017, drew an average of 10.3 million live viewers in the UK, with consolidated figures reaching 14.1 million including seven-day catch-up viewing on BBC iPlayer.[28][6] This made it the highest-rated program of the year in the UK, surpassing competitors like Strictly Come Dancing and marking the most-watched British TV show since records began in their current form.[5] Subsequent episodes sustained strong performance, with the second installment attracting 13.97 million viewers.[74] On BBC iPlayer, Blue Planet II achieved unprecedented on-demand engagement, becoming the platform's most-watched program of 2017 to date by December.[30] This reflected broad appeal across demographics, including 2.3 million viewers aged 16-34 for the premiere.[37] Internationally, the series premiered on BBC America on 21 January 2018, garnering 2.95 million total viewers and 1.15 million adults aged 25-54 across a five-network simulcast.[34] While global viewership aggregates are not publicly detailed by the BBC, the program's distribution in over 100 territories underscored its reach beyond the UK market.[37]Awards and Industry Recognition
Blue Planet II garnered significant industry acclaim, securing 11 awards from 13 nominations at major ceremonies, highlighting its technical and narrative excellence in documentary filmmaking.[7] At the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018, the series won Outstanding Narrator for David Attenborough's performance, while receiving additional nominations for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program.[8] The British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2018 recognized the production with wins for Sound: Factual (Graham Wild, Tim Owens, and Kate Hopkins) and Photography: Factual (for the "One Ocean" episode), alongside nominations for Editing: Factual and other categories.[75][76] At the main BAFTA Television Awards in 2018, Blue Planet II claimed Virgin TV's Must-See Moment for the "One Ocean" episode's depiction of a mother pilot whale carrying her deceased calf, an image linked to plastic pollution discussions, though it was nominated but did not win in Specialist Factual.[77][78] Further honors included the Royal Television Society West of England Award for Sound in 2018 and seven nominations at the Wildscreen Festival Panda Awards, often termed the "wildlife Oscars," underscoring its contributions to natural history programming.[79][80]| Award Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Narrator | David Attenborough | 2018 | Won[8] |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Sound: Factual | Graham Wild, Tim Owens, Kate Hopkins | 2018 | Won[75] |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Photography: Factual ("One Ocean") | Roger Munns et al. | 2018 | Won[76] |
| BAFTA Television Awards | Virgin TV's Must-See Moment | Blue Planet II ("One Ocean") | 2018 | Won[77] |
| RTS West of England Awards | Sound | Production team | 2018 | Won[79] |