A humpback whale breaches in Alaska's Inside Passage
photo by John Hyde Pacific Stock
There are 78 whale species in the world but, among them all, Humpback Whales are unique. They’re the only whales that sing.
Specifically, it’s the males that do the crooning which occurs primarily during the mating season. Their haunting melodies are complex and get repeated over and over. The compositions often change, yet all of the singers in one population seem to have the same lyrics. However, Humpbacks in another part of the world sing very different tunes. While researchers are still trying to understand these wonderful vocalizations, the rest of humanity can sit back and marvel at this mysterious music.
Audiences at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater will feel as if they are in the ocean surrounded by these titanic troubadours when Humpback Whales 3D comes to the giant screen beginning on March 6.
The 55-foot, 50-ton marine mammals will appear life-sized and crystal-clear thanks to stunning 3D imagery captured by the award-winning team at MacGillivray Freeman films. “They are among the largest animals to ever live on earth and we knew they would look amazing on the big screen,” said Greg MacGillivray, the film’s director. “Humpbacks also have the longest pectoral flippers, proportionally, of all whales, so they can maneuver like no others and turn on a dime. They have a unique love of leaping, or breaching, from the water, and they’re playful and high-energy. I think of them as the ocean’s acrobats.”
Narrated by two-time Golden Globe nominee Ewan McGregor and presented by Pacific Life, Humpback Whales 3D tags along with leading whale researchers using pioneering methods to better understand what whales do when no one’s watching. As the film sails from the clear turquoise waters of the South Pacific to Africa, Hawaii and Alaska, audiences will marvel at their epic migration, coordinated group feeding behaviors and become captivated by scenes showing the tender moments between mother whales and their calves. “I was awed by their majesty, their agility and their curiosity, and moved by the instinct the females have for motherhood,” said Mr. MacGillivray. “We have a great underwater shot of a mother who let her baby get about ten feet away from us.”
Once feared as monsters, and very nearly hunted to extinction, today Humpbacks appear to be in the midst of a slow recovery. Now protected by global bans on whaling, the image of the Humpback has transformed 180 degrees into a wellspring of wide-eyed human curiosity, passion and inspiration. The result has been a golden age of cetacean science that’s now tackling the many puzzles of their intriguing behaviors. “Humpback Whales are at the center of an environmental story that offers great promise,” said Mr. MacGillivray. “With their increasing numbers, we now have a tremendous opportunity to learn more about just how magnificent, intelligent and vital to oceanic ecosystems they really are.”
The filmmakers employed an arsenal of cameras, crew members and techniques to make this project the largest production ever mounted to film a story of whales in the wild. Thanks to excellent weather, water clarity and unique whale activity, Humpback Whales 3D captures the truly remarkable comeback story of a playful beast that sang its way into our hearts. “It’s an experience that we hope will allow people to get to know whales and want to better understand them,” said Mr. MacGillivray. “The more people fall for whales, the more strongly they will feel about protecting them – and their habitat – long into the future.”
Humpback Whales 3D is approximately 40 minutes in length and is rated G. Presented by Pacific Life. View the official Humpback Whales 3D trailer: http://bit.ly/hbwhalestrailer
Go to http://www.tnaqua.org/imax for showtimes and to purchase tickets online.
Underwater cameraman Howard Hall filming humpbacks in Tonga
photo by 2014 MacGillivray Freeman Films and Pacific Life Photographer Michele Hall