Animal X (TV series)

Animal X is a TV series airing in more than 120 countries. It began in 1997 with its first series of 13 half-hour episodes. In 2002, Discovery Channel in the US co-produced a second series of 13 half-hour episodes with the creators of the series, Australia's Storyteller Productions, for Animal Planet. 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 now famous Skookum Cast.

In 2004 Animal X spin off, the NATURAL Mystery Unit, was born. Also a co-production between Discovery US 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 comprised of Daniel Searle and Natalie Schmitt. 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. In wonderful Vaudeville style, Kerr looks into the camera and addresses the viewing audience directly, calling them "darlings" in comments such as: "Now that is truly frightening, darlings!" 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 Classic (as the first two series have become known) and Animal X Natural Mystery Unit are slickly produced in entertaining segments that often feature eye-witness testimony. AX NMU episodes routinely show the Animal X Team planting motion-activated infrared video cameras to try and 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 others.

Cryptids Featured on Animal X

Episodes of Animal X (show) covered:

• Chupacabras
• Magic Cows
• Phantom Black Dogs
• Giant Killer Crocodiles
• Howick Falls Monster
• the Rainbow Serpent
• Lake Monsters
• Killer Wolves
• Phantom cats
• Healing Fish
• Bigfoot
• Ghost Lions
• Yetis
• the Queensland Tiger
• the Tasmanian Tiger
• Thunderbirds
• Mothman
• Reptilian humanoids
• and many other Cryptids

Series Facts

Series Premiered: UK: Channel Five 1998, US 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.