Animal X (TV series)


Animal X is an Australian made documentary television series that aired in more than 120 countries. It began in 1997 with its first series of thirteen half-hour episodes. In 2002, Discovery Channel in the U.S. co-produced the 2nd 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 Skookum Cast, said to be an imprint of the body of a bigfoot.

Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit

In 2004 Animal X spin off, the Natural Mystery Unit, was born. Also a co-production between Discovery 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 composed 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 the actor Bill Kerr ET tells the story, provides directions and gives orders to the team. 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 Classica' and Animal X Natural Mystery Unit are produced in segments that often feature eye-witness testimony. AX NMU episodes routinely show the Animal X Team planting motion-activated infrared video cameras to try to 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 and soon to be available on the web through Google Video and YouTube.

Episode list

Series One

  1. Chupacabra, magic cows, Black Dogs
  2. Killer crocodiles, Fizo, Inkanyamba
  3. Rainbow Serpent, Lake Van Monster, killer wolves
  4. Cattle Mutilations, croc horror, Black cat
  5. Dingoes, fish, Bigfoot
  6. Komodo dragon, ghost lions, Canadian Lake Monster
  7. Cat worshipers, alien animals, killer bees
  8. Salawa, dolphin therapy, Jersey Devil
  9. Goatman, Phar Lap, psychic animals
  10. Beast of Bodmin, Giant Squid, psychic animals part two
  11. Yeti, hypnotising dog, Thylacine
  12. Mad elephants, Biblical lions, Yowie
  13. Caddy, Red Heifer, big cats in Australia

    Series Two

  14. Chupacabra in Puerto Rico, Panthers in Essex, Dogs who diagnose disease
  15. Marsupial lion, Thunderbirds, Animals sealed in stone
  16. Megalodon, pets that save lives, plagues of animals
  17. A Bigfoot special
  18. New England sea serpent, hominids around the world, Beaching whales
  19. Skunk Ape, animal emotion, frog and fish rain
  20. Incredible dog journeys, thylacine, Swedish lake monster
  21. Carnivorous herbivores, Megalania, Animal memories
  22. Animal heroes, Yowie, Telepathic parrot
  23. England's sea monster, Singing whales, Gremlins
  24. Moa, Animal superstitions, Drain Monster
  25. Minnesota Iceman, Psychic pets, Golden frogs
  26. Giant Squid, Animal Phantoms, and Kamikaze sex

    Natural Mystery Unit

  27. Animal Ghosts
  28. Monster or Murderer
  29. The Mystery of the Thylacine
  30. Texas Bigfoot
  31. Winged creatures
  32. Monsters of the Deep
  33. Reptilian creatures
  34. El Chupacabra
  35. Australia's Alien Big cats
  36. Animal Super Powers

    Series facts

Series Premiered: UK: Channel Five 1998, Discovery Channel, then in its original form on Animal Planet worldwide. It has been seen in more than 120 countries.