Blue Planet III Keeps Flaws to Appear Authentic

The new season embraces grain, plankton, and parasitic elements in the imagery. The stated goal: to avoid the overly smooth aesthetic associated with AI-generated images and to assert a filming authenticity, while showcasing rare animal behaviors.

Rare Scenes on Screen, from Crab Banks to Tool-Using Dolphins

The series features impressive sequences, such as 200,000 crabs lined up to feed. It also shows dolphins using marine sponges to trap fish, as well as examples of communication between different species of fish. For Elizabeth White, the true creatures of the oceans are undoubtedly more astonishing than what artificial intelligence could imagine.

Embracing Imperfection to Counter the "AI" Aesthetic

Images that are too smooth and uniform are often perceived as a sign of AI usage. To distinguish itself, Blue Planet III opts for a more raw aesthetic and retains imperfect shots to assert its authenticity. This choice differs from previous seasons, which favored very sharp and spectacular images, sometimes deemed too perfect to be natural.

Plankton, Buoys, Boats: What Production Now Retains

Elizabeth White notes that previously, the presence of plankton or other floating elements in the water might have led to the exclusion of certain shots. There were also instances where a boat, a buoy, or water conditions deemed insufficient would motivate the exclusion of a sequence. For this season, the team chooses to keep these elements in order to provide a more authentic and organic view of the oceans.