Images and video · 2026-10-24
BBC keeps imperfect shots in its ocean documentary to prove it is real
BBC's Blue Planet III deliberately keeps imperfect footage because, in the age of AI, overly polished and seamless videos increasingly raise suspicions of being fake.
Why this matters
Earlier nature films from BBC were known for almost flawless images: vivid colors, crystal-clear water, smooth shots. Today such perfection can make viewers suspicious, since it is exactly how AI-generated video often looks. So the makers of Blue Planet III decided to show the ocean as it really is.
What was left in the film
Executive producer Elizabeth White told The Guardian that in the past, the amount of plankton and other particles in the water could have led them to cut a shot. They might also have dropped a shot because a boat or buoy was in the frame. Now such details are kept to show a more natural, organic version of the oceans.
The series features striking scenes: dolphins trapping fish by plugging holes with sea sponges, inter-species fish communication, and 200,000 crabs lining up in formation to feed. White says real ocean creatures are probably more remarkable than AI could imagine.
Useful from the source
- Blue Planet III — The official page of the Blue Planet III series from BBC Earth.
- The Guardian — The Guardian article with the series producer's comments on why imperfect footage was kept.
Sources: 🔗 The Verge — AI