Kids inspired by famous primatologist Jane Goodall go on epic quests to help protect wild animals in the upcoming Apple TV+ show Jane.
The first Jane trailer, which Apple released Monday, offers a glimpse of the new “live action/CGI blended” series. In it, 9-year-old character Jane Garcia says, “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Jane Goodall said that.”
“I know,” her mother replies, drily, at her bedside. “You recite it every morning.”
In Jane on Apple TV+, kids inspired by Jane Goodall yearn to protect animals
In the trailer cut, young Jane doesn’t get to the last vital bit of Goodall’s famous quote: “Only if we help, will they be saved.”
And kids taking inspiration from the ethologist, conservationist and chimpanzee expert — and really getting into the idea of saving animals — seems to be what Jane‘s all about. Jane and her friends are shown playing out fantasies of wildlife conservation adventures.
In one scene, they throttle up their motor boat, veering downriver from an endangered type of crocodile called a gharial — only to come dangerously close to going over a waterfall. But they’re really in a swimming pool. Jane scolds her mom for splashing water on her stuffed animal, Greybeard, hollering, “You know chimps can’t swim!”
“David Greybeard” was the name of the first chimp among Goodall’s early study subjects to trust her, and also the first chimp she ever observed using tools and eating meat, according to the Jane Goodall Institute.
All sorts of CGI animals
In the 10-episode series, Greybeard is a stuffed toy chimp some of the time and a “real” chimp via CGI special effects a lot of the time. And the show features plenty of other animals in action-packed scenes, too, from hippos to sharks to polar bears.
Here’s more description of the series from Apple TV+:
Ava Louise Murchison (Reacher) stars as Jane Garcia, a nine-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David, played by Mason Blomberg (Shameless), and Greybeard the chimpanzee on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world because, according to her idol Dr. Jane Goodall: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.”
Cast of characters
Other cast members include Tamara Almeida (Secrets at the Inn), Dan Abramovici (Wayne), Sam Marra (Stumptown) and Jazz Allen.
You’ll also see guest appearances by Emmy Award-winner Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Academy Award nominee Graham Greene (Dances with Wolves), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (The Mandalorian), Al Rodrigo (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), Lucian-River Chauhan (Encounter), Samantha Walkes (Orphan: First Kill) and Brian George (The Neighborhood), Apple TV+ said.
The series comes from Emmy Award-winner J.J. Johnson (Dino Dana, Endlings, Ghostwriter), Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Jane premieres on Friday, April 14 on Apple TV+.
In Jane Goodall’s words
“I believe that stories have the power to inspire people to action. I am very hopeful that this series will encourage young people, their families and friends to help save animals around the world,” said Goodall, according to Apple TV+.
Along with the new show, on April 7 Apple Original Series Soundtracks will release the Jane theme song, “One Step Closer.” Leona Lewis performs it, with words and music by Diane Warren.
Get Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $6.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
After first airing in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 299 wins and 1,279 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
Source: Apple TV+
