Netflix’s newest show stars baby zoo animals in their most adorable moments – from snoozing otters to lolloping rhinos and an orangutan enjoying a leisurely leaf snack. It’s a delightful escape, offering a dose of simplicity and charm that we all need.
On Thursday, Netflix quietly released a show named “Baby Animal Cam,” and it could be a game-changer.
This show uses the same live technology as Chris Rock’s “Selective Outrage” standup special and might shape the future of reality TV.
What’s unique about it? It’s a livestream from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo without presenters or scripted dialogue. Essentially, nothing much happens in the two-hour show, where animals like monkeys and otters take turns on the screen.
Accompanied by jaunty library music, it’s a departure from complex narratives, offering a simple and tranquil look at adorable baby animals. In a world of strikes and industry changes, “Baby Animal Cam” could signal a shift towards genuine, unscripted content in television.
Baby Animal Cam makes you wonder: Why is it live? These are zoo animals, not action heroes. The otters won’t face eagle attacks or win Super Bowls. The most thrilling moment might be an orangutan taking its sweet time with a leaf. The live aspect seems unnecessary, unless you’re strangely fixated on real-time animal antics.
And who decided this is the future of TV? It’s like the pre-broadband internet days, tuning into a static webcam of a waterfall or the Eiffel Tower for a momentary burst of novelty.
Some may think Baby Animal Cam is cheap, creator-free TV, proving streaming platforms don’t need those demanding creators. Others might imagine a slow-burn Adult Swim-style prank. But, no, it’s just a live stream of baby animals. And oddly enough, it’s loveable. Stripping away complex plots, it offers an unfiltered look at adorable creatures. In a world of intense dramas, Baby Animal Cam is a simple joy, prompting us to appreciate unscripted moments in the lives of these charming animals. It may not revolutionize TV, but it’s a refreshing break from elaborate narratives. Is there a future for unscripted, genuine moments in entertainment? Time will tell, but for now, Baby Animal Cam is a delightful experiment in the evolving world of TV.
I’ve always found solace in Slow TV, the Nordic micro-genre that gifted us unedited journeys like the seven-hour train ride Bergensbanen: Minutt for Minutt and the 134-hour cargo voyage Hurtigruten: Minutt for Minutt. These deliberate, lengthy explorations defy traditional television norms, where the absence of action is the entire essence. Enter Baby Animal Cam, a contender for Slow TV’s natural heir.
However, by a stroke of serendipity, the first episode of Baby Animal Cam felt like more than just that. In a world currently grappling with unimaginable horrors, complexities, and violence, with worse yet to unfold, last Thursday felt like a moment when many of us were already worn down and hollowed out, struggling to process the onslaught of nightmarish imagery.
While it couldn’t have been intentional, Netflix’s decision to open a side door at this exact moment and quietly ask, “Anyone up for two hours of baby otters?” felt like a small act of kindness. Baby Animal Cam may not be the television future we envision, as even die-hard Slow TV enthusiasts may quickly tire of watching animals do absolutely nothing in Cleveland. Yet, as a one-off experience, it’s akin to receiving a soothing brain massage amidst chaos. We might deserve more than Baby Animal Cam, but for now, it’s the comforting duvet fort we all need.