“Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D” details blue whales’ journey to recovery. (photo courtesy of Oceanic Films)

Oceanic Films, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and SK Films announce the release of their upcoming documentary, “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D,” the inspirational story of blue whales and their journey to recovery.  Narrated by the award-winning actor Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars”) and scored by Academy Award-winner Steven Price (“Gravity”), the film is set to open in giant screen theaters and museums on May 25. The film was produced by Oceanic Films with major funding from the National Science Foundation and is the third collaboration between SK Films and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios.

Blue whales are the largest animals ever to have lived, bigger than any dinosaur, yet we know surprisingly little about them. “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D” will entertain audiences of all ages and transform our understanding of these iconic creatures as we experience their spectacular feeding habits, their awesome long-distance communication and their tender mother-calf bonds. The film follows two scientific expeditions: one, a high-risk mission to find a missing population of blue whales, not seen in 50 years off the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean; and the other, to join Diane Gendron, the “Blue Whale Whisperer,” in Mexico’s Gulf of California, where she and her team eavesdrop on whale conversations and explore the important role these remarkable animals play in the health of our oceans.

“This movie is incredibly uplifting and powerful.” Serkis said. “Everyone assumes that because blue whales are the largest mammals on the planet, we should know a lot about them, but in fact that’s not the case. Learning what scientists are trying to do, to understand their behaviors, has been a real education for me. We need to find out more about creatures like these, because they inspire us to have hope. The film is a wonderful marriage of storytelling, fact-giving and entertainment.”

The film is accompanied by an outreach campaign with educational materials produced by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and the California Science Center. The suite of resources, made possible by NSF funding, targets families and classrooms for young learners aged 8-10.

To watch the trailer and for information, visit bluewhalesfilm.com.