1948's 'Seal Island' is the first short film in the Disney True Life Adventures series, and also signalled the beginning of the series. All the series is worth watching and musts for anybody intrigued by old nature documentaries, even the weakest 'White Wilderness' has a lot of pleasures, though some films are better than others. While liking very much almost all the True Life Adventures feature length films, there is a preference for the more consistent and more tonally focused short films.
One of the best is 'Seal Island'. Fans of seals, like me (with me living in a fishing town where there are regular seal sightings), will be in heaven. As far as seal documentaries go, both as focusing entirely on seals or seeing them touched upon in ground-breaking nature documentary series, it doesn't get much better or more comprehensive than 'Seal Island'. It is beautiful and fascinating and despite it not being feature length (like it could have been) it is impossible to not be riveted by it.
'Seal Island' looks beautiful for one thing. It's beautifully shot in vivid colour and the scenery is completely natural and is gorgeous and unyielding in equal measure. The music is not used too much, fits well tonally and doesn't over-bear in terms of sound. Personally didn't detect any awkwardness, and thought it was remarkably natural despite it being a series debut and considering its age.
From start to finish, 'Seal Island' is highly informative and found myself learning a lot about seals. It is also accessible for all ages, despite being quite graphic for back then the male seal battle shouldn't disturb younger viewers too much (far more disturbing scenes in nature documentaries have happened since) and it is not juvenile for adults.
Did feel that almost all the feature films in the True Life Adventures series had moments where the jokiness was overdone and that parts were a little too cute. That to me was not the case with the short films, which were more focused tonally and were more sure of their target audience. It, and all the other short films, are more serious than the feature films generally in the series, but not overly so, there are moments also of adorable playfulness. The footage is fantastic at its best and it doesn't look manipulative or staged, the male seal battle certainly wasn't any of those.
Winston Hibler's narration delivery has always divided those that have watched the True Life Adventures films, personally had no problem with it in all but one. Here it is good natured and even the more deadpan delivery doesn't come over as that monotone.
Overall, wonderful and a must if you love seals. 10/10.