Animated features like The Little Mermaid and Toy Story aren't enough for Disney these days; now as the renewed interest in nature spreads, the company hopes to cash in on the same success as other films in the genre, such as the 2005 documentary March of the Penguins.

The first film under the new Disneynature regime will be released one year from today (Earth Day 2009), with at least two more projects to follow close behind. Walt Disney Company CEO Robert A. Iger says that the recent Discovery Channel miniseries "Planet Earth" also helped inspire the decision to move into the territory of nature documentaries.

“We were blown away by that TV series and we wished the Disney name was on it,” Mr. Iger said in an interview.

Mr. Iger declined to specify costs. “The films will cost enough to deliver the type of quality our customers expect, but less than a typical feature,” he said.

If successful, Iger believes the new films will appeal to an audience overseas and be less contentious than some of their other projects in countries such as China and India. Of course, one wouldn't expect Disney to just stop at the new films. A line of books based on the films will likely be produced, as well as the possible construction of a new branch of the famous Disney theme parks based on the films is possible.

The first of the films, simply called "Earth" will be released April 22, 2009, with "Oceans" to follow in 2010 and "Chimpanzee," filmed in the Ivory Coast Jungle, slated for a 2012 release.

» The New York Times