Behind the Scenes: Amazing Dinoworld 2

Discover how some dinosaurs may have survived the asteroid impact 66 million years ago in Amazing Dinoworld 2. Go behind the scenes with director Kazuki Ueda to learn how producers work closely with dozens of scientists and create stunning CGI with unique techniques such as using human actors to bring this untold prehistoric story to life.

A still from Amazing Dinoworld 2 showing a group of Puertasaurus roaming over lush terrain. Photo credits: NHK

We’ve all heard the story of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. But what if some dinosaurs survived this cataclysmic event? Where could they have escaped on Earth, and what would their life look like after the asteroid's impact?

Amazing Dinoworld 2, one of Omni-Theatre’s latest titles, explores new scientific revelations that some dinosaur species, such as the sauropod Puertasaurus and the carnivorous Maip, could have survived the asteroid and the ensuing impact winter by migrating to the Southern Hemisphere.

The forty-minute dome movie follows the perilous journey of two juvenile Puertasaurus as they traverse terrains beset by mega tsunamis, wildfires, and below-freezing blizzards to reach a new home. Utilising stunning visual effects, the film brings the colossal species that thrived in the remote refuge of what is now Antarctica back to life. 

Featuring insights from the leading palaeontologists on the latest fossil discoveries and excavations, the film blends innovative CGI, scientific data, and storytelling to dramatise this previously unknown chapter of dinosaur history. The documentary was produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK in co-production with Bonne Pioche, Curiosity, and Autentic.

In October 2025, the Void Deck team had the privilege to interview Amazing Dinoworld 2 director Mr. Kazuki Ueda, facilitated by global content development senior producer Mr. Hiroaki Katayama. Read on to learn how the filmmakers reconstructed dinosaur movements using human actors, the challenges of shooting on-location during COVID-19, and how over ten sounds were layered to create a dinosaur’s fearsome roar. 

Watch Amazing Dinoworld 2 in Omni-Theatre, exclusively in Singapore at Science Centre Singapore, featuring Southeast Asia’s largest seamless dome screen (23m in diameter). Tickets available here: https://tickets.science.edu.sg/.

A Lifelong Quest for Dinosaur Discovery

A still from Amazing Dinoworld 2 showing the asteroid long thought to have led to the extinction of dinosaurs hurtling towards the Earth. Photo credits: NHK

Mr. Ueda, who has directed palaeontology programs for over 10 years, shared that he has been fascinated by dinosaurs ever since childhood. He joined NHK more than 20 years ago and initially worked on science and wildlife programs, filming fascinating rare animals such as the Golden monkey. His passion for dinosaurs deepened when he first joined a special program about dinosaurs in 2006. What most appealed to him was that unlike wildlife documentaries, which tended to be stringently factual, dinosaur programs required not only scientific accuracy, but also a creative reconstruction of how such giants might have once roamed the Earth. 

“The collision and mixture of fact-based science and imagination–that’s the most exciting part of producing a dinosaur program,” Mr. Ueda stated.

Longstanding collaboration with scientists like renowned palaeontologist Dr. Yoshitsugu Kobayashi of Hokkaido University helped strike a careful balance between hard science and imaginative filmmaking. In fact, Dr. Kobayashi had helped introduce Mr. Ueda to new research that would spark the concept for Amazing Dinoworld 2. Mr. Ueda had previously produced an NHK special on dinosaur extinction in 2009 that featured the prevailing theory at the time that disasters including the Impact Winter from the meteorite killed off the dinosaurs; however, the discovery of new fossils in Alaska by Dr. Kobayashi’s team made him eager to reassess this hypothesis.

Mr. Ueda described how Dr. Kobayashi’s fieldwork in Alaska “uncovered fossilised footprints of hadrosaurs—plant-eating dinosaurs—deep within the ancient Arctic… crucially, alongside adult footprints were the tiny tracks of juveniles.” This “revolutionary detail” led Dr. Kobayashi to postulate that perhaps dinosaur species with preexisting adaptations for extreme cold might have survived the harsh temperatures following the asteroid impact.

Mr. Ueda emphasised the dynamic nature of palaeontology, where new discoveries constantly reshape understanding. “It's the most beautiful part of the palaeontology, and being a palaeontologist, pushing those boundaries and frontiers,” Mr. Ueda explained. Mr. Ueda drew on these emerging findings to develop the storyboards in close collaboration with Dr. Kobayashi.

Recreating the Dinosaurs’ Last Refuge 

A still from Amazing Dinoworld 2 showing a group of Puertasaurus traversing green hills. Photo credits: NHK

The documentary team developed the narrative through consultations with dozens of scientists around the world. An expert from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History mentioned to the crew that the area we now know as the South Pole would be a likely refuge site for the dinosaurs. The filmmakers selected the Gondwana supercontinent as the setting, and chose specific dinosaurs based on their likelihood of survival in that region. The story evolved based on scientifically plausible plot points, such as juvenile dinosaurs hunkering down in caves to escape the heatwave caused by the asteroid impact.

Mr. Ueda explained that the team selected real locations resembling prehistoric landscapes to serve as authentic backdrops for CG work. This approach was not simply for realism in filming, but to reduce the complexity of CG production and achieve a more natural texture. To create convincing dinosaurs, the backgrounds needed to closely reflect the environments of their era. Originally, filming was planned in the Southern Hemisphere in countries like South America, New Zealand to match prehistoric landscapes. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, locations in Japan, particularly Hokkaido, were used instead. 

The grasslands of eastern Hokkaido where Mr. Ueda had filmed two decades earlier during his time at NHK Hokkaido Branch were used for shots of the prehistoric giants walking in the fog. Since there are significant differences between today's flora and prehistoric plants—such as the fact that Cretaceous plants differ from modern ones, and that the flora of the Southern Hemisphere is distinct from that of the Northern Hemisphere—the team avoided close-up shots of plants whenever possible, and even went to the lengths of creating scientifically accurate CGI plants when necessary.

A Deeply Human Tale of Resilience 

A still from Amazing Dinoworld 2 of two young Puertasaurus seeking comfort in the harsh winter. Photo credits: NHK

Mr. Ueda explained that it was crucial that the film went beyond a nonfictional investigation of dinosaur extinction and presented a compelling story of resilience that felt deeply human, despite starring nonhuman animals. To give a reference for the animators and a sense of humanness to the dinosaur performances, Mr. Ueda and his team layered multiple visual elements into the eyes of the dinosaurs to convey a sense of empathy and emotion, achieving an exceptionally high level of expression. Also, they physically acted out dinosaur movements using 5-metre poles to simulate the dinosaur’s limbs and head positions. For instance, the thrilling battle between the Maip and the juvenile Puertasaurus was first played out by human actors and then animated. 

Another key factor in humanising the dinosaur characters was the music. Mr. Ueda shared that he wanted the soundtrack to create the impression that the audience was experiencing the feelings of the dinosaurs on their dangerous journey. The lamenting piano and heart-tugging instrumentals were composed to emotionally connect viewers with these prehistoric giants.

Even the dinosaur noises tapped on the emotive power of the human voice. “For carnivorous dinosaurs, we mixed lion, tiger, bear, and human voices to create a deep sound. For smaller dinosaurs, we used bird songs and children’s voices,” Mr. Ueda said. The sound engineers also adapted recordings from trumpets and metals, mixing over ten sources to create a single dinosaur’s roar.

He hopes the film encourages viewers, especially children, to explore scientific mysteries and understand that science is an ongoing journey of discovery. Mr. Ueda explained, “It’s not the end of the story [of how dinosaurs lived]. If you try to know more, you may find incredible stories like this—stories of survival and hope that continue to inspire us.”

Enjoy Roar-some Deals at the Omni-Theatre

Amazing Dinoworld 2 screening at Omni-Theatre. Photo credits: Science Centre Board

Catch Amazing Dinoworld 2 showing exclusively at the Omni-Theatre, Southeast Asia's first 8K 3D Digital Dome Theatre. To celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can now enjoy limited-time offers on immersive science films until 31 December 2025. Book your ticket to prehistoric eras and marvel at dinosaurs on the big screen at a special promotion price of $6.00 (U.P $14.00). Are you an educator who would like to bring the magic of science cinema to your class? Learn more about Omni-Theatre’s School Programmes here.

Curious to uncover more treasures of the natural world? Double the excitement to enjoy access to both Science Centre and Omni-Theatre for a full day of science discovery at only $8.00. Get your tickets now at https://tickets.science.edu.sg/ and find out more about the promotion here.

Written by Jamie Uy
Promotional stills courtesy of NHK in co-production with Bonne Pioche, Curiosity, and Autentic 

Published 18 December 2025
Last updated 19 December 2025