Narrator Brendan Fraser and star Leo the sea lion lead a magnificent nature documentary for Disneynature The Snapshot: Sea Lions of the Galapagos isn’t just another cute animal documentary. It’s a visually rich, emotionally resonant film that celebrates Earth Day with purpose Sea Lions of the Galapagos 9 out of 10 G, 1hr 22mins. Family Nature Documentary. Directed by Hugh Wilson and Keith Scholey. Narrated by Brendan Fraser. Now streaming on Disney+ for subscribers. Leo the sea lion, the swift-swimming star of Disneynature’s Sea Lions of the Galapagos, is about to become your new best flippered friend. For streaming service Disney+, it’s become an unofficial tradition to release a new nature documentary on Earth Day each year. Yet while they all have cute stories and cinematography of unparalleled beaut, the success of these films vary based on the earnestness and focus of the narrative. With smart insights and Dave Fowler's well-written script, this is a great movie where children, teens, adults and seniors can all get invested in Leo's 80 minute tropical quest. Sea Lions, as it happens, is one of the streamer’s strongest offerings in years. Watching the lifespan of Leo the sea lion from pup to adventurer to “beach master” is engaging, warm and educational for all ages. The best part of Sea Lions is, unlike past Disneynature chapters like Polar Bear or Elephant, the screenwriters have stayed away from hokey gimmicks and juvenile writing. Instead, they let the dynamic visuals and beauty of the isolated Galapagos speak for itself. Read more here: Disney's Polar Bear bear-ly gets by - Review Unsurprisingly, sea lions are fascinating creatures whose yearning for discovery parallels humans’ own interest with nature. Paired with the astounding visuals from Disney’s top-natch camera crews and their decade-long efforts in the Galapagos getting the footage, and you’ve got a stellar movie. Principal photographers Richard Wollocombe and Paul D. Stewart have sourced some unbelievable images of coral reefs, erupting volcanoes, fish hunting, and extraordinary close-ups on dozens of creatures. Scene after scene, you’ll gasp wondering “how did they film that?!” It’s also not just the sea lions that take centre stage, either. Various chapters see Leo meeting new friends and foes through the islands, including turtles, sharks, pelicans, iguanas, and millions of fish. Oscar winner Brendan Fraser (best known for The Mummy movies) provides the celebrity narration, but his voice is a great match for the Galapagos. His tone is gentle and clear, infused with genuine curiosity that matches Leo’s, exploring the endless islands in his journey. (Fun fact: this movie also marks Fraser’s return to Disney after more than 20 years, when he starred in the company’s George of the Jungle franchise. ) The only thing that could make watching Sea Lions even better would be seeing it on a big screen. Before COVID-19, these films would release in cinemas every year on Earth Day, and a portion of the ticket sales were donated wildlife conservation funds - though the film’s credits still tell you how to do that if you like. Sadly, that’s likely not coming back. But viewers really interested in the subject matter, including how they filmed the movie over nearly a decade, can watch a companion documentary also streaming on Disney+ called Guardians of the Galapagos, also streaming now for subscribers. Sea Lions of the Galapagos is probably Disneynature’s most exciting movie since 2020’s Dolphin Reef, and possibly one of the best ever. If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate Earth Day 2025, I can’t recommend spending some time with the sea lions enough.