Disneynature's 'Orangutan' lands on Disney+ for Earth Day

Disneynature's documentary "Orangutan" debuted on Disney+ on Tuesday, following Indah, a young orangutan navigating the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra in what producer Roy Conli calls the animal kingdom's closest parallel to human childhood.

The film, shot over 650 days in Southeast Asia, leans on the species' unusually long childhood — up to 13 years spent with their mothers — as a bridge between human audiences and a conservation cause that Conli says demands greater public attention.

The 80-minute film was assembled from roughly 700 hours of footage captured over 650 days of shooting in Borneo and Sumatra, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Producer Roy Conli said the species' bond with their mothers made them a natural fit for documentary storytelling.

"Orangutans have the longest childhood of any animal besides humans. They will stay with their family, with their mother for sometimes up to 13 years, which is so similar to us. Finding that kind of connection with an animal is so very important to telling the story," Conli said.

Actor Josh Gad, who previously worked with Conli on "Olaf's Frozen Adventure," narrates the film. Conli praised his ability to balance the film's lighter and heavier emotional registers.

"Josh is stunning. He has comic chops, he has dramatic chops, and he has a heart the size of Chicago," Conli said. "When we saw this story, we knew that we needed someone who would be able to tell it in a comedic way, but also bring the depth that Josh delivers. He's just been magnificent to work with."

The production drew on the expertise of 230 local residents from Southeast Asia, whom Conli described as indispensable to the project.

"These people know the territory. To have these folks who are so ingrained in the location, the behavior, and the customs-you simply can't make these films without local expertise and cooperation," Conli said.

The Earth Day release carries an explicit conservation message. "I'm so proud of the team and Disney. It's important for people to understand that these creatures, to some degree, we're responsible for. We need to help, and we need to always keep an eye on them," Conli said.

"Orangutan" is now streaming on Disney+. The film premiered on Earth Day, April 22.