Netflix, the world's leading streaming entertainment media-provider service, has released ten of its documentaries, short films and docu-series free on its Youtube channel during the lockdown. 

Released with educational sources in response to teachers’ requests, the series includes Abstract: The Art of Design in which Danish architect Bjarke Ingels has been featured, 13th (film), Babies (series), Chasing Coral (film), Explained (series), Knock Down the House (film), Our Planet (series), Period. End of Sentence (short), The White Helmets (short) and Zion (short).

Netflix's original documentaries "Abstract: The Art of Design" premiered on February 10, 2017 - "this glamorous design show is comprised of eight episodes and is all about ''creativity and visionary designers who shape the world around us—from architecture to illustration, cars to typography'' said Scott Dadich, editor-in-chief of WIRED.

See the documentaries & short films below:

13th (Film)

"The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity. With a potent mixture of archival footage and testimony from a dazzling array of activists, politicians, historians, and formerly incarcerated women and men, DuVernay creates a work of grand historical synthesis."

Abstract: The Art of Design (Series - Season 1)

Abstract: The Art of Design takes you beyond blueprints into the art, science, and philosophy of design. The series goes inside the minds of the world’s greatest designers, showcasing the most inspiring visionaries from a variety of disciplines whose work shapes our culture and future.

Babies (Series - select episodes)

"Filmed over the course of three years, Babies is a landmark series that explores the miracle of the first full year of life through the pioneering work of leading scientists from across the globe. The series examines the epic journey every person  embarks on, from helpless new-born to independent toddler. Following the life-changing adventures of 15 international families and featuring the latest research from eminent scientists who share their personal journeys of discovery into the infant mind, the series is filled with the exciting uncertainty of parenting, exploring each major milestone of development like never before. From the first bond a baby shares with its parents, to learning to feed, sleep through the night, crawl across the room, speak their first words, and discover the world around them – right up to those first steps of toddlerhood."

Chasing Coral (Film)

"Chasing Coral taps into the collective will and wisdom of an ad man, a self-proclaimed coral nerd, top-notch camera designers, and renowned marine biologists as they invent the first time-lapse camera to record bleaching events as they happen. Unfortunately, the effort is anything but simple, and the team doggedly battles technical malfunctions and the force of nature in pursuit of their golden fleece: documenting the indisputable and tragic transformation below the waves. With its breathtaking photography, nail-biting suspense, and startling emotion, Chasing Coral is a dramatic revelation that won’t have audiences sitting idle for long."

Explained (Series - select episodes)

"In partnership with Vox Media Studios and Vox, this enlightening explainer series will take viewers deep inside a wide range of culturally relevant topics, questions, and ideas. Each episode will explore current events and social trends pulled from the zeitgeist, touching topics across politics, science, history and pop culture - featuring interviews with some of the most authoritative experts in their respective fields."

See the full ten series on Netflix's Youtube channel.

See also WAC's 10-must see architecture movies and documentaries on Netflix.

Top image courtesy of Netflix

> via Netflix