Built for the Kill is a nature series made by Granada Wild for the National Geographic Channel. It was produced from 2001 to 2004, with a total of 31 episodes. Each episode runs for approximately 48 minutes including the credits and opening titles.
Format
Episodes of Built For The Kill cover a topic or habitat for predatory animals, such as "Coral Reef" or "Packs". If the episode is the name of a Habitat (Coral Reef), the episode will feature predators from that environment. If the episode's name is something like "Jaws" or "Packs", it will feature predators who utilize the name of the episode. Built For The Kill uses a graphical approach to catch the audiences attention, often showing inner workings of the predatory animals (e.g. showing a snake's "Jacobson Organ" inside its mouth) by using diagrams. Some effects seen are used to show the audience what they can't really see, but is there (such as the electricity coming from an Electric Ray or the sound waves used in Echo Location). This graphical approach to nature is meant to make the documentary more interesting to watch.
Built for the Kill's classic opening was a montage of creatures featured in the first 7 episodes (Desert, Coral Reef, Rainforest, Grassland, Miniature, Swamp and Ocean) with a catchy theme song. This opening was changed further into the series to one that shows the National Geographic logo in various parts. The theme song stayed the same however.
In 2011 National Geographic Channel resurrect the show with four new episodes. However, the four episodes were presented with a slightly different style than the original. The following four episodes are (lion, great white shark, polar bear, and crocodile) and is expected to be continued.
