Beach House Pictures has unveiled two new factual productions, led by the wildlife series Panda School, narrated by Jimmy O. Yang, alongside the historical documentary Secret Weapons of China’s First Emperor.
Panda School (3×60′) follows a cohort of giant panda cubs at a conservation facility set high in the mountains of China’s Sichuan Province as they acquire the skills needed for life in the wild. Produced for Nat Geo EMEA in association with Fremantle, the series combines intimate wildlife storytelling with a coming-of-age narrative focused on one of the world’s most iconic species.
Yang — widely known for HBO’s Silicon Valley and the film Crazy Rich Asians — narrates all three episodes, bringing both humor and cultural connection to the series.
“I love Pandas, I love Chinese culture, and I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about these cute fluffy guys after narrating the show. It’s really one of the most fun jobs I’ve had. ‘Panda School’ has all the drama of a coming-of-age story – with maximum cuteness overload,” Yang said.
Directed by Hannah Hoare, the series is executive produced by Nell Gordon and Drew Jones for Nat Geo, and Donovan Chan for Beach House Pictures. Fremantle handles international distribution rights outside of National Geographic’s European, African and Middle Eastern territories.
Alongside Panda School, Beach House Pictures also announced Secret Weapons of China’s First Emperor (1×60′), a historical documentary co-produced with China Media Group (CMG). The film explores how Qin Shi Huang unified China more than two thousand years ago, focusing on the military innovations — including mass-produced bronze weaponry and standardized equipment — that enabled the rapid expansion of his armies.
Produced with exclusive access granted by CMG, the documentary incorporates immersive reconstructions and recent archaeological discoveries, including insights into the emperor’s vast burial complex, much of which remains unexcavated. Fremantle holds global distribution rights outside China, with the film already sold to CCTV in China and SBS in Australia.
Chan and Rob Sixsmith executive produce for Beach House Pictures, with Han Wein and Tian Yuan executive producing for CMG.
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“We’re always looking for stories that combine distinctive access with universal audience appeal,” said Donovan Chan, creative director at Beach House Pictures. “‘Panda School’ is an uplifting, endearing, character-driven series with humor and real emotional stake, following the cub’s journeys to tell a purpose-driven story about protecting an iconic species.”
“‘Secret Weapons of China’s First Emperor’ achieves remarkable access along with cutting-edge archaeology to bring fresh insight to one of the most fascinating and consequential chapters in Chinese history. These documentaries reflect the breadth of storytelling we are proud to champion at Beach House Pictures, underscoring our commitment to telling premium factual stories that entertain, surprise and resonate globally.”
The dual announcement underscores Beach House Pictures’ continued push into premium factual storytelling, spanning both wildlife and historical genres for global audiences.
