Urban Canyons

NINJA SHADOW WARRIORS 1x52 HD

HISTORY - FACTUAL

NINJA SHADOW WARRIORS is the first part of the UNTOLD HISTORY series on ancient warriors. It is unearthing the true history, unique military skills and ancient traditions behind the infamous Ninja, a small band of rebellious Japanese mountain villagers, who struck fear into ordinary people’s lives and were a constant thorn in the side of the battle hardened Samurai warrior clans. The documentary tells the intriguing story of Ninja boy Tanba who was trained by his grandfather to become one of the most feared warriors in ancient Japan.

SAMURAI HEAD-HUNTERS 1x52min HD / 3D

HISTORY - FACTUAL

Reveals the brutally dark side of the noble Samurai warrior. The Samurai clans dominated Japanese warfare for over 800 years with their exceptional warfare skills, formalised codes of fighting and loyalty until death to their masters. Their code of honour is legendary. However there is also another more sinister story to be told - one of extreme cruelty, thievery and treachery.

URBANATION 13x25 HD - London Episode

URBANATION is a streetwise city guide from the world’s most exciting youth culture hubs featuring New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, Antwerp, Sao Paulo, Kingston Jamaica, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai and Johannesburg. The British capital is introduced by pop star Lily Allen and her sister Sarah who talk about their vintage store.

URBANATION 13x25 HD - Antwerp Episode

URBANATION is a streetwise city guide from the world’s most exciting youth culture hubs featuring New York, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris, Antwerp, Sao Paulo, Kingston Jamaica, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai and Johannesburg. The harbour city is introduced by Belgian snowboard wold champ Seppe Smitts who meets Antwerp’s European skater pro Phil Zwijsen to discover the best skate spots, indoor snow ramps and a late night fast food place.

GUERILLA ART 1x58

Following in the footsteps of Keith Haring and Basquiat, a new generation of street artists is conquering the world’s art markets. GUERILLA ART reveals their unique economic model of survival and portraits the most influential artists in New York, London, Paris, Sao Paulo and Tokyo - featuring New York Graffiti legends Futura 2000 and the late Ramm:ell:zee, as well as street artists Banksy, Os Gemeos, Space Invader, Zevs, WK Interact, Blek Le Rat, Barnstormers, Espo, André, Noki, Miss Van and Eine.

SECRET OF CHINESE LOVE SOUP 1x43

TRAVEL - FACTUAL

For 3000 years, Chinese medicine beliefs in the healing factor of food. With the help of her doctor, the manager of Shanghai’s gourmet restaurant dreams of cooking up the recipe for a soup that leaves every couple in lust and a strong longing for love.

GYPSY FAIR 1x48

A group of young English Gypsies visits the annual Appleby fair to create a film portrait of their generation. 30,000 Gypsies and Travellers gather each year in a small rural town in Cumbria. Appleby Fair is the biggest annual Gypsy gathering in Europe. The documentary reveals some very traditional Gypsy values versus modern lifestyle trends, made before the C4 hit series “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding”.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES 1x96 HD

UK born actor (and original ‘Cabaret’ cast member) Michael York narrates through this HD live recording of the famous Broadway musical based on the 150 year old publication of Charles Dickens that portrays a love triangle across the cities of London and Paris.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES 1x11 HD
Extra Interview

Michael York in conversation with Charles Dickens' granddaughter Lucinda Dickens Hawksley.

URBANATION 18x25
First Series

This unique streetwise trend and travel series features underground music, club culture, fashion, street artists, urban extreme sport and alternative sightseeing. Local musicians like P Diddy, Moby, Coldplay and Gorillaz also recommend their favourite city spots.

URBANATION 18x25
4x25 Tokyo episodes

Update in progress

URBANATION 18x25
4x25 London Episodes

Update in progress

URBANATION 18x25
3x25 Paris Episodes

Update in progress

URBANATION 18x25
3x25 Berlin Episodes

Update in progress

STREET ART SHORTS 12x3

A series of shorts featuring street artists from all over the world. Berlin's NEOZOON crew creates fur graffiti from recycled clothing in Berlin.

BEIJING OI SKINS 1x24

MUSIC - FACTUAL

BEIJING OI SKINS features a young Chinese skinhead band in their tiny rehearsal room, at live gigs and drinking on the streets of Beijing. The band adapts the rebellious attitude of the original UK Skinhead and Punk movements to living in the capital of China’s fast growing economy. Their songs are anti-racist and anti-government.

REICH AT THE ROXY 1x68

Steve Reich invited the 'Alarm Will Sound' music ensemble to perform three of his key chamber works. The HD documentary also features interviews, behind the scene footage and an award winning surround sound. First shown on Sky Arts and SVT. "There's just a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of music history and Steve Reich is one of them" The Guardian.

URBANATION ONLINE GUIDES 125x2

The Urban Canyons television broadcast archive has an extensive library of over 550x2min bite-size URBANATION youth culture and travel stories from London, New York, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin. The selected shorts are cleared for mobile and internet downloads. First shown on SF and Current TV, updated 2009 for Babelgum.

URBANATION ICONS 13x21
Gorillaz Episode

Ideal for youth and music channels. A music series for fans, honoring leading musicians who transformed a music genre such as Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Black Metal, Hardcore or House. Each episode features an in-depth interview with the artists Moby, Beck, Gorillaz, Richard Ashcroft, Air, Ken Ishii, Grandmaster Flash, Agnostic Front, Groove Armada, Cradle of Filth, Dillinja & Lemon D, Gonzales and Beenie Man.

URBANATION ICONS 13x21
Moby Episode

URBANATION ICONS 13x21
Cradle of Filth Episode

ART SHORTS 1x8
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, Baby! Episode

ARTS - MUSIC - FACTUAL

"It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, Baby!" is a group show from Brussels Beaux Arts Centre that documents the art works of successful pop and rock musicians whose first love were Fine Arts. Patti Smith, Yoko Ono, Pete Doherty and David Byrne all started their creative career outside the music world. Former Roxy Music member and U2 producer Brian Eno examines the historic roots of the historic connection between pop music and UK art schools. Other artists featured in the programme for ARTE are: Chicks on Speed, Kembra Pfahler, Kyle Field, Bianca Casady from CocoRosie and electronic music pioneer Alan Vega from Suicide. Curator Jérome Sans opens the exhibition with a live performance of his own Electro act.

ART SHORTS 1x8
Zaha Hadid Episode

In 2004 Iraqi born Zaha Hadid received the Nobel Prize for architecture, the Pritzker. Her innovative work integrates dynamic building projects in surrounding city landscapes. Her topographical design studies of buildings and their environment have been sold in art galleries long before she got her first building made. After the Vitra fire station in Weil, Hadid secured a number of commissions like the Cincinnati Art Museum or the Italian National Museum for Modern Art. For Hadid, architecture is a science like medicine. Years of research that explored three-dimensional space solutions in her unique way have deservedly won her the architecture.

ART SHORTS 1x8
Mori Art Museum Episode

The Mori Art Museum in Tokyo is the world's highest temple for contemporary art based on the 52nd and 53rd floor in the main tower of the Roppongi Hills complex. English curator David Elliott sees the museum as a platform for Asian artists. The museum displays international and Japanese masters of modern art. Every few years, a group show introduces the best new talent in Japanese art, architecture and media. Tokyo's biggest developer and art collector the late Minoru Mori made the art museum central part of his new urban development.

ART SHORTS 1x8
London Street Fashion Episode

Jonathan Heaf, former associate editor of 'The Face' magazine, leads through the new generation of London's small fashion labels, which inspired by street fashion, influence the UK high street and international haute couture alike. Featured designers are a'n'd, Laura Lees, PPQ, Griffin and Walé Adeyemi.

HIJACK RADIO 1x24

MUSIC - FACTUAL

HIJACK RADIO looks at a group of young unsigned Manchester music talent who are given the chance to attend a training course and put their new found knowledge to the test with industry professionals. On their journey to get radio airplay in the UK, the group meets influential BBC Radio 1 DJ Ras Kwame and gets advice from Manchester music supremo Anthony Wilson (Hacienda, Happy Mondays, New Order), human beatbox Killa Kela and Grime music acts Raw-T and Heartless Crew. First shown on Teachers TV in the UK.

RAW CREATIVES 1x24

Raw Creatives gives an overview of the UK’s state of creativity featuring talented young artists who have uploaded work to NoiseFestival.com online showcase. Maverick UK creative industry professionals Wayne Hemingway, Peter Saville, Eley Kishimoto and Stella Vine comment on the best works from over 10,000 online submissions including Photography, Fashion, New Media, Music, Graphic Design, Filmmaking, Architecture and Blogging. TV listings critics’ choice in "The Times".