What goes on inside their brains?

Can a human “be” a Japanese snow monkey, a killer whale, a Patagonian penguin? Not even the savviest, shape-shifting Doolittle could swing that. But filmmaking siblings Chris and Martin Kratt do their best to slip inside the hides and minds of species in their wildlife series, “Be the Creature.” Whether tailing the wild dog packs of Botswana, or following Alaska’s brown bear, the Kratts try to infiltrate the social structures, and even mimic behavioral patterns, of some extraordinary species. With spot-on camerawork and some goofy antics, this youth series is a lot of fun. The Oct. 5 episode on Africa’s wild dogs provides fascinating insights into the canine-pack psyche.

-- Shermakaye Bass