Children's Bible Shows

[jasmine_childoftheking]

If you ever seen religious films from the 1940's-60's or even 70's, like The Ten Commandments, The Bible in the Beginning, Ben-Hur, King of Kings, The Greatest Story Ever Told, etc, then you might recall what impact they had at the time, even though they weren't always Biblically accurate.

I've actually been thinking about how in the 1980's-90's and even in the 2000's, animated kids Bible shows had been pretty popular. Even though they didn't always bring solid Christian messages (maybe except for like Veggietales and Superbook (the remake in the 2010's-2020's)) and weren't always Biblically accurate, they sure had left somewhat an impact.

There were shows like The Greatest Adventures in The Bible, made by Hanna-Barbara, which involved some archeologists traveling back to Bible times. I haven't watched very much of it, so I can't really given an opinion.

There was also Animated Stories From The Bible and Animated Stories from the New Testament from Nest Entertainment, which I've only seen a few episodes of, and I thought it was okay. They're well done from an animation and storytelling standpoint, though the content is a bit disoriented. I actually remember when I was in high school, I was helping out in a kids class on Wednesday night, and they were doing the Animated Stories from the Bible and New Testament series, and they showed different clips from each episode. Well, one I actually remember was one called Built Upon The Rock, where in the first week, it had two brothers getting into a confrontation about their inheritance. I've actually thought, "Oh, maybe this is a parable". Then the clip ended with one of the brothers meeting up with Jesus, then I was like "Okay. Now where is this going?" I had no idea where it was going. Then it turned out to be that person in the crowd who asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him and Jesus tells the story of the rich fool. (If you haven't seen that episode, I won't give anything away).

Then of course, there was Veggietales, which had solid messages and kept kids entertained. They had been known to do Bible stories with a twist (like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego with chocolate bunnies or Ruth with princesses or even the house on the rock with the three little pigs), you know to make it fun for kids.

So were there any children's Bible shows that left an impact? Which ones do any of you remember?

 

[linux.poet]

Bibleman needs to be put on the list. The themes were standard until you get to Jesus Our Savior Parts 1 and 2, which in my opinion were the best of the entire franchise. The theme of relying on divine rescue instead of human rescue really made that story unique.

I also remember rewatching The Incredible Force of Joy over and over again, watching Bibleman battle the evil "Master of Misery". I think that one was more personal to me, because I had a miserable time of it as a kid, and watching that show ironically gave me some hope, I think.

There were shows like The Greatest Adventures in The Bible, made by Hanna-Barbara, which involved some archeologists traveling back to Bible times.

I've seen these ones when I was a wee little kid and I found them actually disturbing. That intro where the archeologists get pushed back in time I found to be terrifying as a three-year-old. We rewatched the Noah and the Easter ones a lot. The Noah one is hilarious - whoever wrote the narrative of the "doubters" who questioned Noah's ark building deserved a raise.

Ben-Hur,

I've seen this movie, but I wouldn't call it a kid's show. There's some mature themes in there.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

Bibleman needs to be put on the list. The themes were standard until you get to Jesus Our Savior Parts 1 and 2, which in my opinion were the best of the entire franchise. The theme of relying on divine rescue instead of human rescue really made that story unique.

I also remember rewatching The Incredible Force of Joy over and over again, watching Bibleman battle the evil "Master of Misery". I think that one was more personal to me, because I had a miserable time of it as a kid, and watching that show ironically gave me some hope, I think.

Oh yes. Bibleman should be on the list. It's like the Biblical version of superheroes, so this could be a great one for kids who like superheroes (Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, etc).

I've seen these ones when I was a wee little kid and I found them actually disturbing. That intro where the archeologists get pushed back in time I found to be terrifying as a three-year-old. We rewatched the Noah and the Easter ones a lot. The Noah one is hilarious - whoever wrote the narrative of the "doubters" who questioned Noah's ark building deserved a raise.

I haven't watched much of it, so I can't give an opinion. Though I guess it's good enough to keep kids entertained.

I've seen this movie, but I wouldn't call it a kid's show. There's some mature themes in there.

I was first referring to the old movies based on Biblical counts that were blockbusters at the time. There's actually also an animated version of Ben-Hur that came out in 2003 I think. It's been a while since I've watched it, but I remember enjoying it when I was a kid. It's like a condensed version of it to make it for kids.

 

[linux.poet]

There's actually also an animated version of Ben-Hur that came out in 2003 I think. It's been a while since I've watched it, but I remember enjoying it when I was a kid. It's like a condensed version of it to make it for kids.

I wasn't aware of that, more aware of the very famous live action film with the chariot race, spiritual conflict, and as usual, there was a beautiful woman involved in the middle of the whole thing.

Though I guess it's good enough to keep kids entertained.

It actually quotes/refers to Scripture in multiple places, so it could be a good starting point for a discussion of God's Word. But giving it to a 3 year old might be a bit much, maybe save it for when your kid is 5 or 6.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

It actually quotes/refers to Scripture in multiple places, so it could be a good starting point for a discussion of God's Word. But giving it to a 3 year old might be a bit much, maybe save it for when your kid is 5 or 6.

I actually don't have any kids of my own, but I've been in children's ministry. But I think you do have a point about waiting until a child is about 5 or 6 to show a show like that.

But I guess when it comes to children's Bible shows, much like Hollywood's attempt to make Bible films, you'd think the makers and animators would at least do their homework. I know it's a hard task to get Jesus right, especially the kind of person He was. He had been depicted with blue eyes, but I don't think he would have blue eyes, given the Middle Eastern culture. But then, of course, we can't really know for sure what He looked like. So that makes it especially hard.

 

[DragonFox91]

I remember one called McGee TV. It was a cartoon kid interacting in the 'real world' learning moral lessons if I remember right. Or was he the main character's moral compass? Halfway each episode there was a cartoon from the Bible. I remember The Good Samartian.

What was the cartoon w/ the 3 kids being transported to a Bible story? I remember watching the Easter / Resurrection Sunday episode. I'd check out that series from the library.

It's a shame they don't really make children's BIble stories any more.

 

[jasmine_childoftheking]

I remember one called McGee TV. It was a cartoon kid interacting in the 'real world' learning moral lessons if I remember right. Or was he the main character's moral compass? Halfway each episode there was a cartoon from the Bible. I remember The Good Samartian.

I also remember that show. It was on TBN on Saturdays. On Saturdays, they would show kids Bible shows on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network)

What was the cartoon w/ the 3 kids being transported to a Bible story? I remember watching the Easter / Resurrection Sunday episode. I'd check out that series from the library.

I think that was the Greatest Adventures In The Bible, which I have said before haven’t really watched much of.

It's a shame they don't really make children's BIble stories any more.

It sure is. I think the latest is Superbook, which is actually a re-imagining from the 1980’s anime. It was actually nice to see some improvements being mad. Now if there was an announcement that the Nest Family Animated Stories From The Bible (the Old Testament) and Animated Stories From The New Testament is going to get a re-do (with Biblical and historical accuracy, and done chronologically, though I’m sure they may add some stuff for the sake of storytelling), I would actually be interested.

Another show from my childhood was the Storykeepers, which was about the early Christians in Rome during the time when Nero spread a vast persecution across the empire right after the Great Fire. It is actually interesting to see how the Christians met in secret during that time.

 

[DragonFox91]

Yes, it looks like the time traveler series was Greatest Adventures in the Bible.

I don't remember the Storykeepers. Maybe it does seem familiar now I see it on YouTube

Here is the McGee TV clip I remember: