Share the Story is an animated series of Bible stories created to bridge the gap between the Islamic worldview and the Bible. It started in one language and has since been adapted into six, including Modern Standard Arabic, Flemish, Central Asian Russian, French, Tunisian Arabic and Jordanian Arabic.
We continue to get requests to adapt it into other languages. We’re currently adapting it into 10+ languages, including Moroccan Arabic, Malaysian, Urdu and Kurdish Shingali.
Why animation?
Share the Story is the first project we did as a team. The four-year production process started with a plan to produce a live-action series—using local actors and locations to drive home the point that the gospel is for them. These live action segments would be paired with simple animation.
After a couple attempts and some audience testing, we realized animation was the best way to tell these stories.
The power of animation is that we don't have to protect people's identities and it's more easily adaptable into other languages.
Behind the Story
Why animation?
Share the Story is the first project we did as a team. The four-year production process started with a plan to produce a live-action series—using local actors and locations to drive home the point that the gospel is for them. These live action segments would be paired with simple animation.
After a couple attempts and some audience testing, we realized animation was the best way to tell these stories.
The power of animation is that we don't have to protect people's identities and it's more easily adaptable into other languages.
Why animation?
Share the Story is the first project we did as a team. The four-year production process started with a plan to produce a live-action series—using local actors and locations to drive home the point that the gospel is for them. These live action segments would be paired with simple animation.
After a couple attempts and some audience testing, we realized animation was the best way to tell these stories.
The power of animation is that we don't have to protect people's identities and it's more easily adaptable into other languages.
Behind the Story
Why animation?
Share the Story is the first project we did as a team. The four-year production process started with a plan to produce a live-action series—using local actors and locations to drive home the point that the gospel is for them. These live action segments would be paired with simple animation.
After a couple attempts and some audience testing, we realized animation was the best way to tell these stories.
The power of animation is that we don't have to protect people's identities and it's more easily adaptable into other languages.
Developing Characters
The goal of any videos we produce is to ensure the visual style fit the context where people will view them. One aspect where you'll see this in Share the Story is in the characters. We chose to create silhouetted characters because it's offensive in a Muslim context to show the faces of prophets.
Developing Characters
The goal of any videos we produce is to ensure the visual style fit the context where people will view them. One aspect where you'll see this in Share the Story is in the characters. We chose to create silhouetted characters because it's offensive in a Muslim context to show the faces of prophets.
Creating Visual Cues
The primary visual cue we used was a red sash. It started out on Jesus' silhouette to ensure he stood out from all the others. As the series developed, we began incorporating it into Old Testament scenes that pointed to God's covenant with his people and the promise of a Savior.
We also used color as a visual cue. We chose white to symbolize God, and the series actually begins and ends with a white background rather than the typical black background. This serves as a subtle reinforcement that this story is really all about him. You can also see God represented using white when he speaks to Moses through the burning bush and behind the temple curtain as it tears when Jesus is crucified.
The flowers in the foreground of the final scene (Jesus on the mountain) are some of the same flowers used in the Garden ofEden, representing the new life Jesus brings and the ultimate restoration he will bring when he comes again.
Creating Visual Cues
The primary visual cue we used was a red sash. It started out on Jesus' silhouette to ensure he stood out from all the others. As the series developed, we began incorporating it into Old Testament scenes that pointed to God's covenant with his people and the promise of a Savior.
We also used color as a visual cue. We chose white to symbolize God, and the series actually begins and ends with a white background rather than the typical black background. This serves as a subtle reinforcement that this story is really all about him. You can also see God represented using white when he speaks to Moses through the burning bush and behind the temple curtain as it tears when Jesus is crucified.
The flowers in the foreground of the final scene (Jesus on the mountain) are some of the same flowers used in the Garden ofEden, representing the new life Jesus brings and the ultimate restoration he will bring when he comes again.
Music
We care about ensuring the details of the series all feel familiar to the people who will watch the stories. That's why we worked with Grant Fonda to give the series a North African feel. Watch the video to learn the story behind the music.
Launching the Series in North Africa
The initial language of Share the Story was launched on Facebook in North Africa in 2018. The campaign ran for three months. Each video ends with questions used to facilitate discussion about the story the viewer just watched. Local believers used Facebook Live to interact with the audience.
Results of North Africa’s Three-Month Campaign
- 117,399 engagements on Facebook
- 44,158 visitors to the website
- 1,192 new contacts
- 99 new, in-person meetings
- 7 baptisms performed
Since then, we receive regular requests to adapt the series into new languages. It's currently in six languages with 12+ more in the works.
Launching the Series in North Africa
The initial language of Share the Story was launched on Facebook in North Africa in 2018. The campaign ran for three months. Each video ends with questions used to facilitate discussion about the story the viewer just watched. Local believers used Facebook Live to interact with the audience.
Results of North Africa’s Three-Month Campaign
- 117,399 engagements on Facebook
- 44,158 visitors to the website
- 1,192 new contacts
- 99 new, in-person meetings
- 7 baptisms performed
Since then, we receive regular requests to adapt the series into new languages. It's currently in six languages with 12+ more in the works.
Stories
North Africa
A woman in North Africa followed on Facebook as the church-planting team released a new episode of Share the Story each week. She wrote to the team:
I am waiting for your episode tonight. I am hoping to see the truth. Right now I am afraid of God, and I can’t control these feelings. I am very afraid that I am on the wrong path.
My problem isn’t in knowing the stories of the prophets who came before the prophet Jesus—not at all. I know them well. And I believe in them.
My issue is what I should believe now. Should I be a Christian and believe in the crucifixion and be persuaded completely to be a Christian? Or should I be a Muslim and be fully persuaded before it’s too late?
Before me are two paths; which one is true?
Middle East
About a year after the launch of Share the Story in North Africa, we began working with church planters in the Middle East.
The team there also released the series on Facebook and Syrian refugees responded positively to the series.
One refugee wrote, "I watched all the videos. What do I need to do? I'm fully convinced this is the truth. I've been praying to Jesus ever since."
He surrendered his life to Jesus and began telling his friends and family. One friend also decided to follow Jesus. They were both baptized together.