THE CHALLENGE
What are the origins of western civilisation, our collective culture, moral codes and religion? As
parents, teachers, broadcasters - citizens - we have all seen the values of our society shift and
change, and witnessed the loss of this shared cultural memory in our children.
OUR APPROACH
Choosing a fascinating and turbulent period in our history - the First Century AD -
Friends
and Heroes
places children’s action-adventure stories within this vivid historical context. The
programmes entertain, educate and inform the audience, introducing a new generation, whatever
their faith, to the stories of the Old and NewTestaments. This approach - of setting Bible stories in
living contexts amongst the people who kept them alive, by passing them on ‘down the line’ to
children - runs throughout as a constant motif. It demonstrates the reasons why these stories were
preserved and the impact the stories and their preservation had on those who kept them alive. It
introduces Biblical stories in an appealing, fresh and memorable way, creating a clear connection
between the religious themes and exciting adventure stories by the innovative use
of combined 2D and 3D animation. Cartoon-style 2D animation tells the adventure
stories, mixing seamlessly to 3D animation for the Bible stories, two or three of which
are interwoven in each episode.
CHILDRENTODAY ANDYESTERDAY
The adventure stories take place almost two thousand years ago, yet Macky and
the gang will appeal to today’s children; they are attractive, inspirational, and very
real characters…. funny and brave, but just like us in the Twenty-First Century, they
don’t always get things right!They face similar issues and dilemmas to those faced by
children today. Their experiences, combined with the stories they tell, will help foster
respect for and kindness to others, as well as encouraging tolerance.
THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE
Friends and Heroes
seeks to empower children to listen to their conscience and
to make good decisions about respect, kindness, compassion, faith and tolerance,
based on knowledge and not ignorance.
5
CONCEPT AND
AIMS OF THE SERIES
© 2008 Friends and Heroes Ltd
