New Product Reviews: Theo Presents

Recently, I was made aware of a new kids’ program produced by Whitestone Media with the intention of reaching young children with the Truth of God’s Word.  Some bloggers, including myself, have been given the opportunity to preview these short video segments and review them.

The Production:

Positive Elements

I have to say I was extremely impressed with the animation in the Theo Presents videos.  It was very well-done and threw me back to my childhood days of watching Snow White. I was not expecting such great quality, and it was a pleasant surprise.

Negative Elements

There are a variety of animation effects displayed within each lesson.  Theo often discusses the faulty thoughts of people in regards to his topic and in doing so, the screen switches to a mini “scene” of these ideas being acted out.  This is creatively done; however, there is another level of animation and that is the Shoebox Bible Theater.  At this level, the Bible story is taught, and the animation is meant to present stick-controlled puppets. Although I love the Bible stories being taught and the direct focus they have on communicating the truth directly to young children, the format used (ie. the sticks that protrude from the characters to simulate their movement,etc) is distracting for me as a viewer.  There are certain scenes where this format is inconsistent, and I can only imagine how this would be confusing to a child.

On another note: At first, I thought Belfry was played a woman. His voice is a little feminine for my taste.  This gets better with each episode though.  I also would have liked to see the names of the voice actors in the credits, and that was missing.

Overall Production Review:

Although I’m more critical of the Bible Theater’s choice of animation, I would have to say that I am overall impressed with the quality of the production. I look forward to their growth and improvement.

My greatest beef with Theo Presents is the length! 🙂 I like them a lot, and I wish they were a little bit longer!  Each episode is about ten minutes long, and although that is perfect for kids, I myself (as the adult viewer) would have liked if the stories lasted longer. I guess they were developed for kids though, right? 😀  Great job, Theo Presents!

EPISODE ONE – SAVING FAITH

Meet Theo, a kind English gentleman who knows a lot about the truths of God’s word. Theo is a theologian, and loves teaching the Bible. In his first lesson he teaches us what it means to have faith. There are many things people can believe in, but not all things are faith-worthy. To illustrate a life dedicated to believing in the right thing, Theo shares the example of Abraham. The Lord had favor with Abraham, and because of his faith he was greatly bless. (Taken from the website description)

Positive Elements

As I watched this first episode of Theo Presents, I was really impressed with the quality of the Bible lesson.  I like the interaction between the two mice and Theo and how the lesson ties into “real-life” situations Luther and Belfry experience.  The multi-faceted aspect of the lesson holds the viewers attention, keeps them learning yet entertains, and clearly discusses the lesson regarding faith.

Negative Elements

At first, I had a hard time knowing how Luther and Belfry’s story fit in with the lesson, because it seemed their faith in their own idea was working just fine.  It’s definitely a lesson that the kids would need to watch to the end to understand how the lesson fits in with Luther and Belfry; otherwise, the lesson is lost on that example.

Also, there is a reference to UFO’s early in the lesson that I think would be lost on young children. I think a more direct reference to aliens would have been clearer.

Overall Lesson Review:

Impressive work tying in the story of Abraham and Isaac’s birth with the discussion of faith without getting sidetracked by other aspects of the Biblical record that could possibly distract from the point being made.

EPISODE TWO – LOVING OBEDIENCE

Luther and Belfry are two field mice that have befriended Theo, and all they really want to do is please him. However, they usually get mixed up in all sorts of mischief where ever they go.  In this episode, Theo tries to instruct the young lads in obedience, and uses the story of Jonah to illustrate the consequences of disobedience, but also show the many blessings that come when we obey. (Taken from the website description)

Positive Elements

For each lesson, Theo Presents has chosen to begin the episode with an age-old hymn.  This is a pleasant addition as it brings to the children an appreciation for the richness of those songs as well as takes advantage of the power of song.  If my child were to watch Theo Presents regularly, I can only imagine his greater understanding of the hymn “Trust and Obey” because of Theo’s lesson on obedience.

A specific quotation within this lesson also pleased me: “Obeying God is not that difficult if we love God.” I love that Theo Presents is dealing with the heart of obedience in this discussion.  Very clearly, they communicate that love must be the motivation for actions of obedience.  Although there is just a quick mention of this, I believe it opens up a wide discussion for parents and children in reference to love motivating obedience, a lesson often not dealt with ’til children are much older.

Negative Elements

Unfortunately, in this episode, I wasn’t too impressed with the examples Theo uses regarding God’s opinion of obedience. The examples referenced kids obeying when parents ask for a room to be cleaned, but then the examples deviate to kids being kind to each other (with a dog ripping up the doll of a girl who mocks another girl’s doll) and to the importance of reading the Bible (the golfer who runs out and doesn’t read his Bible). Although the lesson goes on to mention that “If we love God, we will obey Him”, the lessons are unclear without clear mention of Scripture that commands kindness, reading of the Word, etc.  Even as an adult, I had a hard time connecting those specific situations to obedience at first.

Overall Lesson Review:

Once again, the positives outweigh the negatives in this lesson on obedience.  The interaction between Luther and Belfry’s need for understanding obedience and Theo’s Shoebox Bible Theater is much clearer in this episode, and once again, the lessons are to-the-point, clear, but creatively expressed.

EPISODE THREE – FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is not an easy thing to do, especially for Luther and Belfry. Theo tries to help his little furry friends understand what it means to forgive and why it’s so important. Theo shares the parable of the “Unforgiving Servant”, and how that story is such a great example of why forgiveness is a special act of love that Christians should show one another. (Taken from the website description)

Positive Elements

This lesson is well-communicated through the lives of Luther and Belfry.  Theo Presents does a great job of first communicating a need for forgiveness through the interaction between the mice, and of course, the lesson of the unforgiving servant is a great choice for this topic.

Negative Elements

This is, by far, my favorite episode of Theo, because the lesson, the examples, and the story of Luther and Belfry all clearly communicate the topic discussed.  No negative elements here!

Overall Lesson Review

As I just mentioned, this is my favorite episode, which encourages me that the program is getting better and better.  The lesson here specifically deals with forgiveness in a practical way for young children, as the lesson is regarding something they might encounter daily (someone taking/using up something that is theirs).  Overall, I was impressed with the production and development of this lesson.

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In the press kit, there is also a shorter (5 min) episode called “Good News”.  This is a direct discussion of sin, its definition, and the need for and explanation of salvation.  I am extremely impressed with a kids’ video that actually correctly defines sin as “missing the mark” (and that shows them visually with a bow and arrow).  The video discusses how self-righteous religion, good acts, and great intellect do not keep one from falling short—all in a clear, 5-minute discussion on what the Good News is!  Rather impressive!

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As a whole, I am excited for the Theo Presents productions. I look forward to watching the next few that are released and to allowing my own children (someday) to view them, knowing in full confidence, that they’re being taught the truth of Scripture in a creative, memorable way.

OVERALL RATING: A+