A spin-off of Gospel-inspired global phenomenon The Chosen, animated TV series The Chosen Adventures offers equal parts comedy and biblical lessons in a kids’-eye view of First-Century Judea.
Season one of the fast-paced kids’ show, with 14 episodes, each approx. 12 minutes, is out now on Prime Video. (The series premieres on faith-based streamer Minno on Oct. 31.)
It’s the brainchild of The Chosen head writer Ryan Swanson and produced by 5&2 Studios, led by Dallas Jenkins, who's also an executive producer on this show.
“We started thinking, ‘How do we make a version of this show for kids?’” Swanson told me in an interview.
The team intends for this show’s Gospel teachings to address “universal, relatable things kids come across every day,” he said. “A child might leave the house one day and have conflict with her schoolmates, or might have trouble with following the rules.
"And (he or she) just happens to encounter the greatest teacher who ever lived.”
Outspoken nine-year-old Abigail (Romy Fay) leads the animated ensemble. Her adventures often begin at home with parents Eli (Danny Nucci), a fisherman, and Hannah (Zehra Fazal), before meeting up with her best friend, Joshua (Jude Zarzaur), who starts out as timid.
To draw in young audiences, two talking animals, Sheep (Paul Walter Hauser) and Pigeon (Yvonne Orji) follow the kids everywhere, offering wry humor and lots of opportunity for gags.
But while viewers can hear the animals, humans in the show only hear bleating and chirping.
“That's important, because it does take place in the same Capernaum, the same world as the live-action show,” said Swanson. “We couldn't very well have Andrew the Disciple play a hand of cards with Pigeon and then go follow Jesus. So we wanted to keep those worlds separate.”
Swanson notes it took “a lot of iterations” to arrive at the relatability, innocence, humor, and teaching they wanted for The Chosen Adventures.
“We finally landed on something that we can say is the show we wished we had had as kids.”
Any dedicated viewer of The Chosen knows that Abigail and Joshua originated in season one’s third episode, where two children find a man camping where they usually play.
Swanson said that story allowed them to present Jesus’ true nature upfront.
“You see what His heart is like, and His special affinity for teaching open minds and particularly children.”
Though it wasn’t the producers’ intent –- “the Gospels are not always family entertainment,” Swanson said –- he recalls the Internet buzz at the time.
“Parents around the country told us, ‘My kids are pressing play on that episode.’”
That connection to The Chosen continues with frequent cameos.
About a dozen stars of the hit TV series reprise their roles in animated form. Most notably, Jonathan Roumie voices Jesus in nearly every episode, and Mary Magdalene (Elizabeth Tabish) is in three episodes.
Like the live-action show, this version draws children into understanding Jewish traditions and the Jewish faith. The second episode, for instance, is focused on how Abby and her parents seem to be inconvenienced by not doing any work on the Sabbath.
“We wanted to portray first-century Israel as plausibly and as truly as we could,” said Swanson. “They live a very God-centered life as devout Jews.”
Some viewers may scoff: a talking-animals cartoon is interested in historical accuracy?
Yet the factions expanded on over The Chosen’s multi-season arcs -– Roman guards, Temple Pharisees, lowly fisherman, etc. –- are portrayed here with dimension and personality.
“To get the story right, (we) start from the same baseline these characters had, the Old Testament. Then the audience gets a sense of how mind-blowing the things that Jesus taught them were.”
Most animated shows targeting faith-driven families take a few years to achieve the quality of top-rated kids shows, but The Chosen Adventures hits the ground running.
Swanson said the massive popularity of The Chosen, viewed by nearly 300 million people worldwide, proved to be an effective calling card to bring on top animation talent.
He noted the key roles of director Keith Alcorn, a 45-year animation veteran who co-created Nickelodeon’s Jimmy Neutron; and Sam Michlap, a past Disney and DreamWorks Animation team lead, who became the show’s production designer.
“Because the live-action show had touched them, they were willing to listen to this idea from a guy who didn't know anything about animation,” said Swanson, referring to himself.
With Swanson casting the vision, Alcorn and Michlap worked with dozens of talented artists at Reel FX Animation. The production house is behind this December’s SpongeBob movie, a dozen past features, and little-known, beautifully produced holiday short The Three Wise Men.
Michlap, who started his career drawing Pride Rock in 1994’s The Lion King, led the charge in finding the unique look for The Chosen Adventures, which has a slightly-cartoonish take on Mideast landscapes and simple agrarian life that dabbles in hand-drawn styles.
“Sam didn't want to create anything he could find elsewhere on YouTube. He wanted to create something that looked distinct (and) artistically innovative.”
At first glance, protagonist Abby comes across a little bossy, and her friend Joshua, as scared.
Swanson, architect of character arcs that have devastated Chosen fans –- season four went so hard -– said it’s intentional.
“We wanted to create something for all the characters to grow.”
So, is their co-lead boy weak?
“Over the course of this show, Joshua struggles a little bit with leaving his comfort zone,” said Swanson. “He has a big family, (and) he’s certainly overshadowed by his bigger, older brothers.”
He added, “But Jesus spots in Him something that's a real asset. Jesus calls Joshua brave. He makes us what we aren't."
In the finale, viewers see Joshua take risks he’d never dared before.
The creator of The Chosen Adventures noted that Abby, too, is often acting out of her fears.
“Abby's big insecurity is that conventions of the time would not have allowed her to go to school,” he said. “She believes, as prophecy says, that the Messiah is coming, and she wants to be ready. So she's running around asking questions to know more.”
Through Jesus’ teaching, “the people they grow into is possible,” he said.
As to whether season two is moving ahead, Swanson stated that 5&2 Studios, despite its global reach and partnership with Prime Video, still has “the DNA of a garage band.”
He explained: “It all goes back into the series, to continue to make the show available for free.”
Yet this debut animated season concludes with an incomplete story. Thankfully, families can watch episode three of The Chosen season one to see at least part of the story resolve.
“It does end on a cliffhanger, and I wish I could tell you (more),” he said coyly. “Let's say that Joshua and Abby's journeys are right around the corner.”
The Chosen Adventures, season one is currently streaming on Prime Video. It will also premiere via Minno on Oct. 31.
Image: Prime Video
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith and culture for several media outlets. He and his family live in central Florida.
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