Visual Translation
Over the past 25 years the dramatic development of media has enabled global communications and strongly influenced a new generation. It has also created a new learning style. People in developed countries, especially young people, now derive most of their values, beliefs and lifestyle practices from the media, rather than family, school or church. Yet today’s media often convey worldviews that do not honor God.
To reach this new generation, the body of Christ needs new media tools using modern visual art forms and storytelling techniques. Animation in particular presents a great opportunity for reaching this global audience of 15- to 30-year-olds.
Barry Cook, director of the animated Disney film, Mulan, has created an initial design for an animated version of the “JESUS” film, and we are ready to move forward with concept development. Barry expressed his vision for this project:
“I believe the type of animation we desire to achieve with this project will appeal strongly to a young generation, a post-modern generation. It won’t be their grandparents JESUS film. It won’t even be their parents’ Passion of the Christ. It will be the story of Jesus told in their language.”
The “JESUS” film, completed in 1979, is the most translated film in history. Translation and recording work to dub the film produced “JESUS” in nearly 1,000 languages. The cumulative investment for “JESUS” film language translations has created an extensive audio database of dialogue tracks from the Book of Luke adapted to film.
The animated version of the “JESUS” film will use this audio database in combination with a new visual approach, new storyline, new music and sound effects to communicate effectively to the post-modern generation. The existing dialogue tracks will enable us to distribute this new version in any of the “JESUS” film languages without additional field dubbing work.
Right now our need is to move forward with the initial visual development for this animated version. Modern production technology, storytelling techniques and Japanese animation influences will be used to create an engaging retelling of the story of Jesus for a new generation. This development phase will use leading artists to develop the look of the sets and characters as well as completion of test animation that can be field tested for effectiveness.
Once completed, this development work will enable us to launch a full production design for a series of short, cutting-edge, films on the life of Jesus. Because the spoken dialogue is already recorded, we will be able to make these films available in hundreds of languages.
Will you pray about and consider a gift to help reach the next generation? We need $587,000 before November 1 in order to seize a time-critical opportunity with artists and the film’s director. This is an unprecedented opportunity to reach 15- to 30-year-olds on a global scale. You can see the storyboard work that has already taken place on two sequences. To find out more information and to give visit http://visualtranslation.org.