Creator of Angel Wars
By: Trisha Bleau Smith
T4JYM: Why this series? Where did the inspiration come from to create an animated series with a Christian message?
CW: I’m a huge comic book fan. A lot of people think of comics as this kind of juvenile medium, but if you haven’t picked up a comic book in the last few years, you’re really missing out. I recently read a fantastic book, Who Needs A Superhero: Finding Virtue, Vice and What’s Holy in Comics, by Michael Brewer. The book confirmed what I always believed; comics are a great window into spiritual reality. They teach us about heroism, self sacrifice and truth, but in a way that is universally accessible. My love for comics definitely inspired me to create my own fantasy series. Besides my comic book roots, Angel Wars took inspiration from an old copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost given to me by my mother, and the mythic stories of angels in the bible.
T4JYM: How hard is it to launch positive Christian films and videos in a secular world? What kind of impact has this video had so far? Have you had any feedback so far?
CW: I think getting something like Angel Wars off the ground is difficult no matter what your intended audience. This business certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s expensive, competitive and extremely demanding. The challenge we face is, we’re competing with much larger companies that have incredible resources at their disposal. But in that regard we’re no different than other independent film makers or studios. The bottom line is quality. Whether it’s Veggie Tales, Left Behind books , The Passion of the Christ, or a band like Switchfoot, history proves that the secular market will welcome you with open arms if you’ve got something that sells. I think as Christians we’re starting to see that, and it’s an exciting time. The opportunities are definitely there, we’ve just got to step up to the challenge and not make excuses. That’s the attitude we’ve fostered in creating Angel Wars.
T4JYM: Can you share with our readers a general overview of the series so they know what to expect from it? A brief summary of sorts.
CW: First off, it’s important to note that Angel Wars is allegorical in nature, much like The Chronicles of Narnia . We’re not telling specific bible stories, rather we’re dealing with Christian biblical themes. We chose to do this for two reasons: One, we did not want to get bogged down in theological debates, and believe me, the opinions on angels among Christians are incredibly diverse and varied. And two, we wanted to create a series that would appeal to non Christians as well as Christians alike.
Having said that, Angel Wars starts off with a what if? After telling the basic story of the fall, we ask the audience to consider the fact that we are not alone. What if there is a war raging around us that we can’t see between good and evil spirits, one side trying to save us, the other trying to destroy us? And what if the decisions we make affect this war?
From this premise, we introduce Michael and the rest of the Guardian Force, six angels whose sole purpose is to protect mankind from the forces of evil trying to destroy it. The series is episodic, meaning that the stories are ongoing and related. The first three episodes, which will be released over the next year, follow the Guardian Force as they track down a powerful artifact that has fallen into the hands of an old and long forgotten foe. With the help of his team, which includes Arianna, Swift, Paladin, and two Guardians in training, Eli and Kira, the Archangel Michael must retrieve the stone and in so doing, confront his greatest personal adversary, Morg. Throughout these first three episdoes, we explore themes ranging from the nature of pride, the art of teamwork, and the importance of embracing the person God has called us to be.
T4JYM: What message do you hope people take from this video and the others after seeing them?
CW: Before we can appreciate the need for Christ as Savior, we must first know what we are being saved from. Overwhelmingly, our culture views the prevailing issues of the day through a very humanistic prism. With Angel Wars we hope to open kids eyes to the deeper causes of sin, which are distinctly spiritual in nature.
T4JYM: What is the last movie you went and saw? The last animated movie? Do you find yourself critiquing them more than watching for entertainment purposes?
CW: The last movie I saw was Finding Neverland, which I loved. And of course, I was in line opening night for The Incredibles. I’m a huge Pixar fan, for all their technical brilliance, it’s always about story for them. I see all their movies a billion times, and yes, I do critique and analyze, mostly with my mouth open wondering, “How’d they do that?”
T4JYM: Do you watch more cartoons and animated works or actual movies? Why?
CW: I don’t discriminate between cartoons and live action. I watch Cartoon Network and Nick for “research purposes.” I have three kids who have no idea how lucky they are. They think every dad races home to watch Teen Titans with their kids. I think we are in the golden age of animation, the line is blurring between the two mediums. I judge a movie on it’s content more than the medium in which it is delivered.
T4JYM: Who have been your biggest influences in life? Who have been your biggest influences in your life as a writer?
CW: As I said, this is a tough business, and there’s no way I could have gotten to this point, getting something to the market I mean, without a very supportive and patient wife. My parents have also been extremely influential and helpful, my mom is a Presbyterian Pastor in Los Angeles, and my Dad, an entrepreneur himself, helped me create the series. My whole family is just incredibly supportive.
As to the writers who have inspired me, I’d have to include CS Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, Donald Miller (if you haven’t read Blue Like Jazz, go get it now), Doug TenNapel (creator of Neverhood, Earthworm Jim, Creature Tech and Tommysaurus Rex) and too many others to name here.
T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in the film industry? In animation? What about someone wanting to make an impact in media as a Christian?
CW: I would say this: hone your craft, study those that have mastered it, surround yourself with people more talented than yourself, and tell stories that matter to you, not that you think others will like. If you stay true to the vision that has been placed in your heart, you wont’ have any regrets.
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