Two of my students in Children's Church had their mom give me a copy of this movie -The Legend of the Sky Kingdom- to watch, saying, "Marylynn will love this movie." Well, they knew me well and they were right! More importantly, I believe they know why I'd appreciate it so much. This highly creative, greatly imaginative movie depicts the message of the salvation of Jesus Christ in a highly unusual medium.

Before we come to know Jesus (Prince Ariel in this movie's case), we're serving an evil master and going nowhere. When we realize there might be something more - a sky kingdom we've never heard of before! - we'll do whatever's necessary to get there including stepping out in faith on a bridge that's invisible before we can begin. The life's journey includes pitfalls along the way, like the Jungle of Despair and the Desert of Desolation.

What the writer and producers from Africa (Zimbabwe) of this movie did must surely have been a first. They had a very small budget and so they created a genre - "junkmation" - in which they used all kinds of junk to create their characters and scenery. Brilliant. Thank you, Nathaniel and Matthew, for sharing this movie with me. And thank you and congratulations to the creative geniuses behind this movie. I truly believe God gave them their talent, but more importantly, they used it to bring His loving and exciting message to children in a way never heard of before!

Stop motion animation is a technique in which physical objects or puppets are manipulated and photographed one frame at a time to create the illusion of movement when played back at a regular speed. This process involves posing and photographing the objects, then moving them slightly and capturing another frame, and so on. When these frames are played in sequence, they create the illusion of fluid motion.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Three children make a daring escape from the underground city in which they are slaves of the Evil Emperor, and go in search of the fabled Sky Kingdom and the great Prince Ariel.

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The Legend of the Sky Kingdom

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