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HollywoodJesus: "Booples 2: Yikity Blar | Light-hearted Fare | Melinda Ledman"

HollywoodJesus links to the recent review of "Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" from their front page!

Thanks to Melinda Ledman for her great review!

HollywoodJesus.com - Booples 2: Yikity Blar

"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" reviewed at HollywoodJesus.com...

HJ Live! � Booples 2: Yikkity Blar: "I’m not sure I could ask for a more ideal use of film in my child’s life."

Booples 2: Yikkity Blar

Light-hearted Fare

With food for the soul

Melinda Ledman | 02/03/08 | TV, Editorials

I reviewed the original Booples cartoon a year or so ago, and really liked it for what it had to offer—scripture memorization, the easy way. Truth is, I know that words put to music are much easier to memorize, but I’m just not a musician. I’m a storyteller… which also helps with memorization, incidentally. A story is an excellent mnemonic device. So, when Booples came along, combining the stories, the verses, and the songs, I was pretty pleased!!

This second installation is pretty much more of the same. Some of the episodes on the DVD are better, while others are pretty corny. I had hoped the visual cartoon quality would improve a little this go-round, but I understand the fact that indie filmmakers don’t have giant pocketbooks to make all their dreams come true. Still, the device is successful. My kids not only remember the words to Bible verses, but they remember the application through the stories.

A true story: My oldest daughter was unprecedentedly generous to her little sister one day. I asked her why she did what she did and what prompted her kindness (you know, one of those typical stupid mom questions that she’ll roll her eyes at when she’s older). She shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I just wanted to share. Like that story.” Then she flippantly went off bobbing her head and singing to herself, “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” I’m not sure I could ask for a more ideal use of film in my child’s life.

There is an ongoing debate about whether there truly is a market for “Christian” films and family friendly movie fare. One side argues for clean, moral content, while the other side argues that audiences are already too film savvy to go for it. I think there is definitely a market in children’s programming. Not only will young children ALWAYS go for a cartoon, but parents are still quite protective of their children at young ages. They want only the “best” information going in—hoping that the best information will also come out one day. But we have to be careful not to let television and film become a crutch, an excuse not to teach. Plopping a kid down in front of Veggie Tales or Booples doesn’t necessarily produce clear-thinking, well-behaved teenagers. I believe media is a tool in the hand of a parent. “Good” media and “bad” media can achieve the same result, if handled right.

In the end, I support the ventures of independent filmmakers like Bear Cahill (Booples) who give parents alternative media to work with—because even I don’t always feel like being a model parent every day. There are just some days when I don’t feel like making up a spontaneous Bible lesson or finding applications for the shows that don’t have anything good to say. Sometimes, it’s nice to have a break. Sometimes, I simply need to veg out and let someone else do the talking (and singing, and dancing, and entertaining!). So I’ll keep my Booples DVD handy. Give them a try while they’re still way cheaper than Veggie Tales. You can find them online at www.Booples.com.

Next Booples! Episode: "Children of God" - John 1:12

I'm currently working on the next episode of Booples! which will be the first episode on the 3rd DVD.

The episode is currently titled "Children of God" with the message verse being John 1:12

Yet to all who received him,
to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God

I have made some improvements to the Booples' world - adding some depth to the background (as you can see from the images below) w/ additional hills and a focus range so the distance objects are slightly blurred.



The song by Pete Buchwald is great as always and I'm really excited about some new aspects of the stories I don't want to write about just yet.

Let me know what you think!

Past Booples! News...

11.30.07	--	Booples affiliation program featured on the Christian Affiliate Network (CAN) (full article)
11.26.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" featured on MamasLike.com (full article)
11.24.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" featured in the MamasLike.com "Holiday Gift Guide" (full article)
11.21.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" reviewed at Bergers Reviews (full article)
11.17.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" featured Christmas gift idea at Christianity.About.com (full article)
11.16.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" reviewed by Laura Williams (full review)
11.06.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" reviewed by Trish Berg (full review)
10.27.07	--	Booples' "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" wins best animation and fourth place overall at the Seguin Film and Arts Festival 2007 (press release, official site)
10.23.07	--	Booples review at Kiddie Clique and Bambina Ballerina (here and here)
10.12.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" earns "Dove Family Approved Seal" (details)
10.10.07	--	Booples earns Parents Television Council Seal of Approval (details)
10.05.07	--	Booples to air on AngelTV.org (details)
9.28.07	--	"Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" a finalist at the Seguin Film and Arts Festival (details)
9.7.07	--	"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" DVD released (Press Release, Details)
7.4.07	--	Booples "David Rocked Goliath" completed.
4.4.07	--	Booples "Forgive Each Other" completed.
3.3.07	--	Booples.com website redesigned.
3.1.07	--	Booples "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" completed.
12.19.06	--	SermonSpice.com lists Boople videos in their children's section
12.06.06	--	Signed w/ SermonSpice.com as online distributor (link)
12.05.06	--	Booples is about.com's Christmas Day 5 "Children's Movie of the Day" (link)
12.01.06	--	Added Booples books and clothes to Booples.com (link press release)
11.17.06	--	Mary Fairchild made Booples #6 on about.com's "Top 10 Christian DVD and Video Series for Children" (link press release)
10.27.06	--	Submitted "Truth" to COMIX35 web animation competition
10.15.06	--	Informed that "Love One Another" was selected by Seguin Film Fest (link press release)
08.24.06	--	Interviewed for Pearls of Shalom on Denton public access ch25
08.22.06	--	Got first Booples T-shirts (link)
08.09.06	--	Submitted Google video "Love One Another" (link)
08.08.06	--	Interviewed for Denton Perspective public access ch 25
08.01.06	--	kidssundayschool.com ministry of the month (link)
06.12.06	--	Airing on Denton public access ch. 25
05.17.06	--	Contract and airing on Smile of a Child network (link press release)
05.15.06	--	Dove Foundation approval (link)
04.27.06	--	HollywoodJesus.com review (link)
04.04.06	--	Booples DVD officially released
03.28.06	--	Booples First sale

Booples on Cross-Eyed Reviews

Booples! - Childrens Bible Songs DVDs free clips online

Booples! gets 5 out of 5 on Cross-Eyed Reviews!

And is awarded their "Seal of Approval"

Thanks!!!

The Animation Podcast

The Animation Podcast



Great animation podcast of interviews w/ big names in animation.

The Laughs Will Go On...: Booples!

A review of Booples! on another site...

The Laughs Will Go On...: Booples!: "Once again, it had great lessons - like forgiveness, or God's faithfulness and each episode has a fun song at the end of it. Of course Tate had fun doing new dance moves to the songs (haha!) and I had fun watching both the DVD and him!"

The On Course Podcast - August 2007 - Phil Vischer

The On Course Podcast - August 2007 - Phil Vischer

A great interview w/ Phil Vischer. Enjoy.

Boople fans are geniuses!

I ran my blogs through this analysis site and one got 'elementary' and another got 'high school', but my Booples blog got 'genius'!

It just goes to show how smart Booples fans are...

Books for Moms: Booples - DVD for Kids

Books for Moms: Booples - DVD for Kids: "I kid you not, before the second story ended, I could hear her singing along with the Bible verse song, and my heart melted."

Read the full review here

The new Booples DVD, "Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" has been released by Booples.com and is available from their website!

"The new Booples DVD, 'Booples 2: Yikity Blar!' has been released by Booples.com and is available from their website! "

press release

Booples video "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" wins at Seguin!

Booples video "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" wins at Seguin!

(I-Newswire) - For the second year, Booples.com has submitted a video to the Seguin Film and Arts Festival ( http://www.seguinfestival.org/ ). This year not only did the video "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" win best animation, but also fourth place overall!

SermonSpice.com

Booples are available for downloadable sale at SermonSpice.com!

Check out the site to view videos, see descriptions, reviews, etc. of Booples videos and other videos and countdowns.

"The goal of spice info is to provide information
pertaining to who we are as a company, our
philosophy, and other information that we
hope you'll find helpful and useful."

It's a great source for videos for sermons, countdowns, Sunday school, etc. Check it out!

New Booples Affiliate program...

You can copy and paste text from the Booples site into your website or blog and you're selling Booples products! Booples.com takes care of payment, processing, shipping, etc. You just email in your contact info and URL. Click here for details

The items look like this:



You can add your own comments around it using text from the site, your thoughts, quotes from other reviews, etc.

Booples Bible Verse Songs CD!

The Booples Bible Verse Songs CD has been released!

The Booples songs CD includes all the Booples songs from the first 2 DVDs each containing a Bible verse in the song...

* "Not Curly, But Straight"- Proverbs 3:5-6
* "Love One Another" - John 13:34-35
* "Treasure In Heaven" - Matthew 6:20-21
* "Forgive Each Other" - Ephesians 4:32
* "Don't Want to go to Tarshish" - Luke 11:28
* "David Rocked Goliath" - 1 Corinthians 1:25
* "For All to See" - Psalm 33:4
* BONUS TRACK: "Look Around" - John 1:12 - Not Previously Released!


Also available for download at CDBaby.com and iTunes.

Booples named #6 on About.com's "Top 10 Christian DVD and Video Series for Children"

"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" DVD Released!!!

The second Booples DVD: "Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" has been released!!!

You can view clips at Booples.com.

The Booples site has be redesigned as well as the clothing and other merchandise.

"Yikity Blar!" is also available to buy at Booples.com. There's even a combo deal of the 2 DVDs.

"Booples 2: Yikity Blar!" contains...

* "Forgive Each Other" (Ephesians 4:32)
* "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish" (Luke 11:28)
* "David Rocked Goliath" (1 Corinthians 1:25)
* "God is Faithful" (Psalm 33:4)
* Plus all 4 song videos from the episodes!
* And a Booples! short: "Fruit of the Spirit"


Each episode uses a Bible verse to teach a lesson from God's word to the Booples and the viewer. The episode's song includes the verse to help apply the message. The songs are catchy and help children remember the lesson and recall the verse!

The DVD also includes the song portion of each episode as separate titles!

Approximate runtime: 45 mins

Closed Caption and English Subtitles

Check it out here!

Anne Hoag's blog mention of Booples

Check out Anne Hoag's mention of Booples in her media blog.

She's doing a research paper on media entrepreneurship and interviewed me about Booples a few weeks ago.

I've seen an early version of the paper and it looks very good, very impressive.

Yikity Blar!

The second Booples DVD, "Booples! 2 Yikity Blar!", is done and off to the duplicators!

I intend to update the website soon to get ready for it and send out announcements, press releases, review copies, etc.

Booples - "God is Faithful"

Hi!

Another Booples video is posted at Booples.com - "God is Faithful"

In the story, Doodle Boople wonders where rainbows come from and what they mean. Bah explains they are God's promise to not flood the earth again and that God is always faithful to His promises:

Psalm 33:4

"For the word of the LORD is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does."

Check it out here and send any thoughts you have (comment below or here)!

You got somethin' to say?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the Booples videos. Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see. What do you like about Booples and what would else would you like to see?

Thanks!

Go here to send your thoughts.

Booples - "David Rocked Goliath"

There's a new Booples video just completed: "David Rocked Goliath"



Tootle wants to be a super hero so she can be used by God. Poodle and Doodle explain that God can use anyone and often does things in ways you wouldn't expect like send a baby (Jesus) to save the world and defeat a giant with a shepard boy (David).

The verse for this episode is 1 Corinthians 1:25:
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

So we can all remember when we're feeling too small for God to use that "David Rocked Goliath".

See the song video and episode preview at TheBooples.com

The video should soon be available for purchase to download from SermonSpice.com

And on DVD in the next few months!!!

Next Booples Episode in the Works!

I'm currently working on the next Booples video titled "David Rocked Goliath"!

The story will be based around the Booples learning how God can use anyone no matter how "small." He used David even though he was just a shepard boy and even saved the world through a baby: Jesus.

The song is one of the best yet!

Recent News: new TV showings

TBN's Smile of a Child now show's Booples weekly at 3:30pm Central on Tuesdays! If you don't get that channel, you can watch online.

Also, I just shipped out DVDs to CGN TV for them to subtitle Booples in Korean and show on their channel around the world.

Hopefully I'll finish a couple more episodes soon and come out w/ another DVD. I've been really busy w/ promotion, film festivals, etc. that I haven't had enough time to actually make the content! :)

NEW Booples episode, "Forgive Each Other"

Check out the new Booples episode, "Forgive Each Other" at TheBooples.com - children's Bible songs videos

Let me know what you think!

"Me, Myself, & Bob" - my thoughts

"Me, Myself, & Bob" - my thoughts

As cheesy as this sounds, few books "speak to me" like this book did. It hit so many of the "big" notes with me: animation, tech-process, God-centered thinking in our efforts, what's really important, humor and more.

That being the case, the fact that it's a great book on top of that makes it all the more appealing to me.

Phil Vischer wrote this book after blogging (www.philvischer.com) and publicly speaking on this topic numerous times and being asked to write a book. I can only believe that through those efforts, the story became focused, clear and very well thought out.

He starts off early in making a couple of points that reminded me of parts of his blog I had read: his great-grandfather's riding the tide of radio (much likeVeggieTales' ride on the direct-to-video market) and his father's hot air balloon mishap when he staged a publicity stunt instead of going to church (possibly likePhil's losing focus with VeggieTales' success). Phil doesn't make the connection in the book himself, so I may be off there... or maybe that's a "spoiler."

The book is inspiring to say the least. However, it takes the reader in many directions before the final thoughts that are not only powerful, but ring extremely true. Especially given the journey the author has just taken you on through the books' telling of the "rise and fall of VeggieTales."

The day after reading the book I started reading it again. I wanted to experience it all again! I mostly scanned through much of the book; it still being fresh in my mind. But I slowed down for the last several chapters to soak up his revelations and realizations. So great!

It is a somewhat sad story of struggle and sacrifice but with great success in many ways. Of course, that success ends painfully for many including Phil. The growth in him is clear from the great introspection and clear change of heart.

Rarely will you see a book about such a topic with such honestly, humility and great sharing of heartfelt lessons learned.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a ministry... which really is all of us. I think it has a great message about how what we do isn't really the point. I believe God can do whatever He wants however He wants and the fact that He uses us to do many things is more for us than anything else.

He uses us to witness to others not to help Him out, but to grow us. The "work" we do isn't for Him, it's by Him... for us. We need to just be obedient to what He tells us to do. Let Him worry about the results.

There's so many parts of the book about growing VeggieTales and the sacrifices and struggles, then it's height and fall and, very powerfully, the lessons learned byPhil, that I can't think to try to describe it all, but encourage you to read and experience it yourself.

Phil's latest: JellyFishLand

Personal notes...

I wanted to separate my thoughts on the book above from my "application" here so you can stop reading if you're just interested in the book.

I created The Booples after a long love of animation and film/video but with no specific direction. A friend mentioned her son repeats all the songs in the videos he watches and I thought "Then the words should be Bible verses."

In my spare time, I created the first three episodes. I specifically only worked on it when I wanted to (and had time) and intentionally resisted it at times to make sure I didn't become too goal oriented to "just get it done." I also intentionally used 2D graphics and avoid to much "flash" in the episodes to focus on content over delivery.

It worked and it took me about a year to finish those three episodes though I'd say they each took me relatively little time if you added it all up.

Since then it seems I've spent most of my time marketing and promoting the DVD/videos and The Booples in general. You can read about various highlights here: Booples news

I started working on songs for the second DVD and while waiting for my music master,Pete Buchwald, to record them I thought I'd work on some stories without songs. I picked Jonah, Noah and David & Goliath.

After several people asked what the song would be like I knew they had to have songs and I talked to Pete about those. Then I started looking at schedules, film festival deadlines, thinking about a Spring release and Summer release of the next three episodes, a Christmas and Easter special DVD, etc.

I certainly was still enjoying doing it, but was putting more pressure on myself.

Then I read this book. It's going to change... it already has. With in a few hours, I had several new ideas for directions, stories, songs, etc. It reminded me of the part of the book where Phil says "Oh... is this how it's going to work now?"

When I started The Booples, I had never seen a VeggieTales episode. I think I heard a song once several years ago and it was funny. I intentionally didn't watch any when starting The Booples because I didn't want to be influenced by them too much.

That being said, I'd very much like to watch some now having read about Phil's journey and expect to borrow some from various friends that I know have some.

I have many more thoughts on the book including many similarities I can identify withPhil on including my parents' divorce, my thoughts on how entertainment has been overtaken by non-believers and Christian's often abdicating it to them, an early fascination and involvement with computers and computer related animation/graphics, and a love of Saturday morning cartoons (Saturday morning did and still has a feeling of a 'weekly holiday' to me - "Cartoon Day" as I called it literally... Thursday, Friday, Cartoonday), etc.

Two things that are hitting me hard today from the book are the C.S. Lewis quote: "He who has God plus many things has nothing more than he who has God alone." Yow. I can't add to that.

And one of his big points near the end. I don't want to quote it and spoil things more than I already have, but the basic idea is it's our responsibility to be obedient, not to make sure the outcome is one thing or another.

Everything is well.

Jonah episode name!

The next Booples episode is the story of Jonah and is named "Jonah and the Tarshish Fish." It has been completed and will soon be on SermonSpice.com for downloadable purchase (if you don't see anything from that link, you might need a plug-in - go to here to find out).

I'll try to post a still from the episode soon.

The next episode will be Noah!

Booples on sermonspice.com!

Booples is now on sermonspice.com

So far only the songs are up, but the episodes sd be on there soon.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

Booples is the "Children's Movie of the Day"

Children's Movie of the Day

"Perfect for kids, the Booples DVDs are great way for parents to help their little ones learn Bible verses, as well as core, Christian values. I loved it ... and my little girl loved it more!"

We cdn't agree more and w/ the new books and clothes it's great for Christmas presents!

Booples at COMIX35

Vote for Booples at the COMIX35 competition

COMIX35 (roxtoonz.com) is having a web animation competition. The animations created are to encourage people, in a creative way, to consider Jesus and Christianity.

Booples "Love One Another" animation selected for 2006 Seguin Film & Arts Festival

The Booples (theBooples.com) episode "Love One Another" has been selected as one of the finalists in the animation category for the 2006 Seguin Film & Arts Festival (seguinfestival.org).

The 2006 Seguin Film & Arts Festival has several categories including comedy, documentary, student, animation and others. The Booples episode "Love One Another" has been selected as one of the three finalists.

The five minute animation focuses on how we can please God and tell others about Him by loving one another. It is a very positive message for kids.

"Love One Another" starts with Doodle Boople asking why Poodle looks so sad. Poodle explains that he wants to love God and tell others about Him, but that his attempts haven't been very effective. Doodle is sure God sees and appreciates Poodle's efforts, but suggests they talk to Bah about what they can do to please God more. Bah consults the Bible for a good verse and shares a song to help solidify the point from scripture.

The song is very catchy and helpful for remembering the point and the Bible verse. Children understand the simple, but hard-to-live lesson. It's as foundational as The Golden Rule.

The 2006 Seguin Film & Arts Festival is the first film festival to select a Booples episode as a finalist. This may qualify the festival to be the official premiere of a Booples episode.

The first Booples (theBooples.com) DVD contains three episodes including "Love One Another", "Not Curly, But Straight" and "Treasure In Heaven." Each contain a story and song including a Bible verse.

All Booples episodes are featured on the Smile of a Child TV network from TBN. The DVD has received great reviews from HollywoodJesus.com and is approved family entertainment by the Dove Foundation.

The Seguin Film & Arts Festival (seguinfestival.org) is an annual fundraiser for the Seguin Cultural Arts Foundation, a local non-profit arts organization whose purpose is to increase public awareness and public participation in the arts in Seguin and surrounding South Texas communities.