Wesley Bros Animation
The Wesley Bros, John and Charles, created by the Rev. Charlie Baber, take center stage in a new series of animated church history videos from United Methodist Communications. (Photo courtesy of United Methodist Communications)
July 16, 2018, NASHVILLE, TENN. – A new video resource from United Methodist Communications uses an animated John and Charles Wesley to share United Methodist history in an innovative and contemporary way.
Based on the online cartoon series created by Charlie Baber on WesleyBros.com, and animated by Jonathan Richter, the videos are a modern sequel to the popular video “Clayride: A Gallop Through United Methodist History," produced by United Methodist Communications in 1984 using clay animation. (Watch the story behind the making of Clayride.)
Created for use in confirmation classes, new member classes, Sunday school and small discussion groups, "The Wesleys Take the Web" is a series of three 1-minute episodes (also available as one 3-minute video) that aims to generate conversation about the history of The United Methodist Church and make it appealing to younger people. The videos look at how John and Charles Wesley might have used social media and smartphones to share the church’s message, while incorporating history, facts and trivia throughout.
"We have compressed many of the high points of being part of the Methodist movement in a very short way—and in the new way that people consume content," said Fran Coode Walsh, Director of Member Communications. "We hope the series will be entertaining, but also informative and inspiring; and we hope people will think creatively about how to use it.”
You can watch and share the mobile-friendly videos at UMC.org/WesleyBros, on Instagram (@unitedmethodistchurch) or YouTube or they can be downloaded. Suggested questions for discussion are also available on the website. There will also be versions with subtitles in German, Spanish, French and Russian available on the landing page, www.umc.org/wesleybros and on YouTube.
Learn more about the history of The United Methodist Church at www.umc.org/history.