THE WINGFEATHER SAGA Creator Says ‘Follow Your Heart’ Is the Wrong Message for Children
By Movieguide® Staff
The creator of the animated series THE WINGFEATHER SAGA, which streams on Angel Studios, said that he hopes children learn to not follow their hearts.
Although the theme of “following your heart” appears in almost every Disney movie and many other mainstream media, executive producer J Chris Wall said that we should be teaching children something better.
“Our culture right now tells us that kids can learn their identity and who they are in the world, in their own selves – and in fact, individually apart from their families. And we just don’t believe that’s true,” Wall told Christian Headlines in a recent interview. “And so in our story, these kids find their identity and their purpose in life through their family, through their community, and ultimately, the Creator that made them. What’s the purpose that He has for them?”
“That’s something they’ll wrestle with the entire seven seasons of Wingfeather is: what I’m called to be, what I’m supposed to do, and what I may be told in my own heart [which is] something else, which may not lead to good conclusions,” he added.
According to Angel Studios, Season 1 of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA earned over 7 million streams.
The series is based on the book series of the same name, written by Andrew Peterson.
With Season 1 complete, Wall said that fans of the series can look forward to more imaginative action in upcoming seasons.
“Season 1 set the foundation for characters, the world, the story, but it was all kind of contained within one little township on the edge of the sea,” Wall said. “[In] Season 2, we’re on the run, trying to flee from pursuing enemies — and so new characters, new lands, new spectacle, frankly. It starts with a bang. We take all the energy of the epic battle near the end of the first season and go right into it out of the gate. There is more peril. We think that’s what makes the story mean a lot is that there is danger in the world and consequences for choices.”
While many animated shows on TV and streaming contain agenda-driven characters, Wall said that he hopes THE WINGFEATHER SAGA offers a pro-family, moral, and biblically themed cartoon for families to watch together.
“Through the lens of our storytelling, we’re going to kind of enforce family values that you all are experiencing. And so we’ve heard a lot of families say, hey, that’s like my family,” he said.
Executive producer Brock Starnes added: “One of the things that we’ve loved seeing is when families get to watch it together and the experiences that are created when multi-generations come together and experience this. We’ve got young kids, middle-grade kids, old kids coming together with their parents and their extended family to experience Wingfeather Saga. We see that with the books, and we now see that with the show, and that’s been really exciting.”
Movieguide®’s review of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA reads:
Chapter 5 of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA is an animated fantasy television series streaming on Angel Studios. It centers on the Igiby children trying to break their mother and grandfather out of Fang prison. Their neighbors distract the guards for the children. However, the local Fang commander already knows about the prison break. He and his soldiers capture the children. He sentences the entire Igiby family to the inhumane Fang gulag. Is there any way for them to escape?
Chapter 5 of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA is yet another solid, highly entertaining episode of this family-friendly series based on the popular children’s books. It contains several positive Christian, moral, pro-family values. For example, it promotes sacrifice, bravery, fighting tyranny, helping other people, and using self-defense to overcome an evil enemy. However, Chapter Five does ratchet up the fantasy violence. It features sword combat, a hostage situation, three stabbings, and Fang soldiers who turn into dust after dying in combat. There is even a “parental guidance” warning at the start of the chapter. So, MOVIEGUIDE® stresses caution for younger children for CHAPTER 5 of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA.
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