Today's youth are flooded with an overwhelming array of high tech entertainment options. So, how can any Christ-centered organization reach this media-saturated generation with the Good News? Gospel Communications has turned, once again, to a giant in the field: Junior Anderson.

We are pleased to announce that Junior, star of the successful animated series Junior's Giants, hits store shelves this fall in his second episode: "Envy Thou Not."

The internet, video, music, gaming: the entertainment options for today's youth are mind boggling. Literally. And often the values of this ever-expanding "media giant" are ambiguous at best, and damaging at worst.

Enter Junior, a two-dimensional and digitally animated character who's series of laugh-out-loud videos is helping Gospel Communications counter the "giant's" message with positive, faith-based stories that appeal to kids (of all ages). It's called Junior's Giants, and its second episode, "Envy Thou Not," is due for release this fall.

Seriously. It's Funny.

Junior's Giants follows the adventures of Junior, a modern kid who must battle his own metaphorical "giants" daily. In the first episode, "Anger's Everywhere," Junior first encounters "Tude," a kilt-wearing, disco-dancing giant with an equally sized temper. The latest episode, "Envy Thou Not", features a rockin' Egyptian giant who forces Junior to battle his own greedy desires for more material things. Eventually, Junior learns about storing his treasures in heaven.

Watching Junior means singing along with the Goliath, guffawing at the banter of battle-scene commentators and benefiting from biblical lessons for the whole family.

"Junior is each one of us who has ever struggled with our own giant," says Steve Ramsey, director of North American Ministries at Gospel Communications. "In the competition for children's attention, kids are growing out of singing vegetables and moving on to the likes of Jimmy Neutron and Sponge Bob," Ramsey says. "Junior's Giants fills a need in Christian entertainment for real story lines with real kids in real families with real problems."

Making use of the latest software techniques developed by its creators, Junior's Giants uses a paper doll animation style that has never been seen before.

Director Mike Rasmussen cites diverse influences for Junior's Giants-everything from Veggie Tales to The Simpsons to Arrested Development. It's sophisticated wit used to deliver a faith-based message - relevant for today's kids, parents and families.

Viewers are guaranteed to see someone familiar in each character - the power-hungry sister, the level-headed friend, the precocious baby, the quirky dad, the overly organized mom and a boy who always has a lesson to learn.

"What I think is great about it is that it has applicability for all ages," Rasmussen says. "Besides, it's completely hilarious!"

Winning Awards (And Hearts and Minds)

This award-winning series integrates ordinary struggles, like wireless Internet connection problems, and relevant spiritual issues, such as dealing with materialism and greed. Perhaps what makes the show so funny is that much of the content is motivated by the creators' real lives. The character of Junior was inspired by Rasmussen's son, Brody, who, like Junior, went through a phase of often losing his temper.

Besides the series' true-to-life humor, its Biblical application goes beyond entertainment, providing a testimony and model for applying the Word of God in our everyday lives. That's how Junior's Giants helps Gospel Communications get the Word out in a new way.

"We saw an opportunity to present a really funny series to kids," Ramsey says. "Junior is the first step as we begin to transform how we use media to reach a new generation in an intentional way. And, being part of the scriptwriting process, we're excited to be able to craft the show's messages with solid scripture."

At the same time, the show is far from "Christianese". Instead, the focus is on Junior and his problem - his "giant". But when Junior's giant becomes too much, his best friend Niko, his parents and the Word help him overcome.

"We develop a realistic and compelling story line first, then apply scripture to it, instead of the other way around," Ramsey says. "The series is designed to be as funny as it is relevant. We've found that some adults love it as much as their kids, but we hope to reach kids' hearts, first and foremost."

Fortunately, more to love is on the way. Upcoming episodes are in the works. Soon, Junior will battle a variety of new giants - a slick crocodile lawyer who helps Junior justify a lie, an octopus who sucks him into irresponsibility and a enormous slug who helps him become even more hooked on video games.

With its quirky comedy and faith-focused message, Junior's Giants gives kids and families a great way to have fun while learning key faith lessons. And, on a grander scale, it gives Gospel Communications a valuable weapon in the battle for hearts and minds, among today's media giants.