Testament: The Animated Bible Season 1 Episode 5 Creation

Testament: The Animated Bible is a 13-episode series that retells the Bible's most significant stories through stunning animation. Each episode is narrated by a different celebrity voice and follows the overarching theme of how humanity's actions lead to a communion with God.

In episode 5, titled "Creation," we witness the birth of the universe and the world as we know it. The narrative is driven by a combination of stunning visuals and the retelling of the creation story found in the book of Genesis.

The episode begins with a black screen, gradually illuminating to reveal the cosmos. We see whirlpools of galaxies spinning, and supernovas bursting into vibrant colors. The animation takes a breathtaking turn as we drop down onto an image of Earth. The sun rises over a barren landscape, and the words, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," appear on the screen.

The story then follows the seven stages of creation, as laid out in Genesis. The first day is marked by the creation of light, which is shown in the episode as a beam of light that spreads across the planet. This leads to day and night. The second day sees the separation of the waters below from the waters above, and the third day brings forth oceans, continents, and all types of vegetation.

The fourth day is marked by the creation of the sun, moon, and stars. We see an image of the sun rising and the moon appearing in the sky. This marks the beginning of days, seasons, and years. The fifth day sees the creation of all marine life and birds, while the sixth day is the creation of land animals and, ultimately, humans.

The animation pulls us into the world of Adam and Eve. As we watch them come to life, we see God's hand stretching out to touch Adam's finger, also famously depicted in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam painting. This connection between the divine and humanity is essential in the narrative of the episode.

The final component of the creation story is captured in the seventh day when God rests. The animation shows a close-up of a hand, perhaps God's, resting on a beautiful landscape. The idea of rest is an essential component of the creation story, and the episode does an excellent job of illustrating this.

As with all the episodes in the Testament series, the visuals are breathtaking, and coupled with the narration, they prove to be a powerful educational tool for all ages. It is not only a retelling of the creation story, but the animation and the narrator take the viewer on a journey through time and space. The episode aims to convey the essential message that God created the world in all its beauty and that humans have a significant role to play in taking care of it.

In conclusion, "Creation" not only retells the creation story found in the book of Genesis but illustrates it in stunning animation that is both captivating and educational. The episode sets the tone for the rest of the series by conveying the message that humanity is an essential part of God's creation, and we have a critical role in taking care of the world we live in.