‘Greatest Adventure’ Delivers a Powerful Free Show for Kids

The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible: A Hanna-Barbera Hidden Gem Worth Your Family's Time

If Bible content couldn't compete with mainstream entertainment, then why did one of Hollywood's most commercially savvy studios spend 17 years fighting to make one TV series? And then land one of the most star-studded voice casts of the decade to bring it to life?

Because Hanna-Barbera knew something that gets forgotten in a world full of streaming paywalls — that the greatest stories ever told belonged to everyone. So they fought for it. And that's exactly what this month is about.

Today I'm sharing why The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible is one of the best all-ages shows for family time, and why Hanna-Barbera's willingness to take a stand for it is the same reason I'm building this entire month around content worth fighting for.

Welcome to Wholesome TV Picks! I'm your host, Jennifer Avila, and this is the only podcast where every recommendation is backed by 35+ years of watching wholesome TV, so you never waste another night on the wrong pick.

The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible is a Hanna-Barbera Hidden Gem Worth Your Family's Time

If Bible content couldn't compete with mainstream entertainment, then why did one of Hollywood's most commercially savvy studios spend 17 years fighting to make one TV series? And then land one of the most star-studded voice casts of the decade to bring it to life?

Because Hanna-Barbera knew something that gets forgotten in a world full of streaming paywalls — that the greatest stories ever told belonged to everyone. So they fought for it. And that's exactly what this month is about.

Today I'm sharing why The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible is one of the best all-ages shows for family time, and why Hanna-Barbera's willingness to take a stand for it is the same reason I'm building this entire month around content worth fighting for.

Welcome to Wholesome TV Picks! I'm your host, Jennifer Avila, and this is the only podcast where every recommendation is backed by 35+ years of watching wholesome TV, so you never waste another night on the wrong pick.

🏆 Exciting News — We've Been Nominated!

Before we dive in, I have some exciting news to share. Wholesome TV Picks has been nominated for a Women's Podcast Award in the entertainment and news category! Voting is now live, and I would really appreciate your support. Just head to the link in the show notes and cast your vote. It takes about 10 seconds and means the world to this little show. Your vote helps more families find content that's actually worth their time — thank you so much!

A Quick Correction from Last Week

In the outro of last week's episode, I mentioned this series aired on network TV. That is not correct — these went straight to VHS. I wanted to own that mistake and set the record straight.

What Is The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible?

This is a wonderfully compact series — just 13 episodes, each around 30 minutes. Totally bingeable. The premise follows three archaeologists named Derek, Margot, and Moki, who stumble across a mysterious door that transports them back in time to witness the greatest stories of the Bible firsthand. Your kids will love it — Moki is hands-down the funniest character of the bunch.

Which Stories Are Covered in Greatest Adventure: Stories From the Bible TV series?

The episodes follow the Old Testament order and include:

The Creation with Adam and Eve

Noah's Ark

Moses

Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

Daniel in the Lions' Den

Queen Esther

The Easter Story — the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Nativity

Samson and Delilah

I specifically wanted to highlight this series because it includes the Easter story, which I think is especially useful for families who might describe themselves as "CEO churchgoers" — that's what my pastor calls people who only make it to church on Christmas and Easter. No judgment here, just a great resource for the season!

What Makes Greatest Adventure: Stories From the Bible Stand Out?

Thoughtful Animation and Attention to Detail

All of the stories are beautifully told with great animation. One small thing I noticed and loved — no two background characters look alike. That kind of careful detail, done entirely by hand, says a lot about the craftsmanship behind this series.

Each episode also opens with a short backstory, so your kids get context before the story begins. And here's a nice bonus: you don't have to watch them in order. You can jump into any episode you choose.

A Star-Studded Voice Cast

It's fascinating how Hanna-Barbera managed to attract such big-name talent for a faith-based animated series. The voice cast includes James Earl Jones, Helen Hunt, Helen Slater, and Tim Curry — yes, that Tim Curry, who you might remember as the villain in Home Alone 2. He voices the serpent in the Creation story and is absolutely perfect for the role. It's eerie how well he captures it.

Perry King, who voices Samson, also plays the dad Brian Morgan in The Torkelsons (later rebranded as Almost Home) — a series I covered back in episode two. If you haven't seen it, it's a wonderful family comedy worth adding to your list.

The Easter Episode: Handled with Care

The most important episode to highlight is the Easter story. It does a remarkable job of conveying the weight and meaning of the story without any gore. It's gentle, thoughtful, and carefully crafted.

Hanna-Barbera brought in the input of a Catholic priest, a rabbi, and a Protestant minister — along with different writers for different episodes — to make sure the content was biblically accurate without leaning too heavily into any single denomination. They took it seriously, and it shows.

Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible was 17 Years in the Making

Hanna-Barbera really took a risk with this series. Joseph Barbera first conceived the concept, and it took 17 years to secure the funding to bring it to life. Most people would have walked away. But they believed in the importance of making these stories available to children everywhere, and they didn't let time or obstacles stop them.

That kind of perseverance is worth noting. They took a stand for something meaningful and saw it through.

When my children were little, we used these episodes regularly to supplement our Bible studies. There were plenty of evenings when my kids would ask, "Mom, can we just watch one of the Bible cartoons for Bible time tonight?" That's the kind of content this is.

A Story from My Own Life

Back in 2003, I was working in the visual effects department at CBS — only about three months into the job. The room was always kept dim so the matte artists could see every detail on their monitors without glare. One day, sitting at my desk, I overheard a heated debate coming from the office around the corner.

Two artists — I'll call them George and Dean — were going at it. George was a devout Christian who had no hesitation sharing his faith. Dean was agnostic or atheist and made it very clear he didn't want to hear it. The argument escalated until Dean slammed his hand on the desk and shouted for George to stop.

I sat frozen at my desk, completely uncomfortable — until the phone rang and broke the tension. Five minutes later? Both men walked out together asking where they were going to lunch, completely unbothered.

I think about George a lot. He wasn't loud or combative — he just wasn't ashamed. He shared what he believed, even when it wasn't easy. I admired that then, and I still do. It's a reminder to me — and maybe to you — to take a stand for your faith, or whatever belief system you hold dear, and to share it with the people around you who might benefit from hearing it.

Where to Watch The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible?

Here's the best part: The Greatest Adventure Stories from the Bible is completely free on YouTube. No subscription, no paywall — just great content for your whole family.

If you're not sure where to start, I'd recommend the Easter story for this season, or the Moses episode — James Earl Jones as Pharaoh is absolutely incredible and not to be missed.

This series is ideal for families who are intentional about limiting screen time, because every minute of it is genuinely worthwhile. It's not preachy. It's engaging, well-crafted, and the kind of thing you'll actually enjoy watching alongside your kids.

Coming Up Next Week

Next week I'm covering a family film about a homeschool family and their church co-op that becomes the target of government overreach — told they're not educating their children properly and threatened with fines and losing custody if they don't comply with public school standards. It's a good one. Be sure to tune in!

Thanks for being here. As always — your values matter, and your TV should too. See you next week!