Seeing clearly what really matters

Your word is truth (John 17:17).

Animated movies and TV shows are regarded by most people as best suited for children. Black and white programs are seen as relics of an earlier, simpler time. Most adults believe that serious entertainment must be shot live and in color.

Why is animation regarded as childish? It’s because animation depicts a world that is not as complicated as the one we live in. An animated feature is not as visually detailed as the complex world that bombards our senses every day; the selection of colors is limited, the amount of objects in motion is restricted to only those elements essential for telling the story. In most animated fare it is easy to follow the story line, because unnecessary details are usually omitted. Since animation is visually easy to understand, we assume it is intended for children who cannot grasp more complicated imagery.

Black and white photography was around for many years before the ability to film in color was developed, because the technology needed to capture and reproduce colored images is much more difficult. As soon as color became economical, black and white film-making was abandoned as old fashioned. Yet there are movie critics who treasure black and white classics and resent efforts by movie studios to colorize them; they point out that black and white images communicate ideas more forcefully than when color is added. The stark contrast of light and dark, without the distraction of color, allows a filmmaker to more quickly get across the emotional tone he’s trying to create.

Both black and white films and animation reduced the complexity of the world we see and help us understand what’s going on with greater ease. Both do away with visual elements that cause needless distraction, and bring us quickly to the heart of the matter. God’s Word does the same thing. Our world tends to be confusing, but God sees everything in black and white—either something is good and God pleasing, or it is evil and serves the devil. Some believe that thinking this way is simplistic and judgmental. They argue that no one can be sure of what is right and wrong; but the result is that they are often paralyzed, unable to decide on the best course of action in a world shrouded by murky shades of gray. Christians find comfort in knowing that good and evil are clearly different from each other. The believer can make decisions with confidence when guided by God’s Word, a printed word that communicates clearly in black and white.