In The mid-1980s, Frank Shaffer, and his father  Francis Schaeffer worked on an animated film covering topics from Francis’s book, The Great Evangelical Disaster.

This film was viewed by hundreds, if not thousands of seminary students and would be missionaries around the world, as a means of theological education, and philosophical quandary. Filled with short stories and analogies depicted through conversations between animated characters and puppets. Overall a very unique and entertaining approach to attempt to educate and impart deeper theological meanings into the young minds of those seeking to learn from the messages and preaching of Francis Schaeffer.

Since those days, almost all copies of the original film have either disappeared, or been destroyed, save for a rare few hiding in church libraries gathering dust and one copy that is readily available for scheduled viewing on 16 mm film in Minnesota, often treated as a Mecca for those who seek to watch this masterpiece of a film again.

Frank is the sole owner of the copyright for his father’s works and the movie in question. The purpose of this petition is to encourage him, that thousands of young people would like the chance to objectively view the movie he made. To draw their own conclusions from its stories and its messages. Messages that in my humble opinion would provide great guidance for young people trying to find ways to cope with the ever changing and polarized world around them.

By signing this petition, you join us in kindly requesting that Mr. Schaeffer consider re-releasing his movie again to the public. 

The majority of us signing unlike our previous generations aren’t looking for excuses to bring out faith into politics anymore than we must already suffer through listening to. However, what we do crave is the opportunity to educate ourselves further about our faith or the ideas of faith in the way we as a generation prefer, through moving pictures on a screen conveying an important message through lighthearted means. Do not underestimate the power that the medium of animation and puppetry holds over a generation raised on cartoons and educated by happy puppets on Sesame Street.

So we humbly ask you, to consider signing to allow the work of this man and his father to again be viewed by the public, so that future generations may have the opportunity to view it if they so choose.

Thank you