I've been getting into some Christian-themed cartoons that I previously hadn't heard of in recent years. This is yet another one of them. I first came across the Christmas special of this, Whirl: Ada and Leo's Inspired Christmas Adventure, when it was shown last month, on Christmas Eve, on Smile TV. Since the schedule grid on the Smile TV website has been removed and it's taking so long for someone to bring it back already last I checked, I would've known about this being planned to air at that time had I still had access to the grid. Finding another thing that was new to me, I decided to try out the Xmas special. And I'm glad I did. Another cartoon special of that holiday that since became among my favorites, even though I caught only part of it (the last 7 of the 15 segments, beginning with "Magnificat: The Musical"). I enjoyed very much of what I saw and what I saw was spectacular. Then, this month, this series began airing on there and I saw a few episodes of it, enjoying those as well, so far. The show became one of my favorites of the 2010s. One of the best and what I find to be amongst the most impressive that I've seen. I didn't think I'd bother with several of the Christian-oriented 'toons, since I read others' comments about how not many of them are all that well-done, but this isn't one of them. I just couldn't resist watching more and had to do so.
I didn't know it at the time, as I would find out over four months later when I turned the channel to Smile TV on a whim to see what was airing at a certain night of the week and time. It airs twice a week and, is split into two, separate series. They're known as Whirl: Ada and Friends, plus Whirl: Leo and Friends. The former features the little sister of the former, each with their own circles of the aforementioned friends. The friends of Ada include her twin brother Otto, much younger sister Tot, Clara, Victor, Monty, and Jax. Leo's circle of comrades includes Burt, Mimi (who is Monty's big sister), Ruby, Gabe, and Jamila. They all still make appearances in each of the titular characters' series, making their crossovers. They're mostly youngsters who come in various colors. Both series are designated to follow the short or segment compilation format, with eight or nine each episode on average, the majority of them revolve around the kids mainly attending Sunday school learning about the Bible, and other things related to Christianity. But often what they hear about is often misunderstood or misinterpreted, resulting in confusion, hence the word "whirl" in the title, and they try to figure out what that happens to be. Then, the confusion has to be resolved through explanation to set things straight, like the meanings behind the Biblical teachings. At first, I thought that this could be a more Christian-oriented version of Peanuts, in that adult characters either are only partially seen or not seen at all. During the end credits that followed the ending of the last segment of a particular episode, a preacher, pastor, or something related was giving a sermon, but what he was saying wasn't clear nor decipherable. It was something garbled, akin to how a trombone would be used whenever an adult in Peanuts was speaking, rather than using a normal, intelligible, decipherable voice. But then I saw other segments in which, at least, some adult characters are shown on screen. So maybe they make more physical appearances later on the series, I don't know for sure, that's just my guess. But the thing with the practical absence and obscure speech of the initially unseen adults in this may have taken inspiration from that running gag in Peanuts. I saw a screenshot on another site of an episode with Ruby and two adults, who I presume must be her parents, and if that is the case, then so far, her parents are the only ones out of all the main characters who have been shown (or, at least, the I know of anyway).
The characters and the objects they use are animated in that Flash style or something similar, and some objects are drawn, but the scenery features live-action or photoshopped backgrounds mostly with those drawn in some cases. The writing of the short stories are well-written. Not too simple, but also not too complex in giving explanations, so there's a perfect balance of both to keep things satisfactory and still easy enough to follow, all while being mixed with some good humor. It's done entertainingly enough. In some segments, there are parodies, mixing in whatever the parodies are with Christian messages, which seem to be well-executed. And because there are always surprises, it's not predictable. The dialogue is well-scripted, such as in the case of the clever or witty anecdotes that are explained and clarified better. Many of the characters are likable enough, with certain ones receiving some great development and their designs of the town's denizens are colorful. Their bodies are similar to the characters in the God Rocks Bible Toons series, in which their hands and feet are separated from their bodies (probably inspired by that), and their proportions vary. I don't think the music is used much, but when it is, it's plenty pleasing and facile on the ears. I'm not familiar with any of the voice cast, but they sound like they did a fine job in voicing their roles. When I heard the short theme in the special, with the theme being played by bells, I presumed it was just for the Christmas special, but no, that's it's common, official theme. That and I didn't know that this wasn't only limited to the special, as it wasn't just a one-off situation, like I wondered.
What I've seen of the series so far has been smartly done well. It's positive, wholesome, and a much-needed relief away from the rubbish that has been all far too common these days. If anyone is looking for something that isn't too ridiculously out-there, in a negative way, then I say give this program a whirl. Especially for the kid viewers, their heads won't be in a whirl once everything they try to learn about spirituals, scriptures, and the like is cleared. Rather than being a rehash of various Bible stories, it uses, at least, parts of them for reference while at the same time, be original and kept fresh in that sense. Recommended.
I didn't know it at the time, as I would find out over four months later when I turned the channel to Smile TV on a whim to see what was airing at a certain night of the week and time. It airs twice a week and, is split into two, separate series. They're known as Whirl: Ada and Friends, plus Whirl: Leo and Friends. The former features the little sister of the former, each with their own circles of the aforementioned friends. The friends of Ada include her twin brother Otto, much younger sister Tot, Clara, Victor, Monty, and Jax. Leo's circle of comrades includes Burt, Mimi (who is Monty's big sister), Ruby, Gabe, and Jamila. They all still make appearances in each of the titular characters' series, making their crossovers. They're mostly youngsters who come in various colors. Both series are designated to follow the short or segment compilation format, with eight or nine each episode on average, the majority of them revolve around the kids mainly attending Sunday school learning about the Bible, and other things related to Christianity. But often what they hear about is often misunderstood or misinterpreted, resulting in confusion, hence the word "whirl" in the title, and they try to figure out what that happens to be. Then, the confusion has to be resolved through explanation to set things straight, like the meanings behind the Biblical teachings. At first, I thought that this could be a more Christian-oriented version of Peanuts, in that adult characters either are only partially seen or not seen at all. During the end credits that followed the ending of the last segment of a particular episode, a preacher, pastor, or something related was giving a sermon, but what he was saying wasn't clear nor decipherable. It was something garbled, akin to how a trombone would be used whenever an adult in Peanuts was speaking, rather than using a normal, intelligible, decipherable voice. But then I saw other segments in which, at least, some adult characters are shown on screen. So maybe they make more physical appearances later on the series, I don't know for sure, that's just my guess. But the thing with the practical absence and obscure speech of the initially unseen adults in this may have taken inspiration from that running gag in Peanuts. I saw a screenshot on another site of an episode with Ruby and two adults, who I presume must be her parents, and if that is the case, then so far, her parents are the only ones out of all the main characters who have been shown (or, at least, the I know of anyway).
The characters and the objects they use are animated in that Flash style or something similar, and some objects are drawn, but the scenery features live-action or photoshopped backgrounds mostly with those drawn in some cases. The writing of the short stories are well-written. Not too simple, but also not too complex in giving explanations, so there's a perfect balance of both to keep things satisfactory and still easy enough to follow, all while being mixed with some good humor. It's done entertainingly enough. In some segments, there are parodies, mixing in whatever the parodies are with Christian messages, which seem to be well-executed. And because there are always surprises, it's not predictable. The dialogue is well-scripted, such as in the case of the clever or witty anecdotes that are explained and clarified better. Many of the characters are likable enough, with certain ones receiving some great development and their designs of the town's denizens are colorful. Their bodies are similar to the characters in the God Rocks Bible Toons series, in which their hands and feet are separated from their bodies (probably inspired by that), and their proportions vary. I don't think the music is used much, but when it is, it's plenty pleasing and facile on the ears. I'm not familiar with any of the voice cast, but they sound like they did a fine job in voicing their roles. When I heard the short theme in the special, with the theme being played by bells, I presumed it was just for the Christmas special, but no, that's it's common, official theme. That and I didn't know that this wasn't only limited to the special, as it wasn't just a one-off situation, like I wondered.
What I've seen of the series so far has been smartly done well. It's positive, wholesome, and a much-needed relief away from the rubbish that has been all far too common these days. If anyone is looking for something that isn't too ridiculously out-there, in a negative way, then I say give this program a whirl. Especially for the kid viewers, their heads won't be in a whirl once everything they try to learn about spirituals, scriptures, and the like is cleared. Rather than being a rehash of various Bible stories, it uses, at least, parts of them for reference while at the same time, be original and kept fresh in that sense. Recommended.
