How Band of Friends is Bringing Light & Values into Kids’ Media
Band of Friends was created to bring intentional, values driven children’s entertainment into today’s screen saturated world, blending creativity, faith, and storytelling to help guide and strengthen the next generation.
Children’s entertainment fills nearly every quiet moment in a child’s life, surrounding them with stories, characters, and ideas. Yet abundance does not always mean intention. Band of Friends grew from the realization that if families do not lead what children see and learn, the world will gladly do it for them. The project was created to offer something different: storytelling that strengthens character, faith, and courage in the next generation.
John Forystek, one of the minds behind this project, has spent years observing how media shapes the thinking and imagination of young audiences. With his experience in record labels, publishing, and global media ventures, he’s seen trends come and go. At his limit, he shifted from observing to taking action. “Instead of saying, ‘Why isn’t somebody going to do something about this?’ I said, ‘You know, I’m going to do something about this,’” he says.
What started as a concern for his own kids quickly grew into something bigger. It was no longer about his children; it was about all kids and what they were absorbing on-screen. “It’s not just my kids,” he says. “It’s all the kids, of all the parents that I talk to all the time.”
In various circles such as churches, homeschool groups, and parent gatherings, people shared a common opinion: new content that felt both relevant and grounded in good values was not available. “We can only say VeggieTales so many times in the last 30 years,” he explained.
John brought his vision to life by joining forces with Erick Tran, an award winning Simpsons animator and producer. Erick shares: “Parents who want their children grounded in godly values can trust this show. It is fun, imaginative entertainment, but it also reinforces faith, character, and purpose. We are not just creating a cartoon. We are helping families raise the next generation with confidence.”
Band of Friends was born as something fresh, with eye-catching visuals and values woven in naturally. “Here’s how we actually instill what they should be learning through scripture. Not in a way that preaches to them, but in a way that’s more like a parable,” he says.
“Since COVID, there’s almost been this great awakening,” he says. “We live in a replication culture,” he says. “What kids see is what they repeat.”
So the question remains: what do we offer children to carry forward and make their own?
“As someone who is raising kids in a world with so much darkness, I’m a big fan of supporting anything that offers LIGHT and HOPE. Band of Friends represents both of those things. At this point in my life, more than ever, I’m so thankful when I see people who dedicate their talents to making family-friendly content...both for my own family to enjoy, as well as the next generation.”
- Tommee Profitt, 23x Platinum Producer
“Being in the animation industry now, I feel a real responsibility, even a calling, to create something better. Our show is built on timeless biblical truths like courage, integrity, forgiveness, perseverance, and love for others. Not in a heavy handed way, but woven naturally into exciting stories kids genuinely enjoy.”
- Erick Tran, Producer & Director Band of Friends
As an artist and a father, I have always believed that what we put in front of our kids shapes who they become. Band of Friends resonated with me because it leads with joy, music, and values. It celebrates friendship, courage, and doing the right thing in a way that feels authentic and creative. We are in a time when culture is discipling the next generation faster than the church is. Projects like this matter because they give families something life-giving to rally around. That is why I believe in the Band of Friends.”
- Michael W. Smith, Award Winning Contemporary Christian Artist
“What made this mission resonate with me is simple: our children deserve better. Entertainment is the most powerful cultural force in the world. It shapes minds, molds values, and moves generations. Whether we acknowledge it or not, children’s content becomes the soundtrack and storyline of how kids see themselves and the world around them.”
- John Forystek, CEO & Executive Producer Band of Friends
