With a unique interfaith advisory council and a mission to foster mutual respect, the 2D animated series promotes unity and peace through the hilarious adventures of four martial arts heroes from Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism; new episode streams July 17.
For most of his young life, media creator and marketing expert Nimrod-Avraham May considered himself an atheist. But a close encounter with death ignited his fascination with religion, and a close working relationship with Disney began to fuel his creative think tank that, many years later, would produce the YouTube animated series God’s Gang.
IN 2021, May, the former Head of Marketing at Disney ABC Television Group, founded God’s Gang Ltd, the studio behind the 2D animated series. God’s Gang targets audiences aged 9-19 and aims to promote peace by highlighting shared values between people, regardless of their religious beliefs. Following four martial arts heroes from Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Judaism who go on hilarious adventures, the 13-minute pilot has, according to the studio, amassed over one million subscribers on its YouTube channel and 4+ million views worldwide since launching. The newest episode from the series, titled “What’s Cooking?” releases Wednesday, July 17.
Enjoy the show’s trailer:
Mark Taylor, former Nickelodeon Senior Vice President, DreamWorks head of Physical Production, and Sony Pictures Animation VP of Production, has joined the advisory board of God’s Gang Ltd. along with former DreamWorks Animation COO and CFO and Netflix VP of Animation Bruce Daitch. The series is produced by Infinite Frameworks in Singapore with May’s international team including an “Interfaith Council” of five spiritual experts: Imam Abed Mawasi, Rabbi Shlomo Chayen, Baptist Pastor Brandon Jones, Hindu Specialist Sanya Tyagi and Spiritual Advisor Zohar Ezra Melnik.
We got the chance to talk with May about his faith-filled, culturally complex series, its new episode, his near-death experience that kickstarted this journey, and the challenges of making a series about a group of friends as bold about their own religions as they are about joining hands and not letting differences divide them. May’s world is one where those differences are celebrated and where viewers have to spend more than one episode with these characters to truly understand their minds and hearts. In truth, God’s Gang isn’t just a show about peace, but about the importance of sharing life and experiences with all kinds of people.
Victoria Davis: This is not only your first animated series, but the first TV series you’ve showrun. Tell me how this journey started for you? What were you doing before you created God’s Gang?
Nimrod-Avraham May: I used to work for content companies, starting at a viral video agency 20 years ago, then moved to work as Head of Marketing for Disney ABC Television Group in 2005. Since then, I have launched several startups, managed a VC (Venture Capital) company, and been active on the Web3 gaming network. But back when I worked at Disney, my experience there exposed me to the world of children's content and storytelling, and I’ve always had a vision of creating something unique and impactful for that viewership.
The journey actually started with a pitch to Disney executives for making the Power Rangers multifaith. It didn't materialize at the time, but the idea stayed with me and led to me founding my own studio in Israel, where I could bring that original idea to life as God's Gang, a project that promotes peace, unity and positive values through an engaging animated series.
VD: Where did the idea for God’s Gang originate, outside of just being inspired by Disney’s already existing kids' content?
NAM: The core of the idea for God's Gang stemmed from Disney's need to compete with shows like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants, which were dominating kids' entertainment 20 years ago. I believed creating characters that transcended cultural and religious boundaries would resonate with parents and children growing up in multicultural environments.
This would obviously need to be fantastic, exciting, entertaining content, and could also help educate on the power of diversity and the importance of mutual respect and understanding. I wanted to convey these values through a medium that resonates with children and young adults, using superheroes from different faiths to showcase teamwork, friendship, and shared values.
VD: Do you have a religious background yourself? Did that play a role at all in the series?
NAM: I don’t have a religious background. I was raised in a secular household in Israel and considered myself an atheist. That is, until a life-changing near-death experience at age 36.
This event prompted me to start studying Judaism, as it was accessible to me as a born "Jew." However, I felt the need to learn more, which led me to explore other religions, especially metaphysical perspectives found in Buddhism and external books to the Bible, such as the Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzirah), Enoch, Zohar, and more. Through this journey, I personally found that we all come from one source or creator, which is why love is the energy we need to pursue for us to thrive as humans on Earth. This understanding deeply influences the values and themes in God's Gang, emphasizing unity, compassion, and peace.
Having said this, the God’s Gang series is not about promoting any specific religion; it's about highlighting universal values that resonate across different cultures and beliefs.
VD: With so many political and religious conflicts of late, this show is incredibly timely. In creating the series, how did you make sure to be inclusive and honest but also respectful of all the characters’ viewpoints? I imagine you walked a fine line.
NAM: Creating God's Gang required careful consideration to ensure inclusivity and respect for all viewpoints. We formed a council with experts from different religious and cultural backgrounds to develop the characters and storylines in a way that honors their traditions while focusing on universal themes of peace, kindness, and cooperation. These experts are our Interfaith Advisory Council who consult on all aspects of the show. Our goal is to create relatable characters that inspire positive interactions among viewers, without delving into religious dogma.
VD: How did you decide on the animation and art style for the show, especially when there’s this overarching theme of unity among the characters?
NAM: The animation and art style of God's Gang were chosen to be vibrant and engaging, appealing to our target audience of children and young adults. We wanted the visuals to be colorful and dynamic, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of our characters while also standing out in the crowded landscape of children's programming. Our design team drew from various global art styles, ensuring a unique and inclusive aesthetic that complements the show's themes.
VD: What inspired the visuals? At the same time, how did you want the show to be different from what you’d seen before?
NAM: We drew inspiration from a mix of classic and contemporary animation styles. Shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and also Scooby Doo influenced our approach to character design and world-building. However, we aimed to differentiate God's Gang by infusing it with a unique multicultural essence that isn't commonly seen in mainstream animation, making it visually appealing and culturally resonant.
VD: What would you say has been the biggest challenge regarding the show’s production, either story-wise or animation-wise?
NAM: One of the biggest challenges in producing God's Gang has been balancing the need for cultural sensitivity with engaging storytelling. Ensuring that each character is portrayed respectfully while also being entertaining and relatable has required ongoing collaboration and feedback from cultural consultants. On the animation side, achieving high-quality production values within our budget constraints has also been a significant challenge. We are, after all, a start-up. And our international, multifaith team has worked tirelessly to bring our vision to life.
VD: Tell me about the new episode releasing July 17. What can fans expect? What are you looking forward to with the release?
NAM: Our “What’s Cooking?” episode is about when our four interfaith heroes are torn apart by one of the world’s most agonizing questions: “What do we have for lunch?” That, and an evil plan concocted by a hate group, threatens to split up God’s Gang. Fortunately, one vegetable and some amazing dance moves save the day.
Fans can expect an exciting adventure that delves deeper into the backgrounds of our main characters, showcasing their unique abilities and the strengths they bring to the team. This episode highlights the importance of teamwork and understanding, presenting a new challenge that tests the gang’s unity and resolve. I'm looking forward to seeing how fans react to the new character developments and the action-packed storyline that underscores the show's core values.
VD: What did you enjoy most about developing this episode?
NAM: Developing this episode was particularly enjoyable because it allowed us to explore more of the characters' personal stories and the dynamics within the team. We introduced new baddies that expand the show's universe and deepen the audience's connection to the characters. Seeing the positive reactions from our early screenings has been incredibly rewarding, as it reaffirms the impact of our storytelling.
VD: These new baddies coming on the scene–what can you share about them?
NAM: The new characters joining God's Gang in this episode are a formidable group known as the TTTs (Tremendous, Terror, and Torture). Following the introduction of The Really Mad Scientists and the Reptilios in the first episode, “What’s Cooking?” unveils these new baddies who are driven by an intense hatred towards all others. If they remind viewers of certain real-life purveyors of hate, that’s no accident. We want to gently show kids that hate and bigotry are real evils that kids can and should feel empowered to challenge.
VD: Moving forward, what are your hopes for the show overall?
NAM: My hopes for God's Gang are to continue inspiring and entertaining audiences worldwide while fostering a message of peace, unity and respect. I envision the show expanding into various media formats, including longer episodes, films, and interactive content like games and a whole world of merchandising. In fact, fans can already see our Merch Store on our website.
Ultimately, I hope God's Gang becomes a beloved and enduring franchise that makes a positive impact on young viewers, encouraging them to embrace diversity and work together for a better world.
Victoria Davis is a full-time, freelance journalist and part-time Otaku with an affinity for all things anime. She's reported on numerous stories from activist news to entertainment. Find more about her work at victoriadavisdepiction.com.
