The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible

Lore & Background

The series was initially conceived by Hanna-Barbera co-founder Joseph Barbera some seventeen years before it was produced, but he had difficulty in procuring support for the project. Eventually, Hanna-Barbera's parent company Taft Broadcasting agreed to provide funding, and the first video was released in 1985. Turner Home Entertainment continued production after they bought Hanna-Barbera in 1991. Sparrow-Star Song assisted with distribution, releasing all thirteen episodes on VHS, one episode per tape.

Reader's Guide

The series features three main characters: Derek and Margo, two young archaeologists, and their nomad friend Moki. In each episode, they find themselves trapped in a sinking whirlpool of sand, then discover a vast chamber filled with giant relics and artifacts. At the far end of the cavern is a door with a strange inscription that turns out to be a portal through time. The introduction is the same in all videos, but each episode sends the three friends into a different story from the Bible.

They often interact with principal figures but without significant effect upon the plot so as not to alter history; in other episodes, they arrive decades after the events and are relayed the story by a firsthand witness. The episodes were not released in an order consistent with biblical chronology but can be construed to give a coherent story beginning with 'The Creation' and ending with 'The Easter Story.' Each episode featured celebrity voices in principal biblical roles. Five episodes were released on DVD in 2006. In 2024, 39 years after production began, the series made its television debut on MeTV Toons, airing Sunday mornings until February 16, 2025.