What Storykeepers does

Storykeepers is a privately-held Christian educational media company that produces and licenses an animated video series teaching the Gospels to children. Founded in 1997 and developed by Rev Brian Brown and Dr Andrew Melrose via Shepherd Films Ltd (Dublin), the core product comprises 13 half-hour animated episodes covering 47 parables and stories from the Gospels of Mark and Luke, set against the backdrop of Neronian persecutions in Rome (AD 64). The series is supported by a portfolio of educational resources: Teachers DVD Sets with SCAA-approved handbooks for Key Stages 1 & 2, Church Holiday Club/Midweek Club packs with Scripture Union activity resources, a 21-unit Collective Worship Collection by Diana Lazenby, and a 3-generational Bible study handbook called The Story Lives On. Distribution is global, with the series licensed into 105 countries in all major world languages, supplemented by national TV broadcasts on ITV (UK), EWTN and Hallmark (US).

The company's business model relies on one-time perpetual licenses for DVD packs (£34.50 to £39.95 in the UK, €46 in Ireland), plus international licensing royalties and a distinct outreach sub-brand called Come with Marcus, which uses a physical MARCUS Box to introduce gospel stories to children aged 7+ and has reportedly reached over 75,000 children. Sales and operations are managed by Ross Coad via Coad Media in Wiltshire, England, with channel partnerships through national church groups and curriculum agencies for local market adaptation. The primary customer segments are primary schools, churches, and families, with documented evidence of 46% follow-up engagement among unchurched children targeted through the Come with Marcus program.

Name

Storykeepers

Website

https://storykeepersedu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Storykeepers is a Christian educational media company producing a 13-episode animated video series covering 47 gospel parables, sold via DVD packs and educational handbooks to schools, churches, and families across 105 countries, with the Come with Marcus outreach program reaching unchurched children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education Media

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Education, Kids & Family Faith Programming (MPABALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious/Faith-Based Program Syndication (MPABAMAI), Children’s & Family Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAD)

Keywords

• Christian education media
• Religious education resources
• Children ministry materials
• Gospel video series
• Bible curriculum resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Zeal

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. DVD and Resource Sales: Sale of DVD sets with teaching handbooks for churches and schools. Products include Teachers Packs, Church Holiday Club Packs, and The Story Lives On generational Bible study handbook. Licensed for public viewing in educational settings.
2. Come with Marcus Program: Marcus box outreach materials sold or distributed through churches for child evangelism. Individual/family use version available through www.comewithmarcus.com. Over 75,000 children introduced to Jesus through this program.
3. International Licensing: Series sold to 105 countries and available in all main world languages. Revenue generated through territorial and language licensing arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Storykeepers produces and licenses an animated video series of 13 half-hour episodes covering 47 parables and stories from the Gospels (primarily Mark and Luke), set in Rome during the Neronian persecutions (AD 64). The series is sold as DVD sets with accompanying teaching handbooks customized for schools (Key Stages 1 & 2), churches (Holiday Club, Midweek Club, Sunday School), and intergenerational Bible study. The Come with Marcus outreach program distributes MARCUS Boxes to introduce unchurched children and families to gospel stories.

Product overview

Storykeepers is an educational Christian media company offering a suite of products centered on its core animated video series for children. The main Storykeepers video series consists of 13 half-hour animated episodes set in Roman times during Nero's persecutions, covering 47 parables and stories from the Gospels. This core product is supplemented by various teaching resource packs: Teachers DVD Sets with handbooks for classroom use, Church Holiday Club/Sunday School packs with activity resources, The Story Lives On multi-generational bible study handbook, and the Collective Worship Collection for school assemblies. Additionally, the Come with Marcus program and its MARCUS Box represent a distinct outreach/mission sub-brand targeting unchurched children and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Come with Marcus: Outreach/mission program designed to introduce gospel stories to children aged 7 and upwards, serving as a key to reach families. Over 75,000 children introduced to Jesus through Marcus boxes.
• The Story Lives On

Products and services

• Storykeepers Animated Video Series Core animated video series of 13 half-hour episodes telling the story of Ben the baker and his wife Helena in Rome during the Neronian persecutions (AD 64), incorporating 47 parables and stories of Jesus from the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Intended for children in educational and ministry settings.
• Teachers DVD Set with Handbook Complete pack containing all 13 episodes on 2 DVDs with the Teachers Handbook for Key Stages 1 & 2 / Primary 1-7. Handbook written by Diana Lazenby of Culham College Institute and approved by SCAA. Priced at £34.50 + £4.50 VAT = £39.00 in UK; €46.00 in Ireland. Handbook also sold separately for £12.
• Church Holiday Club / Midweek Club / Sunday School Pack Leaders pack containing all 13 episodes on 2 DVDs with Scripture Union's Storykeepers Leaders Activity Resource handbook, a photocopiable resource with games, songs, and ideas for holiday clubs, Lent/Easter courses, and Sunday school programs. Priced at £39.95 in UK. Activity Resource Handbook also sold separately for £12.00.
• The Story Lives On Handbook A 3-generational Bible study handbook for use with children and adults together, offered as 13 parties directly linked to the 13 Storykeepers episodes, with 26 different activities. Designed to address volunteer fatigue and draw in young families without weekly commitment. Priced at £12.
• Collective Worship Collection Teaching materials written for Storykeepers by Diana Lazenby of Culham College Institute, providing 21 units of collective worship for school assemblies. Each unit is based on a short extract from Storykeepers programs with suggested video clips, focusing statements, hymns, and references to teacher notes.
• Come with Marcus Outreach Program with MARCUS Box Outreach/mission program using the MARCUS Box as the key tool to introduce gospel stories to children aged 7 and upwards and their families. Designed to reach unchurched children. Over 75,000 children have been introduced to Jesus through this program. Individual/family use version available at www.comewithmarcus.com. The MARCUS Box also serves as a First Communion gift.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27% of viewing audiences (40% of children aged 5-9) in UK ITV broadcast slot
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shepherd Films LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShepherd Films Ltd of Dublin is the production company created by an ecumenical group of investors to back Rev Brian Brown and Dr Andrew Melrose. Shepherd Ltd was set up specifically to produce the Storykeepers animated series.
• Coad MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoad Media handles resource development and product awareness. They develop teaching resources in association with national church groups and curriculum agencies, coordinate television showings, press releases, and conference teaching workshops for widespread introduction. Ross Coad manages all sales and operations.
• Culham College Institute / Diana LazenbyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiana Lazenby of Culham College Institute wrote the Teachers Handbook, which was approved by SCAA. Also wrote the Collective Worship Collection for Storykeepers.
• Scripture UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScripture Union wrote the Storykeepers Leaders Activity Resource handbook, included in the Church Holiday Club Pack. This is a photocopiable resource covering specific episodes in detail.
• National Church Groups and Curriculum AgenciescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeaching resources developed in association with national church groups and curriculum agencies for local use in countries across the world. These partners customize materials for local markets and coordinate distribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EWTN: Global Catholic media network that broadcasts Storykeepers in the US and operates a broad portfolio of religious broadcasting and educational content. Comparable as a religious broadcasting and content distribution incumbent that overlaps with Storykeepers' broadcast distribution channel.

Direct peers

• Big Idea Entertainment (VeggieTales): Producer of VeggieTales, the most prominent animated Christian children's video franchise in the US. Directly comparable as a Christian animated children's content company with curriculum tie-ins, church/school distribution, and DVD/home video go-to-market.
• Paws & Tales (Insight for Living): Animated children's series from Insight for Living teaching biblical lessons through character-driven stories, distributed to churches and families. Comparable as Christian children's animated content with church and family ministry distribution.
• Friends and Heroes: Animated Bible stories series for children set in the 1st century, distributed internationally in multiple languages with church and school curriculum resources. Closely comparable in format, target audience, and international Christian education distribution model.
• Adventures in Odyssey (Focus on the Family): Long-running Focus on the Family children's radio and animated series with strong church and homeschool distribution. Comparable as established Christian children's media franchise targeting families and Sunday school audiences.
• Superbook (CBN): Christian Broadcasting Network's animated Bible story series for children, covering Old and New Testament narratives with multi-language international distribution. Directly comparable as an animated children's Bible education product targeting churches, schools, and families globally.
• Hermie & Friends (Max Lucado / Sparx): Animated Christian children's series based on Max Lucado characters, distributed via DVD through Christian retail and church channels. Comparable as character-driven animated children's Bible content with Christian education distribution.
• Torchlighters (Vision Video): Animated series of stories about Christian historical figures (missionaries, martyrs), distributed through Christian education channels including churches and schools. Comparable as animated Christian content distributed via DVD with educational tie-ins.
• The Flying House (CBN): Earlier CBN animated Bible series for children that, like Superbook, is distributed internationally in multiple languages. Directly comparable in animated children's Bible storytelling with global licensing.

Emerging players

• LUMO Project: Feature-length animated films of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts) distributed globally in over 100 languages. Comparable in Gospel-focused animated content with strong international licensing strategy; differs in feature-film rather than episodic format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Storykeeperstv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/storykeepers-downloads.com-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Storykeepers