Gabriel and the Guardians: A Review on the New Christian Anime

In our Christian review of Gabriel and the Guardians, we will discuss the pilot episode of the new Angel Studios, anime-inspired show. Contains a content and parent guide.

Synopsis: What Is Gabriel and the Guardians About?

Gabriel and the Guardians is a faith-based anime series inspired by the book of Genesis. It follows a Celestial Guardian named Gabriel as he races to recover the Eternal Seed—an object vital to creation—before it falls into the wrong hands.

Introductory Thoughts on Gabriel and the Guardians

I’ve been planning to review the new Christian anime, Gabriel and the Guardians, for a while now, and I wish I had done it sooner, because it’s a breath of fresh air in the anime scene.

In general, anime is created by secular studios for secular audiences, and although many anime titles have redemptive themes and emphasize Christian ideals, they often support a secular worldview.

Even if you find a great anime (there’s a lot out there), it’s rarely an anime suitable for Christian families, as many anime are not appropriate for children.

Gabriel and the Guardians is bridging the gap between anime and faith-based, family-friendly entertainment. To have a high quality Christian animated series that’s actually safe for families (and actually entertaining!) is super exciting for Christian anime fans.

I will clarify that although I do call Gabriel and the Guardians a Christian anime, not everyone may agree with this categorization. And that’s okay.

An Interview Between Gabriel and the Guardian’s Creator, Jason Moody, and Kingdom Builder

One of the creators of the show, Jason Moody, was interviewed on the Kingdom Builder podcast. In the interview, Moody shares his thought process as he developed the story, and how it takes inspiration from the mode of storytelling Jesus uses in His parables. Moody mentions that when people consider a painting like the Last Supper, people don’t categorize it as Christian or secular: it’s something that everyone can appreciate.

Watch Jason Moody discuss the biblical inspiration behind Gabriel and the Guardians:

A Quick Disclaimer

Before jumping into my review, I want to be transparent about a potential bias. I am not affiliated with Angel Studios, the creators of Gabriel and the Guardians, or anyone associated with them. I have, however, been a member of the official Discord server for Gabriel and the Guardians for a quite awhile, so I’ve interacted with fans and some of the creators.

I want to note for any anime fans that I am aware that true anime is animation from Japan. As an American production, Gabriel and the Guardians is not “anime” in the traditional sense, but it is anime-inspired. For this review, I will be using the term “anime.”

Concerns About Inspiration from the Book of Enoch

When I first learned about the show, I heard that it was inspired by the book of Enoch, which immediately raised some red flags for me, as the book of Enoch is not canonical Scripture (here’s an article if you want to explore why). Additionally, the distributor Angel Studios has received varied responses among Christians.

Later on, I discovered it’s also inspired by the book of Genesis, and throughout my research and viewing of the first episode, I’ve seen the parallels between Genesis and Gabriel and the Guardians, and that makes me excited for the future of the show. When something like the book of Enoch is used as inspiration, it can lead to some interesting stories, as long as the difference between truth and fiction is upheld, which from what I understand, is done so within the story.

Production Quality and Voice Talent: First-Rate

It seemed like this show would finally bring a high-quality, professional-level anime to the Christian sphere in a world where nearly every anime is created away from a Christian worldview. Not only is it a faith-based anime, but the animation is beautiful and high quality, and the voice acting is fantastic. From the start, the creators advertised the involvement of major voice actors and creators. According to the official press release from Angel Studios:

“Anime is a growing market around the world, and the Angel Guild has expressed incredible excitement about this series,” said Jeffrey Harmon, Chief Content Officer at Angel Studios. “We are excited to step into this market, bringing what we believe to be the first equity crowdfunded anime-influenced series to life.”

“Just like Tolkien’s Middle Earth is influenced by Northern European mythos, our fantasy world of Ara is shaped by the lore and mythos found in ancient Hebrew writings and Mesopotamian cultures,” Jason Moody, the creator behind the series.

Inspired by ancient Hebrew scriptures, Gabriel and the Guardians is an epic fantasy series that tells the journey of Gabriel, a Celestial being from an unseen realm. With unyielding optimism, Gabriel never backs down and inspires his friends through enchanting adventures of truth and self-discovery.  The talent behind Gabriel and the Guardians boast impressive resumes, including The Lion King, Mulan, Tarzan, Bleach, Dragonball, Trigun, Star Wars: Clone Wars, and The Wingfeather Saga.

Johnny Yong Bosch, a prominent voice actor, stars as Gabriel, and James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, voices Dionyel and Malachros. Cristina Vee and Matt Lanter also voice prominent characters in the first episode, and Cristina Milizia is the official voice of Zion. Danica McKellar is also attached to the project, though the extent of her role is still unknown.

Why Christian Anime Fans Should Care About Gabriel and the Guardians

There are many Christians in the anime space these days, and although something doesn’t have to be overtly Christian for us to watch (with discernment!), it’s always refreshing to see Christian creatives using their God-given talents to create high quality stories that point to Christ.

Few voice actors in the voiceover space are unapologetically Christian and speak boldly about their faith, and James Arnold Taylor is one who doesn’t shy away from speaking about Jesus. Beneath the Tangle’s Twwk interviewed him a few months ago, and I’ve embedded the video below.

Gabriel and the Guardians: Pilot Episode Review

At the time of this writing, only one episode of Gabriel and the Guardians has been released: the Pilot episode. The pilot is currently available for free on Angel Studio’s website with a free account.

The majority of the episode focuses on introducing the main characters, conflict, and settings. One setting is the star, Parah’dem, which is above Ara. This is where Gabriel resides with Zion. The other setting is Ara, the mortal realm and dwelling of Nok and Namay’ah.

Major Characters and Biblical Inspirations

Ehyeh

Ehyeh is the creator. Ehyeh is mentioned in the episode but doesn’t physically appear. Ehyeh means “I am” in Hebrew, something Moody mentions in his interview with Kingdom Builders.

Gabriel & Michael

Then we have Gabriel, the gardener and titular character who, according to the show’s wiki:

“Gabriel” was inspired off of the mythical arch-angel “Gabriel” in biblical texts; Particularly, the description of Gabriel in Daniel 10:5-6. He was also inspired off of certain parts of the book of Enoch, where Gabriel is set over Paradise and over the cherubim (1 Enoch 20:7).

Gabriel has a brother named Michael (I’m guessing he is inspired from the archangel Michael from Scripture). In the pilot, Gabriel is a gardener tasked with protecting the eternal seed.

Gabriel is voiced by veteran voice actor Johnny Yong Bosch, who appears in Horimiya.

Nok

Nok is a giant slayer and according to the Gabriel and the Guardians Wiki, finds his inspiration from the Biblical Noah. Nok is voiced by Matt Lanter, the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

According to the interview with Kingdom Builders, Moody expresses that Nok is from the tribe of the Bekorah, and this tribe is the last tribe to “follow the ways of the creator.”

Namay’ah

Then we have Namay’ah, a headstrong and determined princess who is a bit out of touch with spiritual truth. She tries to perform a ritual to bring someone back and ends up summoning a giant, who she thinks is a “god.” She doesn’t seem to acknowledge the existence of the creator, Ehyeh. The wiki for Gabriel and the Guardians describes Namay’ah’s inspiration:

“Namay’ah” was inspired off of the biblical character “Namaah” (Genesis 4:22), who in myth was said to be the Sumerian princess, and the wife to the biblical character “Noah”.

Namay’ah is voiced by Cristina Vee, a well-known voice actress known for anime voiceover and playing Ladybug and Marinette on Miraculous Ladybug.

Zion the Cherubim Cat

Zion is a future sentry and a cherubim. Zion resembles a winged feline and is a companion to Gabriel. Zion has Gabriel’s back and risks life and limb to help him save the eternal seed. Zion is voiced by Cristina Milizia, the voice of Teresa in some recent Barbie projects.

Dionyel

Dionyel is a grandfatherly, mentor-like figure for Gabriel. He believes that Gabriel’s purpose involves more than gardening, and encourages Gabriel to embrace that.

Dionyel is voiced by James Arnold Taylor.

Theological Themes and Messaging So Far: Mythology vs. Biblical Worldview

So, what message is Gabriel and the Guardians pushing? It’s still very early, but based on the first episode and the interview with Moody, the story is pointing to a creator whom many humans have forgotten. Characters like Namay’ah don’t understand truth (she thinks a giant is a god and performs a ritual to summon him to get someone back), but other characters, like Nok and Gabriel, are more solid theologically. Based on Nok’s association with the Bekorah, it’s likely that he is the most grounded Ara resident in spiritual matters.

Gabriel seems aware of Ehyeh’s presence but struggles with understanding his worth and role in the world. However, when the seed is threatened, he throws off everything that hinders him in order to protect the seed.

The story seems like it might be a great resource for pointing non-believers to Jesus, and to point to our True Creator, Yahweh.

Is There Magic in Gabriel and the Guardians?

It’s not yet clear whether the powers shown are magical in nature or tied to divine/spiritual gifting. That may become clearer in future episodes. My assumption is that it’s most likely more divine gifting.

However, Namay’ah is an alchemist. The scope of her alchemy remains to be seen, so that’s something to keep an eye on.

Final Thoughts: Should You Watch Gabriel and the Guardians?

Initially, my largest concern was the mythology of the world, but as I’ve watched the show, researched, and delved into interviews, my concerns have lowered considerably.

As Moody expressed in his Kingdom Builders interview, for viewers of Gabriel and the Guardians, it hopefully has something for both Christians and non-Christians. For Christian viewers, he hopes that we see the effort put into respecting the text, and for those who may not care as much about that, they have still created an entertaining story.

Unfortunately, there is only one episode of Gabriel and the Guardians currently available (January 2026). If you’re looking for wholesome anime to watch in the meantime, check out my review of A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring.

Join the Community: Discord Server & Wiki

Join the community, share fan art, and explore bonus content on the Gabriel and the Guardians Discord server. You can join the community through the invite link listed on the official Gabriel and the Guardians Wiki (or by clicking here).

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FAQs for Gabriel and the Guardians

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Gabriel and The Guardians: Pilot (Episode 1) Content Guide

Sex and Nudity

• None

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

• None

Violence/Gore/Frightening Scenes

• Nok and Namay’ah are attacked by a destructive giant, and this giant destroys the city
• Some characters are knocked back but there are no deaths
• Nok is abused by his captor and is hit and verbally abused
• Nok and Namay’ah fight, and she appears to stab Nok

Language

• “Worthless property”
• “What on Ara” (their version of “what on earth?”)
• “Blasted alchemist”

Spiritual

• The story is inspired by Genesis and other ancient texts.
• The story introduces a fictional world with a creator god named Ehyeh. From what I can tell, it seems like the world might be monotheistic with characters like Namay’ah confused due to their disconnect from the spiritual realm.
• There is spiritual language corresponding with their various belief systems, with Namay’ah even believing that offering a goat as sacrifice to a “god” (really a giant) will bring someone back to her.
• Namay’ah is also known as an “alchemist princess” but there isn’t much known about how this works yet other than her being destructive. She bows to the giant and uses a ritual to summon him.
• However, as stated in my review, some characters (Gabriel, Nok) seem grounded in truth and know the Creator, Ehyeh. I’m assuming that Namay’ah will eventually learn to understand the truth, however.

Photo Credit: Screenshot of logo from the Gabriel and the Guardians trailer. Used under fair use for the purposes of review and commentary. All rights belong to their respective owners. Created by Qayinara Animation, Inc.