The Vatican, through the Italian National Broadcasting Network, asked Tezuka Osamu to bring the Bible to life, possibly to observe how a non-Christian such as him would portray the sacred text. Regardless, he was enthusiastic and spent two years crafting a pilot film centered on the myth of Noah's ark. He not only authored the script but also illustrated the supporting art. Sadly, he died while the project was still underway, but Director Dezaki stepped in to oversee its completion.