Jot

Jot was a dark, scary, and unsettling christian cartoon in which all the children were glowing "dot"s (get it, jot-dot) that were trapped in a playground of eternal night. They bounced around in slow motion like the dream where your trying to get out of a burning building. Why was it always night? Why were they at the palyground after dark. Jot was a wimpy boy who when attacked by the bully, internalized it to the point of physical distortion and suicidal thoughts, at lest in my memory. Jot used to scare me as much as the "exorcist" commercials. I would never show this to children, although I would personally love to relive the horror. Why isn't this on DVD?

The previous comment (by "floyd) makes me wonder how its traumatized author managed to live to adulthood, if it indeed was "Jot" that left him scared and unsettled. Having viewed most, if not all, of the episodes, and having worked on a few of them myself, I can assert with significant certainty that they did not all take place at night, nor did any character ever entertain suicidal thoughts. The only "eternal night" must have existed in poor floyd's mind, I would suspect. Though quite free with its quoting of Bible verses, the cartoon was a fairly benign presentation of how Christian principles can help children to live happier lives. The stories, like the art direction, were simple and straightforward, with more emphasis on drama than on humor. I found a Jot videotape on the internet a few years ago (and bought it) but I don't know if it's ever been released on DVD.

Having watched this as a child when it was aired originally, I had nearly forgotten it. For whatever reason, this popped in my head one day and the search was on for any references I could find. At that time, there were hardly any but enough to let me know others had seen it and it wasn't my memory playing tricks on me :)

I guess a few years had now passed and I started to see if any of the series could be found on tape or DVD.

In looking I had found that FamilyNet did a reprise of it in 2002. HOPE! Further digging (and digging) got me to a link from the FamilyNet page to where I could order it! I am not sure if links are allowed here but going to there page or searching for SKU: M092402002 should REALLY narrow you to where you can order it.

I really think my kid will enjoy watching the series as much as I did when I was his age :)

I only have a vague memory of Jot, though like most folks here I don't recall anything dark or frightening about it. My memory is that Jot was a teardrop-shaped creature who was very pious, not unlike Odgred Weary's Little Henry Clump but without the tragic ending.

The only episode I can recall with any clarity was one where Jot and a younger friend were trapped inside Jot's house by the rain. Jot decided to entertain his friend (perhaps it was a younger brother) by sitting at the piano and singing a song about Noah and the Art. Now that I think about it, that might be considered a bit frightening (a worldwide flood), but the aim of the episode seemed more to educate than to terrify.

I'd love to find this on any home-video format, if only to remind myself that I did, at one point, have a childhood....

I first saw Jot cartoons in the 1980's on a local Christian TV station when I was in high school...Yes, Jot was meant for kids, but I still remember I instantly grabbed a VHS tape and started recording, because it was one of the most awesome styles of animation I had ever seen... the whole abstract nature of the animation with the more detailed but still abstract backgrounds was very cool...I had accepted Jesus as my Saviour already at that time, and so I understood the truths that were being taught in the cartoon, and those are remembered also, like when Jot felt guilty for staling the other kids toy and gave it back, etc .... I believe this cartoon is one of the best examples of how Christians can be VERY creative and original and still glorify God...this cartoon is awesome, I want to buy it on DVD