The first animated film on the life of Pope John Paul II will be released this week. John Paul II: The Friend of All Humanity spans the life of the former Pope, from his birth as Karol Wojtyla, in Poland, to his death as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome at the age of 84.

The hour-long animation, dubbed in seven languages, was made by Barcelona-based Cavin Cooper Productions, in partnership with the Vatican Television Centre. The film was produced by Cavin Cooper founder Jose Luis Lopez-Guardia.

Lopez-Guardia has been working extensively in the last few years as a creative artist in animation, as well as in editing and production. He has also developed conceptual studies for Disney, Warner Bros, Universal Studios, MGM, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Sony and Hanna-Barbera. He has supervised and directed some animated television episodes.

The movie's press release says the film, “offers the most intimate moments and the most meaningful anecdotes about the most important figure of the 20th Century,” in a format, "enjoyable by the whole family."

“It was the Pope who inspired the great political and social changes that dramatically changed the history of mankind,” it says.

To view the trailer of the John Paul II animation, go to: http://www.johnpauliitrailer.com/